Uncovering the strawberry-crown rot pathosystem and domestication of wild resistance genes
Authors
May Bente Brurberg (presenting author) [1, 2]
A Gogoi [1]
Nina Elisabeth Nagy [1]
Mandeep Poudel [1, 2]
Jahn Davik [1]
Keywords
strawberry; Phytophthora; disease resistance
Abstract
The octoploid strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) with its large red berries is a popular crop that is cultivated all over the world. However, strawberry production suffers major losses due to diseases, among which crown rot caused by Phytophthora cactorum is particularly destructive. Infection results in rapid wilting of young leaves, followed by collapse of the entire plant within a few days after the pathogen has attacked the rhizome and roots. With few approved chemical control options and increasing pressure to reduce pesticide use, the development of host resistance represents a sustainable and highly desirable disease management strategy. While modern strawberry cultivars in general are susceptible to crown rot, resistance genes appear plentiful in wild Fragaria species. Understanding the molecular basis of plant–pathogen interactions in strawberry is essential for identifying resistance traits that can be deployed in breeding programs. With the help of new high‐throughput sequencing and genotyping technologies we are extending plant-pathogen interaction studies from the diploid model plant F. vesca to the genetically complex octoploid strawberry crop plant. This transition is facilitated by using two wild octoploid progenitors of cultivated strawberry. Through this approach, we have identified resistance genes present in wild germplasm that were lost during domestication. These genes will be reintroduced into modern cultivars through interspecific hybridization, supported by high-throughput genotyping to accelerate selection. Together, this work aims to restore lost genetic diversity and deliver durable resistance to crown rot in cultivated strawberry.
Funding
This work was funded by the Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy through the project FragDef (Fragaria defense mechanisms and domestication of wild resistance genes; Project ID 326212; Grant ID 52759) as well as The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (PhD grant MP).