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Positional Cloning and Characterization of RCT1, an Anthracnose Resistance Gene in Medicago
H.Zhu
Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
Non-Technical Summary
Anthracnose is one of the most destructive diseases of alfalfa in the United States. The disease can cause up to 25-30% yield loss in susceptible alfalfa varieties as well as losses in plant stand and vigor. The same pathogen also causes anthracnose in a number of closely related forage legumes such as annual medic, red clover, and white clover. Improved understanding of anthracnose resistance mechanisms will aid in the development of resistant alfalfa cultivars and positively impact the sustainability of U.S. agriculture. Unfortunately, the biological characteristics of cultivated alfalfa (polyploidy, out-crossing, and population diversity) severely limit the ability to carry out genetic analyses of agronomically important traits, including disease resistance. However, the model legume Medicago truncatula, a close relative of alfalfa, has the potential to serve as a surrogate species for genetic analysis of many economically important alfalfa traits and to provide new sources of host resistance.
Thus, the goal is to use of M. truncatula as a model system to map and clone the counterparts of agronomically important genes in alfalfa, in particular, disease resistance genes. The research plan described in this proposal is to clone an anthracnose host resistance gene in Medicago truncatula. This gene will provide new tools for alfalfa improvement.
2010 Project Description
We have cloned the RCT1 gene from the model legume Medicago truncatula that confers resistance to anthracnose disease caused by multiple races of the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum trifolii.
2010 Impact
The RCT1 gene conferred broad-spectrum anthracnose resistance when transferred into susceptible alfalfa plants. Thus, RCT1 provides a novel resource to develop anthracnose-resistant alfalfa cultivars and contributes to our understanding of host resistance against the fungal genus Colletotrichum. This work demonstrates the potential of using M. truncatula genes for genetic improvement of alfalfa.