Expression of the Potato Late Blight Resistance Gene Rpi-phu1 and Phytophthora infestans Effectors in the Compatible and Incompatible Interactions in Potato

Abstract

This study describes late blight resistance of potato breeding lines resulting from crosses between cultivar ‘Sárpo Mira’ and Rpi-phu1 gene donors. The progeny is investigated for the presence of Rpi-Smira1 and Rpi-phu1 resistance (R) genes. Interestingly, in detached-leaflet tests, plants with both R genes withstood the infection of the Phytophthora infestans isolate virulent to each gene separately, due to either interaction of these genes or the presence of additional resistance loci. The interaction was studied further in three chosen breeding lines on the transcriptional level. The Rpi-phu1 expression, measured over 5 days, revealed different patterns depending on the outcome of the interaction with P. infestans: it increased in infected plants whereas it remained low and stable when infection was unsuccessful. The expression patterns of P. infestans effectors Avr-vnt1, AvrSmira1, and Avr8, recognized by the Rpi-phu1, Rpi-Smira1, and Rpi-Smira2 genes, respectively, were evaluated in the same experimental setup. This is the first report that the Avr-vnt1 effector expression is not switched off permanently in virulent isolates to avoid recognition by an R protein but can reappear in a postbiotrophic phase and is present constantly when infecting plants without the corresponding R gene. Both a plant and a pathogen can react to the other interacting side by changing the transcript accumulation of R genes or effectors.