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Virus-induced gene silencing of Mlo genes induces powdery mildew resistance in Triticum aestivum

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Abstract

Powdery mildew is one of the most important cereal diseases worldwide. Genetic analysis has revealed that mutant alleles of the Mlo gene cause broad-spectrum resistance against this pathogen in barley. In this study, the possibility of inducing broad-spectrum powdery mildew resistance against this pathogen by RNAi of the barley Mlo ortholog in wheat was examined using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). A clear correlation was found between resistance and accumulation of Mlo-specific siRNAs, raising the possibility of designing powdery mildew resistance in wheat by RNA silencing using both transgenic and non-transgenic approaches.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Christophe Lacomme for providing the BSMV vector. V.E. is the recipient of a Bolyai Janos Felowship. This work was supported by GAK TRIPATOL.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Biotechnology Center, Plant Virology Group, Szent Györgyi A. út 4, Gödöllő, 2100, Hungary

    Éva Várallyay, Gábor Giczey & József Burgyán

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  1. Éva Várallyay
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  2. Gábor Giczey
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  3. József Burgyán
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Correspondence to Éva Várallyay.

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Várallyay, É., Giczey, G. & Burgyán, J. Virus-induced gene silencing of Mlo genes induces powdery mildew resistance in Triticum aestivum . Arch Virol 157, 1345–1350 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-012-1286-y

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