TAL effector nuclease (TALEN)-mediated generation of broad-spectrum powdery mildew resistant mlo plants

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Thomas Debener; Professor Dr. Thomas Lahaye; Professor Dr. Ralph Panstruga
• Subject Area: Organismic Interactions, Chemical Ecology and Microbiomes of Plant Systems
• Term: from 2012 to 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 223610928

Durable broad-spectrum powdery mildew resistance conferred by loss-of-function mutant alleles of Mildew Locus O (MLO) genes is a conserved phenomenon in monocot and dicot plants. Some species that suffer notoriously from the powdery mildew disease, such as rose (Rosa spec.) or grapevine (Vitis vinifera), are for various reasons (e.g. polyploidy) not well accessible to forward and/or reverse genetic screens to obtain suitable mlo mutants. TAL effector nucleases (TALENs) provide a novel tool for site-specific mutagenesis of genes even within the context of complex eukaryotic genomes. In a collaborative effort we aim to establish TALENs that target MLO genes to generate tailor-made mlo loss-of-function alleles. Proof-of-principle will be provided in plant systems in which the analysis of mlo resistance is well established (barley and Arabidopsis thaliana). Next, TALENs will be used to generate powdery mildew resistant mlo mutants in rose, a plant species for which durable genetic resources to combat powdery mildew are lacking so far. The proposed research will not only open up new avenues for the targeted generation of powdery mildew resistant plant mutants but also provide valuable general insights for the deployment of TALENs in precision genome engineering.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants