NBS-LRR disease resistance gene for strawberry powdery mildew breeding
A candidate disease resistance gene (FvH4_3g00820) identified in wild strawberry that shows presence/absence polymorphism with cultivated varieties. Transgenic tobacco tests indicate enhanced resistance to powdery mildew, offering a potential molecular target for strawberry resistance breeding programs.
Overview
Powdery mildew is a major disease affecting strawberry cultivation, causing significant yield and quality losses. This research identifies and characterizes a specific NBS-LRR (nucleotide-binding site leucine-rich repeat) resistance gene, designated FvH4_3g00820, isolated from wild strawberry. The gene exhibits presence/absence polymorphism between wild and cultivated strawberry varieties, making it a promising candidate for improving disease resistance in commercial strawberry breeding. Initial validation in transgenic tobacco lines demonstrated an increased resistance tendency to powdery mildew infection compared to non-transgenic controls, supporting its potential utility as a molecular marker or transgenic target for resistance breeding.
Technical specifications
Gene identification approach:
- Comparative genomics analysis used to screen candidate resistance genes
- Three selection criteria applied: encodes an NBS-LRR protein, shows presence/absence polymorphism between wild and cultivated strawberry, and exhibits a fast evolutionary rate
Validation methods used:
- Gene cloning and genetic transformation of susceptible tobacco as the receptor plant
- Pathogen infection experiments comparing transgenic versus non-transgenic tobacco lines
- Observed resistance-increasing tendency in transgenic lines
Planned future validation:
- Generation of transgenic lines in susceptible strawberry (Fragaria vesca Hawaii 4)
- Powdery mildew strain infection assays on transgenic strawberry plants
- Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) screening to identify proteins interacting with the target resistance protein
Technology readiness level
The research is at an early-to-mid stage of development. The gene has been identified through comparative genomics and validated in a heterologous tobacco model system, where transgenic lines showed increased resistance to powdery mildew. Future work is ongoing to validate the gene's function directly in strawberry through transgenic strawberry lines and to elucidate the resistance mechanism via protein-protein interaction studies. The project is estimated to take approximately one year to complete. The team is actively seeking a partner with an efficient strawberry transgenic platform and research funding to advance the work toward practical breeding applications.
About Nanjing Agricultural University
Nanjing Agricultural University is a public research university with an agricultural focus in Nanjing, advancing national and regional priorities through integrated basic-to-applied research and field training. Industry engages through experimental farms, field stations, controlled-environment facilities, and pilot processing spaces for prototyping and scale‑up. An industry liaison team supports sponsored research, testing services, and joint labs, while regional demonstration sites speed on‑farm trials across the Yangtze River Delta. Research is supported by national and provincial programs, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology. A technology transfer office manages IP, licensing, and startup incubation.
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