Patent Application
20240294936
The content of the following submission on ASCII text file is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: a computer readable form (CRF) of the Sequence Listing (file name: 701802018402SEQLIST.TXT, date recorded: Sep. 13, 2021, size: 442,703 bytes).
The present invention relates to a plant of the S. lycopersicum species that is resistant to Tobamovirus, wherein the plant comprises one or more genomic sequences. More specifically the invention relates to tomato plants (S. lycopersicum) that are resistant to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (TBRFV). The present invention further relates to a genomic sequence or locus providing resistance to Tobamovirus. Furthermore the present invention relates to methods for providing a S. lycopersicum plant that is resistant to Tobamovirus.
Tobamovirus is a genus in the virus family Virgaviridae that infects plants, including plants of the Solanaceae family, such as tobacco, potato, tomato, and eggplant and are among the most serious threats to vegetable crops in the world. Tobamoviruses are particularly a problem in tomato crops grown in protected environments and are transmitted over long distances through external seed contamination, and mechanically from plant to plant through common culture practices through workers' hands, clothes, tools, and are capable to preserve infectivity in seeds and contaminated soil. Furthermore, common weeds, often asymptomatic when infected by the virus comprise a cryptic reservoir between growth cycles.
Tobamovirus infections can have disastrous effects in crops when they become contaminated. Prevention of infection, by, for example, raising seedlings in a virus free environment is generally costly and/or unfriendly to the environment. In addition, these methods do not always provide satisfactory results.
Tobamoviruses are non-enveloped, with helical rod geometries, and helical symmetry. Viral particles are rod-shaped and have a diameter of around 18 nm, and a length of 300 to 310 nm. Their positive-sense single stranded RNA genomes are linear and non-segmented, and around 6.3 to 6.5 kb in length. There are over 35+ virus species in this genus including Tomato Mosaic Virus (ToMV) or Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV), Tomato Mild Mottle Virus (ToMMV), and the recently newly discovered Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (TBRFV).
In tomato, naming of the four strains of Tobamovirus (more specifically ToMV) currently recognized (Tm-0, Tm-1, Tm-2 and Tm-22) is based on the introgressed resistance (R) genes Tm1, Tm2 and Tm22 from related wild species. The Tm1 gene was introgressed from Solanum habrochaites and is incompletely dominant. The Tm2 and Tm22 genes were introgressed from Solanum peruvianum and confer dominant complete resistance to ToMV. However new strains of Tobamovirus have emerged as resistance is overcome and recently resistance-breaking Tobamovirus species have been reported in commercial fields in Mexico, Jordan, and Israel.
In the end of 2014 and beginning of 2015 an outbreak of a new disease infecting tomatoes occurred in Israel and Jordan. Symptomatic plants showed a mosaic pattern on leaves accompanied occasionally by narrowing of leaves and yellow spotted fruit. Research showed that this new disease was a new Tobamovirus, called TBRFV. TBRFV infection is associated with necrotic lesions on leaves and tomato plants show mild foliar symptoms at the end of the season but strong brown rugose symptoms on fruits, making the fruit unsuitable for consumption. Furthermore, regarding to other members of the Solanaceae family, it seems that the TBRFV is capable to infect pepper plants as well, e.g. when planted on contaminated soil from a previous growth cycle of infected tomato plants in high temperatures above 30° C.
In the battle against Tobamovirus, resistance was introduced in tomatoes by introgression of the R genes Tm2 and Tm22, resulting in resistance to ToMV. However, these R-genes do not provide resistance to the new TBRFV, since different domains in the viral proteins comprised of different protein structure and a new resistance mechanism and/or resistant genes are required for a different resistance mechanism. Furthermore, it is highly likely that over time resistance will be broken, since the virus will adapt and evolve, resulting in viral breakthrough. Therefore, new resistance genes need to be identified and/or combined to provide resistant crops, especially against the new TBRFV.
Considering the above, there is a need in the art for TBRFV resistant tomato plants, more specifically TBRFV resistant S. lycopersicum. In addition, there is a need in the art to provide methods and means for providing TBRFV resistant S. lycopersicum plants.
It is an object of the present invention, amongst other objects, to address the above need in the art. The object of present invention, amongst other objects, is met by the present invention as outlined in the appended claims.
Specifically, the above object, amongst other objects, is met, according to a first aspect, by the present invention by a plant of the S. lycopersicum species that is resistant to Tobamovirus, wherein the plant comprises a TBRFV resistance gene that encodes for a TBRFV resistance protein, wherein the protein has at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 98%, even more preferably at least 99%, most preferably 100% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID No.116. It is predicted that the TBRFV resistance gene encodes for a NBS-LRR resistance protein.
According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the plant, wherein the TBRFV resistance gene comprises a coding sequence that has at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 98%, even more preferably at least 99%, most preferably 100% nucleotide sequence identity with SEQ ID No.115.
According to another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the plant, wherein the plant comprises one or more genomic sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No.1, SEQ ID No.2 SEQ ID No.3, SEQ ID No.4, SEQ ID No.5, SEQ ID No.6, SEQ ID No.7, SEQ ID No.8, SEQ ID No.9, SEQ ID No.10, SEQ ID No.11, SEQ ID No.12, SEQ ID No.13, SEQ ID No.14, SEQ ID No.15, SEQ ID No.16, SEQ ID No.17 and SEQ ID No.18, or having at least 95% sequence identity with any of said SEQ ID No's. The genomic sequences encode for one or more genes or genetic elements that provide resistance to Tobamovirus. Sequences have been examined on gene homology using public database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Six genomic sequences have homology with sequences that encode for NBS-LRR resistance proteins (SEQ ID No.7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 14). Four genomic sequences have homology with LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase (SEQ ID No. 5, 6, 12 and 13).
Pathogen recognition by plants takes place via two relevant groups of host receptors involving two main types of proteins, namely Receptor-like kinases or proteins (RLK or RLP) and nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat proteins (NBS-LRR resistance proteins). The first group are pattern recognition receptors (PRR) specializing in the recognition of pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPS). RLPs or RLKs are attached to the cell membrane and are extracellular immune receptors. Plant RLKs are involved in plant—pathogen interaction and defence responses and plant receptor kinases (PRKs) can be defined as proteins that contain an extracellular domain, a single-pass transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) protein kinase domain. Plant LRR-RLKs (leucine rich-repeat receptor-like kinase) possess a functional cytoplasmic kinase domain, and all of the plant LRR-RLKs analyzed to date possess Ser/Thr kinase activity. The resistance to pathogens provided by these receptors is called PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI). The other group mainly comprises intracellular receptors called resistance proteins (R proteins). The majority of disease resistance genes in plants encode nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat proteins, also known as NBS-LRR proteins. These proteins are characterized by nucleotide-binding site (NBS) and leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains as well as variable amino- and carboxy-terminal domains and are involved in the detection of diverse pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, nematodes, insects and oomycetes. The majority of the identified genomic sequences that provide Tobamovirus resistance comprise multiple LRR domains. It is thought that these domains determine effector recognition and therefore disease susceptibility/resistance.
Pathogens develop counter strategies to overcome PTI through modifying or changing PAMPs or MAMPs. Then, plants will develop a way to recognize these effectors and trigger a faster and stronger secondary defence response known as effector-triggered immunity (ETI). ETI is mediated by R proteins and accompanied by localized cell death around the site of infection. The presence of these newly identified resistance gene and/or genomic regions encoding NBS-LRR proteins and/or plant receptor kinases will decrease the chances of the pathogen overcoming the resistance, or when combined with other resistance genes, disease resistance may even be further improved.
According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the plant, wherein the plant comprises the genomic sequence represented by SEQ ID No.3. The genomic sequence SEQ ID No. 3 comprises multiple sequences that have homology with sequences that encode for NBS-LRR resistance proteins and LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the plant, wherein the plant comprises SEQ ID No.8, SEQ ID No.9, SEQ ID No.10 and SEQ ID No.11.
According to the present invention, Tobamovirus resistance of the plant may be affected by one or more genomic sequences encoding a NBS-LRR protein selected from the group of SEQ ID No.8, No.9, No.10, No.11 and No.14, for example a combination of SEQ ID No.8 and SEQ ID No. 9, or SEQ ID No.8 and SEQ ID No.10, SEQ ID No.8 and SEQ ID No. 11, SEQ ID No. 9 and SEQ ID No. 10, SEQ ID No.9 and SEQ ID No.11, SEQ ID No.10 and SEQ ID No. 11. Furthermore or alternatively, the resistance may affected by one or more genomic sequences encoding a LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase selected from the group of SEQ ID No. 12, SEQ ID No.13, or SEQ ID No.12 and SEQ ID No.13.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the plant, wherein the plant comprises the genomic sequences of SEQ ID No.8, SEQ ID No.11 and SEQ ID No.14.
According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the plant, wherein the plant comprises SEQ ID No.8, SEQ ID No.9, SEQ ID No.10, SEQ ID No.11, SEQ ID No.12, SEQ ID No.13 and SEQ ID No.14.
According to another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the plant, wherein the plant is resistant to Tobamovirus strains Tm-0, Tm-1 and Tm-2. In tomato, four strains of Tobamovirus have been identified; Tm-0, Tm-1, Tm-2 and Tm-22.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the plant, wherein the plant is resistant to Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (TBRFV).
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the plant, wherein the TBRFV is virus isolate AE050.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the plant, wherein the plant is a tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum).
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the plant, wherein the one or more genomic sequences and/or TBRFV resistance gene is heterozygously or homozygously present in the genome of said plant. From the experimental data it can be concluded that the resistance is dominant and that the TBRFV resistance gene and/or genomic sequence must be at least heterozygously present in the genome of the plant to provide resistance against the Tobamovirus.
The present invention, according to a second aspect, relates to plants, plant parts, tissues, cells, and/or seeds derived from the plant of the present invention.
The present invention, according to a further aspect, relates to a resistance gene (TBRFV resistance gene) for providing resistance to a Tobamovirus in a S. lycopersicum plant, wherein said resistance gene is represented by a coding sequence having at least 90% nucleotide sequence identity with SEQ ID No.115.
The present invention, according to a further aspect, relates to a genomic sequence for providing resistance to a Tobamovirus in a S. lycopersicum plant, wherein the genomic sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No.5, SEQ ID No.6, SEQ ID No.7, SEQ ID No.8, SEQ ID No.9, SEQ ID No.10, SEQ ID No.11, SEQ ID No.12, SEQ ID No.13, SEQ ID No.14, SEQ ID No.15, SEQ ID No.16, SEQ ID No.17 and SEQ ID No.18, or having at least 95% sequence identity with any of said SEQ ID No's. Preferably the genomic sequence is SEQ ID No.8, SEQ ID No.11 or SEQ ID No.14.
The present invention, according to a further aspect, relates to a resistance locus for providing resistance to a Tobamovirus in a S. lycopersicum plant, wherein the locus is represented by SEQ ID No.1, SEQ ID No.2, SEQ ID No.3 or SEQ ID No.4, preferably SEQ ID No.3.
According to a preferred embodiment of present invention, the resistance gene, genomic sequence or resistance locus provides resistance to a TBRFV.
The present invention, according to a further aspect, relates to a method for providing a plant of the S. lycopersicum species that is resistant to Tobamovirus, wherein the method comprises the steps of;
According to another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the method, wherein after step b) a first S. lycopersicum plant is selected that is resistant to Tobamovirus and is crossed with a second S. lycopersicum plant that is not resistant to Tobamovirus, and subsequently selecting S. lycopersicum plants that are resistant to Tobamovirus.
According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the method, wherein in step a) establishing the presence of the resistance gene (TBRFV resistance gene), resistance conferring genomic sequence or the resistance locus in a S. habrochaites plant is performed by one or more markers selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No: 83, SEQ ID No: 84, SEQ ID No: 85, SEQ ID No: 86, SEQ ID No: 87, SEQ ID No: 88, SEQ ID No: 89, SEQ ID No: 90, SEQ ID No: 91, SEQ ID No: 92, SEQ ID No: 93, and SEQ ID No: 94, SEQ ID No. 105, SEQ ID No. 106, SEQ ID No. 107, SEQ ID No. 108, SEQ ID No. 109, SEQ ID No. 110, SEQ ID No. 111, and SEQ ID No. 112, preferably SEQ ID No. 105, SEQ ID No. 106, SEQ ID No. 107, SEQ ID No. 108, SEQ ID No. 109, SEQ ID No. 110, SEQ ID No. 111, and SEQ ID No. 112.
The present invention, according to a further aspect, relates to a use of a marker for establishing the presence of the TBRFV resistance gene, the TBRFV resistance conferring genomic sequence or the resistance locus in a S. lycopersicum plant, wherein the marker is one or more markers selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No: 83, SEQ ID No: 84, SEQ ID No: 85, SEQ ID No: 86, SEQ ID No: 87, SEQ ID No: 88, SEQ ID No: 89, SEQ ID No: 90, SEQ ID No: 91, SEQ ID No: 92, SEQ ID No: 93, and SEQ ID No: 94, SEQ ID No. 105, SEQ ID No. 106, SEQ ID No. 107, SEQ ID No. 108, SEQ ID No. 109, SEQ ID No. 110, SEQ ID No. 111, and SEQ ID No. 112, preferably SEQ ID No. 105, SEQ ID No. 106, SEQ ID No. 107, SEQ ID No. 108, SEQ ID No. 109, SEQ ID No. 110, SEQ ID No. 111, and SEQ ID No. 112.
The present invention will be further detailed in the following examples and figures wherein:
The TBRFV isolate AE050 (Origin: Saudi Arabia) was used to perform the disease assays. As plant material, the Line OT9, which is a plant line susceptible for TBRFV, was used for virus maintenance. Symptomatic leaves received from the original samples were used for sap-mechanical inoculation on the Line OT9. The virus was maintained on systemically infected tomato plants OT9 by monthly sap-mechanical inoculation on new 3 weeks-old seedlings.
The tomato plants of the species of Solanum pennellii, S. peruvianum, S. chilense, S. habrochaites, S. pimpinellifolium, S. neorickii, S. corneliomulleri, S. chmielewskii, S. cheesmaniae, S. galapagense have been screened (˜800 out of 912 wild Solanum accessions in total). Twelve plants of each accession were infected with TBRFV isolate AE050.
Seeds were sown in vermiculite, seedlings were transplanted in rockwool blocks and inoculated at 4 weeks after sowing. As starting material symptomatic leaves from infected-OT9 were collected and ground in a mortar and pestle in chilled demi water with carborundum (1 gr/100 mL). The oldest leaf from 3 weeks-old seedlings of each test plant was mechanically inoculated with AE050 by gently rubbing the leaf once with one finger.
The plants were phenotyped by visual scoring of the plants and the leaves. Plants were scored for visual symptoms at regular time intervals. Symptoms were visually assessed at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after inoculation, and ELISA tests on remaining plants were done from 6 weeks onwards, with 1 month intervals. More than 50% of the plants showed already symptoms at 2 weeks after inoculation.
Visual scoring was performed on a weekly basis. Plants were scored for visual symptoms. The presence of yellowing, mosaic pattern on leaves, leaf deformation (narrowing, mottling) was recorded on a weekly basis at the plant level. First symptoms were typically observed 12-14 days post-inoculation. Plants were categorized as “resistant” when no such symptoms on leaves were observed. Plants displaying any of the symptoms on leaves were categorized as “susceptible”. Leaf samples were collected from asymptomatic plants (i.e. resistant) to test for the presence of virus by ELISA.
The screening allowed the selection of several candidates for resistance breeding, with the best candidate being LYC4943, a S. habrochaites accession from Peru. LYC4943 was symptomless and tested virus-free by ELISA for more than 15 weeks after inoculation.
Infection was determined by ELISA. One apical leaf (fully expanded) of every plant was collected. Leaves were crushed using a Type R302 D63N-472 machine (VECTOR Aandrijftechniek B. V., Rotterdam, The Netherlands) and sap was collected by adding 2 mL of PBS-Tween buffer. 100 μL of the extract was used for ELISA with antibodies against ToMV (supplier Prime Diagnostics, Wageningen, The Netherlands). ELISA reading was done by measurement of absorption at 405 nm with a FLUOstar Galaxy apparatus. Plants that gave absorption values more than 1.5 times of the clean control plants were considered infected (susceptible).
The original LYC4943 (S. habrochaites) seed lot was segregating for the resistance. Nine different F1 families were sown for bioassay in order to identify the F1 families which were completely resistant (resistance is fixed) and which would be used for further backcrosses. Four F1 families germinated and were tested in bioassay. F1 plants created with LYC4943 plant 3 (90479-3) were selected for resistance phenotype to create two populations for mapping, choosing the S. lycopersicum lines OT9 and OT1317 as backcross lines. Markers M1 to M42 (respectively SEQ ID No. 19 to SEQ ID No.102) that have been used in the mapping are listed in Table 1.
298 plants (OT9×90479-3)×OT9) and 484 plants (OT1317×90479-3)=total of 782 plants were inoculated with the TBRVF isolate AE050. Two to three weeks after inoculation the TBRFV symptoms were present and phenotyping by eye was done. A clear segregation was observed between resistant (R) and susceptible plants (S) and resistant phenotypes could be linked with marker M1 (see Table 1) located on chromosome 8 at 2673609 bp on the reference genome SL2.40 (S. lycopersicum). 92 plants have been genotyped with 26 markers in order to flank the QTL (M2 to M27, see Table 1). Based on these results the resistance could be mapped between 53118984 bp and 57038544 bp on the reference genome SL2.40 (between M8 & M20, See Table 1 and
The whole population of 782 plants have been genotyped with the flanking markers M8 & M20 in order to find the recombinant plants for further fine mapping. This resulted in 21 recombinant plants (See
Sequencing the resistant LYC4943 region using Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology resulted in a locus of 133.515 bp. The 21 recombinant plants have been genotyped with extra markers in this specific locus (M28 to M42) of LYC4943. Based on the recombinant plants, plants 594 and 608, it was determined that the resistant region was located between positions 56941043 and 56958371, based on the reference genome SL2.40, corresponding with positions between 15.893 and 101.133 on the LYC4943 locus (between M33 and M38, see
Based on the fine mapping, the size and location of the genomic sequence that was harbouring the TBRFV resistance was determined to be between markers M33 and M38 and was approximately 68.000 bp larger compared to the SL2.40 reference genome of S. lycopersicum (85.240 bp vs. 17.328 bp, respectively). It is therefore highly likely that one or more genes are located within this region, indicated in
Next, further fine mapping was performed and a recombinant selection has been performed by genotyping 668 BC2 plants ((OT9×90479-3)×OT9×OT9) with M33 and M38 in order to identify recombinant plants in the TBRFV region, which resulted in three plants 15321-02, 15321-03 and 15321-07 (see
A tomato plant of the present invention (S. lycopersicum) comprising the TBRFV resistance locus (SEQ ID No. 1) was tested for resistance against the Tm0, 1 and 2 strains. The presence of the TBRFV resistance locus was determined by markers M16, M17 and M33. It was furthermore confirmed that the plant does not contain the Tm22 gene (is a known gene that provides resistance against Tm0, 1 and 2 strains). In some case the plant did contain the Tm1 resistance gene. As a control, plants were selected that did not contain the TBRFV resistance locus.
Eight plants (See Table 2, 1 to 8) of which six plants comprise the TBRFV resistance locus (heterozygous), and two plants (7 and 8) do not have the TBRFV resistance locus have been inoculated with the Tm0 isolate. Eight plants (See Table 2, 9 to 16) of which six plants comprise the TBRFV resistance locus (heterozygous), and two plants (15 and 16) do not have the TBRFV resistance locus, have been inoculated with the Tm-1 isolate. Eight plants (See Table 2, 17 to 28) of which four plants comprise the TBRFV resistance locus (two homozygous 17, 18+two heterozygous 19, 20), and four plants not have the TBRFV resistance locus have been inoculated with the Tm2 isolate. As control the susceptible cultivated tomato line OT95 was also inoculated with all three strains.
First symptoms were typically observed after 12-14 days post-inoculation. Plants were categorized as Resistant (R) when no mosaic pattern symptoms on leaves were observed; plants displaying any of the symptoms on leaves were categorized as Susceptible (S). The phenotype of every single plant has been compared with the TBRFV genotype. Results are summarized in Table 2 below.
All plants that contained the TBRFV resistance locus were resistant. Plants 7 and 8 did not contain the TBRFV resistance locus but were also resistant. A reason that could explain the results is that the Tm1 gene is causing the resistance to ToMV isolate Tm-0. In addition, plant 1, 2 and 3, did not contain the Tm1 gene, but did contain the TBRFV resistance locus, showed to be resistant.
The resistant phenotypes are linked with the TBRFV genotypes, providing resistance against ToMV isolate Tm-1.
The resistant phenotypes (hetero-, homozygous) are linked with the TBRFV genotypes, providing resistance against ToMV isolate Tm-2.
Tomato plants comprising the TBRFV resistance locus (heterozygous or homozygous) and plants not containing this region have been selected for TBRFV bioassay using markers (M16 and M17). Plants were infected with TBRFV and the susceptible tomato line OT9 has been included as control (OT9 non-infected and infected).
After 3 weeks of inoculation, one leaf from the top of the plant of every single plant was collected in a 2 ml tube which contain a 6.35 mm metal bullet. The tube was frozen in liquid nitrogen. The tubes were shaken with high speed to pulverize the plant material. After spin down the tube, the standard RNA extraction using Macherey-Nagel™ NucleoSpin™ RNA Plant was carried out. RNA concentration was measured using DropSense 96 (Trinean) and was diluted to a concentration of 100 ng/μl. 900 ng have been used for cDNA synthesis using M-MLV Reverse Transcriptase (Invitrogen). 10 ng cDNA was used for Real-time PCR using LC green as Intercalating dye. Two primer combinations for amplifying the TBRFV strain were used, see Table 3 (SEQ ID No.103 and SEQ ID No.104, respectively).
The more viral RNA present in the samples the lower the Ct value in the qPCR, since less PCR cycles are required to amplify the cDNA (of the viral RNA) and pick up a signal. The control sample (OT9 uninfected) showed a Ct value of between 35 and 40 cycles and the infected control sample (OT9 infected) showed a Ct value between 20 and 25. Therefore plants that show a Ct value above 30 cycles, preferably around 35 cycles were considered resistant, whereas plants that show a Ct value below 30 were considered susceptible (see
Tomato plants comprising the TBRFV resistance locus, homozygous (B) or heterozygous (H) all have a Ct value above 30 cycles and can be considered as resistant. The results are showing that the resistance is dominant. Plants that did not comprise the TBRFV resistance locus (A) showed a Ct value of between 20 and 25, indicating that the plant was susceptible to TBRFV infection.
Genomic DNA was isolated from a resistant plant (S. lycopersicum) of the present invention, i.e. comprising the TBRFV resistance locus, according to the protocol as published on 27 Apr. 2018 in Nature, Protocol Exchange (2018), Rachael Workman et al,. “High Molecular Weight DNA Extraction from Recalcitrant Plant Species for Third Generation Sequencing”. The sequencing libraries were prepared using the PCR free, no multiplex, DNA Ligation Sequencing Kit-Promethion (SQK-LSK109). The isolation procedure resulted in high quality sequencing libraries to be used in the Oxford Nanopore system for sequencing (ONT sequencing). Promethion Flowcell Packs (3000 pore/flowcell) version R9.4.1. were used for sequencing.
Furthermore, to further resolve the TBRFV locus and identify the gene providing the TBRFV resistance, we performed ONT sequencing on a resistant line (LYC4943). Sequencing of the entire transcript isoforms of the resistant LYC4943 line was done using the Iso-Seq analysis application (Pacific Biosciences of California, PacBio). This resulted in only one candidate resistance transcript/gene located in region between markers M33 and M38, more specifically the TBRFV resistance gene of SEQ ID No. 115. This transcript was predicted to encode for a CC-NBS-LRR resistant protein of SEQ ID No. 116.
To confirm that the TBRFV resistance gene (SEQ ID No 115) was indeed the gene conferring resistance to TBRFV, a Virus Induced Gene Silencing (VIGS) analysis was performed. Tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-derived VIGS vectors have been abundantly described to study gene function in plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana benthamiana, Lycopersicon esculentum and other plants (see for example Huang C, Qian Y, Li Z, Zhou X.: Virus-induced gene silencing and its application in plant functional genomics. Sci China Life Sci. 2012; 55(2):99-108).
As such, two VIGS constructs were developed (Table 4), one construct VIGS-01a to specifically target SEQ ID No 115 and a control construct VIGS-01b that targets SEQ ID No. 7, i.e. a sequence also located within the previously identified TBRFV locus.
The VIGS fragments were synthesized (IDT, gBlocks) and subsequently cloned into a TRV vector. The DNA sequences were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The vector contained all sequences encoding for proteins that are required for a functional TRV particles including the target sequences. The VIGS vectors including the VIGS-01a and VIGS-01b constructs were transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV3101 and used in VIGS experiments to reduce endogenous mRNA levels in tomato plants used in this experiment. A homozygous TBRFV resistant line (15322-04) as well as a susceptible control line (OT9) were used in the VIGS experiment, in which plants were Agrobacterium infiltrated at seedling stage (cotyledons) followed by TBRFV isolate E50 inoculation three weeks after Agrobacterium infiltration. Two weeks after TBRFV inoculation the individual plants were phenotyped by ELISA and qPCR and this revealed that susceptibility was found in resistant plants infiltrated with construct VIGS-01a whereas no susceptibility had been detected in resistant plants infiltrated using construct VIGS-01b. Results of the ELISA and qPCR are shown in
In the OT9 line all plants were susceptible, as expected. The R line which was shown earlier to be fully resistant became susceptible to TBRFV in cases where the suspected TBRFV resistance gene was silenced using the VIGS-01a construct designed to specifically target this gene, whereas silencing using the VIGS-01b construct (control construct) did not result in any susceptibility of the plants tested. Based on these results it can be concluded that gene SEQ ID No 115 is the conferring resistance to TBRFV.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP19/50830 | Jan 2019 | WO | international |
This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/196,655, filed on Mar. 9, 2021, which is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/EP2019/084272, filed Dec. 9, 2019, which claims priority to International Application No. PCT/EP2019/050830, filed Jan. 14, 2019, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17491393 | Sep 2021 | US |
| Child | 18667196 | US | |
| Parent | 17196655 | Mar 2021 | US |
| Child | 17491393 | US | |
| Parent | PCT/EP19/84272 | Dec 2019 | WO |
| Child | 17196655 | US |
