Verification of a novel type of resistance genes conferring resistance to barley leaf scald caused by Rhynchosporium secalis

• Applicant: Dr. Marion Röder
• Subject Area: Plant Genetics and Genomics
• Term: from 2011 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 193306281

The goal of the proposed research is the functional verification of the Rrs2 gene rendering resistance against the fungal pathogen Rhynchosporium secalis in barley. In previous research the fine mapping of Rrs2 provided a genomic region cosegregating with Rrs2, which contained several predicted pectinesterase inhibitor genes and a number of other genes. We propose to establish a virus induced gene silencing system (VIGS) to test the cosegregating candidate genes functionally for their ability to break down Rhynchosporium resistance by RNAi. Additionally, the candidate genes for Rrs2 will be stably over-expressed in the Rhynchosporium-susceptible barley variety ‘Golden Promise’ and the transgenic lines analysed for their resistance. This research will lead to the functional characterization and verification of the Rrs2 gene, which potentially constitutes a novel type of resistance gene. After verification of the Rrs2 gene the expression pattern upon Rhynchosporium infection will be studied in detail.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Persons: Dr. Jochen Kumlehn; Dr. Patrick Schweizer (†)