Publishing Date || 01 June 2019

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Torres SE, Stern-Ginossar N, Brandman O, regulation of transcription in eukaryotes. Cell.

Whitehead EH, Doudna JA, Lim WA, Weissman 2013 Jul 18;154(2):442-51. doi: 10.1016/j.
JS, Qi LS. CRISPR-mediated modular RNA-guided

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63. R Genes for Plant Disease Control
VIRENDRA KUMAR1, AND PRIYANKA2
College of Agriculture, Sumerpur (Agriculture University, Jodhpur)
1

Division of Plant Pathology, RARI, Durgapura, Jaipur

2

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays the plant pathogens
and insects are the biggest threat for agricultural
crops and destroyed nearly 42 per cent of total
agricultural crop production from germination to
storage. However, the plant pathogens such as fungi,
bacteria and viruses are major infection agent and
caused maximum loss. Plant pathogens are shown
variations in their pathogenic potential (virulence)
and physiological functions for own survival and
perpetuation in different environmental conditions
because of genetic factors. The fungicides are
the best effective method of disease control,
but genetic variability against fungicides in plant
pathogens is created the new threat for disease
control. However, crop losses can be minimized
through molecular genetics. R genes have been
used in resistance breeding programs for decades,
with varying degrees of success. Recent molecular
research on R proteins and downstream signal
transduction networks has provided exciting
insights, which will enhance the use of R genes
for disease control (McDowell and Woffenden,
2003). R gene-mediated resistance has more
efficient features for disease control if induced
in a timely manner; the concerted responses can
adroitly stop the progress of pathogen growth with
minimal damage to the plant. For these reasons,
a lot of attempts has been investigated towards
understanding resistance mechanisms in plants
through the R genes, Virulence Gene, Avirulence
Gene and Gene for Gene Hypothesis.
a) R Genes: Resistance genes are genes in plant
genomes that activate disease resistance
against pathogens by producing R proteins.
R genes help in singling to code proteins that
recognize specific pathogen effectors, known
as avirulence proteins, in a specific gene-for-
gene interaction.
A. Virulence Genes: Virulence is the ability of
microbes to cause infection in host plant and
those genes which regulate the virulence in
Plant Pathology
C. Gene for Gene Hypothesis: The gene-for-gene
concept was first proved by H. H. Flor in the
case of flax rust and described each gene that
confers virulence to the pathogen there is a
corresponding gene in the host that confers
resistance to the host, and vice versa (Agrios,
2005).
Current Status of R Gene in Disease Control
Plants have two major types of disease resistance,
basal defence and R-gene mediated defence. Basal
defence provides the first line of defence to the
infection by a wide range of pathogens whereas
R-gene mediated defence is the heritable ability of
the plant to resist damaging microbe’s intrusion.
1. Basal Defense: Basal defence is an initial defence
mechanism that inhibits pathogen multiply
after successful infection and beginning of the
disease, and is inferred from the recognition
of mutants that are more susceptible to a
virulent pathogen than their parents. The basal
defence is also known as pathogen-associated
molecular patterns or microbe-associated
molecular patterns (PAMP/MAMP) or danger-
associated molecular patterns (DAMP), similar
to the innate immune system of animals. The
PAMP/MAMP (lipopolysaccharides, chitins,
glucans and flagellins etc.) are essential
structures for the microbes and recognized
by pattern recognition receptors (PRR - FLS2
(Arabidopsis) *first characterized PRR, EFR
(Arabidopsis; Brassicaceae), Lym1 and Lym
3 (Arabidopsis), XA21 and XA21D (rice), Ve1
(Putative tomato receptor) and EIX (Tomato)
etc.) in plants which are localized on the
surface of plant cells. The identified plant PRRs
are receptor-like proteins (RLPs) or plasma
membrane-localized receptor-like kinases
(RLKs) with modular functional domains.
RLKs have an extracellular domain that

seems to be involved in signal recognition, a

microbe’s known as virulence genes.
transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic
B. Avirulence Genes: Avirulence (avr) genes are
kinase domain, which may be the one that
defined as genes of the pathogen that govern
initiates a cascade of signal transduction
its specific recognition by particular plant
in the cell (Agrios, 2005). MAMP-induced
genotypes. Recognition depends upon the
defence responses encompass the production
presence of a pair of matching genes, an avr
of reactive oxygen species (ROS, also called
gene in the pathogen and a resistance (R) gene
the oxidative burst). The reactive nitrogen
in the plant (Bonas, 1998).
species such as nitric oxide (NO) triggered

90 VOL. NO. XVIII, ISSUE NO. 01

AGROBIOS NEWSLETTER Publishing Date || 01 June 2019
signalling and alert plant cell wall for initiation
of antimicrobial compounds and PR proteins.
ROS can also drive oxidative cross-linking of
polymers in the plant cell wall to strengthen
it against degradation, which may restrict
pathogen multiplication. Other alterations in
the plant wall include the deposition of the
ß-(1–3) linked glucan callose and chitinase,
which can directly attack pathogen structures
(Newman et al., 2013).
Elicitors: The elicitors have a bilateral
mechanism that triggers defence responses
both in the host and nonhost plants and is very
diverse molecule produced by the pathogen
during the host-pathogen reorganization and
capable of triggering the hypersensitivity
response. Microbial elicitors may be divided
into two groups, ‘general elicitors’ and ‘race-
specific elicitors.’
Effector: Effectors are proteins secreted by
microbial pathogens, which can either trigger
or compromise immunity depending on the
ability of perception (presence of suitable
receptor) and response (appropriate defence
reaction) of the plant. Effector could be
extracellular or injected directly into cells.
2. R-gene mediated resistance: Plant pathogens
produce several molecules called ‘effectors’,
encoded by Avr (avirulence) genes, which
are transported directly into the plant cells
during the early stage of infection. Similarly,
plants have subsequently developed host
resistance proteins called R-gene. The several
R genes have been identified and cloned
64. Diseases of Lilium and their Management
SANGEETHA, C. G.
Department of Plant Pathology, College of Horticulture, UHS Campus, GKVK Post, Bengaluru
Lilium is one of the most important ornamental
bulbous plants with a wide range of medicinal and
ornamental uses distributed throughout the cold
and temperate regions. It is grown from North-West
Himalaya to Westward of Afghanistan in China,
Tibet, Nepal, Pakistan, the Hunza Valley (which
borders Russia, Afghanistan, China, and India) and
Wanga Valley (in the North-Western Himalaya). In
India, it is mainly grown in Jammu and Kashmir,
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. This crop is
also gaining popularity in Manipur, Meghalaya,
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Sikkim. Among
the lilies, two groups have been evolved through
extensive improvement and referred to as coloured
lilies which are extensively grown for cut flowers
and other popular type is generally grown for garden
display. Asiatic and Oriental lilies are leading cut
flowers. Some of the major diseases affecting lilium
are listed below:
VOL. NO. XVIII, ISSUE NO. 01 91
against many different pathogens. The majority
of R-genes belong to the NB-LRR, eLRR,
or LRR-Kinase super families. The elicitor
or effectors is recognized by the receptor
molecule or R-genes, this leads to a cascade of
biochemical reactions in plant cells, resulting
in the hypersensitive response and, thereby,
localized host resistance at the point of attack
by the pathogen. The hypersensitive response
is followed by the development of various
levels of systemic acquired resistance (SAR),
which is expressed in the surrounding area of
attack as well as in distant parts of the plant.
In addition to improving our knowledge of
plant immunity, efforts will continue to alter
crop genetics to develop better resistance.
Continuing to alter the receptors necessary
to initiate defence responses is likely the best
route for the development of resistance.
References
Agrios, G. N. (2005). Plant Pathology. Elsevier
Academic Press.
Bonas, U. (1998). Avirulence Genes. Methods in
Microbiology, 27:149-155.
McDowell, J. M. and Woffenden, B. J. (2003). Plant
disease resistance genes: recent insights and
potential applications. Trends in Biotechnology,
21:178-183.
Newman, M. N., Sundelin, T., Nielsen, J. T and Erbs,
G. (2013). MAMP (microbe-associated molecular
pattern) triggered immunity in plants. Frontiers in
Plant Science. Vol. 4/ Article 139:1-14.
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Fungal Diseases
1. Basal Rot or Fusarium Scale Rot or Bulb Root
Basal rot is caused by two different fungi, Fusarium
oxysporum var lilii (which mainly attacks Asiatics)
and Cylindrocarpon (which attacks Orientals).
Fusarium is the more serious of the two and can
exist in the soil for three years without a host. The
most striking symptom is brownish rot at the base of
the bulb scales, which can spread to the entire bulb.
Plant Pathology
The scales are then detached. The symptoms also
include premature yellowing of foliage, stunting and
premature senescence (drying) of the stalk leading
to infection of the main bulb. The pathogen favours
high soil temperature and moisture. It mainly enters
the plant through roots and moves into the basal
plate and then into the scales. The fungi reproduce
through spores and are carried in soil and on the
surface of tools, packing material and bulbs