Ingo Hein

My research aims to identify and clone more durable resistances towards major potato pathogen.

All microbes trigger immune responses in plants via host receptor-mediated recognition of PAMPs. Adapted pathogens suppress or otherwise manipulate PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI). They do this by secretion of virulence factors, called effectors, which re-programme host metabolism to the benefit of the pathogen.

Effector-triggered suppression of PTI is the pathogen’s front-line of attack in overcoming plant defences. When a successful pathogen has suppressed PTI, plants possess a second layer of inducible defence in the form of resistance (R) genes, the products of which typically encode NB-LRR proteins that detect effectors (termed avirulence proteins; AVRs).

In a “paradigm-shift” from conventional disease resistance breeding we exploit our knowledge of recent dramatic changes in the pathogen population to unravel the underlying variation in pathogen effectors, using this to drive the search for durable resistance.

A central component of our research is the exploitation of the recently sequenced potato genome and use of second generation sequencing and novel DNA capture technology to greatly accelerate discovery and isolation of functional resistance genes.

Current projects include:

• Identification and cloning of new genetic variations in Solanum species for resistance to Phytophthora infestans.
• Identification of the Phytophthora infestans effectors underpinning Ph2 and Ph3 resistance in tomato.Identification of potato NB-LRR genes and development of a second generation sequencing approach to clone functional R genes more rapidly
• Phytophthora infestans effector Avr3a diversity and function.
• Enhancing the recognitions specificity of known Solanum resistance genes in vitro.