A NOVEL STRATEGY TOWARDS RESISTANCE TO POTATO CYST NEMATODE

Our long-term goal is to develop novel, innovative and environmentally-sound methods for improved resistance to the agriculturally important cyst nematode (Globodera pallida) in potato. In general, as the first level of resistance to invading pathogens and pests, plants use pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to detect invading pathogens thereby triggering immune signaling and resistance, presumably, in the case of plant-nematode interactions, through perceiving nematode-associated molecular patterns (NAMPs). We have recently discovered that the potato (Solanum tuberosum) NEMATODE-INDUCED leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase 1 (StNILR1) is the immune receptor of the nematode NAMP Ascaroside #18 (Ascr18), mediating Ascr18-triggered immune signaling and resistance to plant-parasitic nematodes. Unfortunately, the potato cyst nematode G. pallida has evolved a specific effector RHA1B, which is a functional ubiquitin ligase, to target and degrade StNILR1, thereby destroying StNILR1-mediated plant resistance and facilitating nematode parasitism. Thus, we propose two objectives to manipulate the StNILR1 gene towards resistance to G. pallida in potato: 1.) Engineer RHA1B degradation resistant StNILR1 mutants; 2.) Manipulate the StNILR1 gene in potato towards resistance to G. pallida.