Characterization of the MLO gene family in Rosaceae and gene expression analysis in Malus domestica.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Powdery mildew (PM) is a major fungal disease of thousands of plant species, including many cultivated Rosaceae. PM pathogenesis is associated with up-regulation of MLO genes during early stages of infection, causing down-regulation of plant defense pathways. Specific members of the MLO gene family act as PM-susceptibility genes, as their loss-of-function mutations grant durable and broad-spectrum resistance.

Results

We carried out a genome-wide characterization of the MLO gene family in apple, peach and strawberry, and we isolated apricot MLO homologs through a PCR-approach. Evolutionary relationships between MLO homologs were studied and syntenic blocks constructed. Homologs that are candidates for being PM susceptibility genes were inferred by phylogenetic rela

SUBMITTER: Pessina S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4124139 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature