Cloning and functional analysis of downy mildew resistance gene RPF1 in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.).

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.