Researchers uncover fungal trick against wheat defense system

The results, published in the journal "Nature Plants", open the door to the targeted development of varieties with fewer resistance breakthroughs, the University of Zurich (UZH) announced on Monday.

Wheat actually has natural resistance to pathogenic fungi. When a wheat plant is infected, the mildew fungus introduces hundreds of small proteins, known as effectors, into the wheat cells. There they help to establish an infection. Resistance proteins produced by the wheat can directly recognize individual effectors. This triggers an immune response that stops the infection.

However, the research team has now identified a new such mildew effector. This is also recognized by an already known wheat resistance protein. However, it can overcome the resistance. The trick. The fungus can also produce a second effector that suppresses the plant's defense reaction.

New wheat varieties

According to the researchers, this second effector can also be recognized by a special resistance protein.

"Because we now know these mechanisms and the disease factors involved in the fungus, we can more effectively prevent mildew from breaking through the resistance of wheat," research group leader Beat Keller was quoted as saying in the press release.

It would therefore be conceivable, for example, to breed a wheat variety that simultaneously possesses the resistance genes against both effectors.

According to the university, the research team has already carried out initial laboratory tests to this end. UZH described the laboratory tests as "promising". However, it remains to be seen whether this approach will prove successful in the field.