Cloning and functional analysis of downy mildew resistance gene RPF1 in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.).
- Open access
Silencing Spo12903 confirms it as the functional gene underlying RPF1, providing key insights into spinach resistance to downy mildew caused by Peronospora effusa.
- Why it matters: Downy mildew severely impacts spinach production, and understanding the genetic basis of resistance is crucial for developing durable resistant varieties.
- What they did: Researchers used virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) on 154 spinach accessions, combined with sequence analysis, subcellular localization, transcriptomics, and co-expression network analysis to validate and characterize RPF1.
- The result: Findings demonstrate Spo12903’s role as RPF1, reveal its immune receptor features, and identify associated defense pathways, enabling targeted breeding for improved disease resistance.