Identification of Pyrenophora teres f. teres candidate effector genes in the VR1 and VR2 genomic regions.
N. WYATT (1), R. Brueggeman (2), J. Faris (3), T. Friesen (3) (1) North Dakota State University, U.S.A.; (2) North Dakota State Univeristy, U.S.A.; (3) Cereal Crops Research Unit, USDA-ARS, U.S.A.

Net form net blotch, caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora teres f. teres, is an economically important foliar disease of barley, however, little is known as to the molecular mechanisms involved in this interaction. A segregating population was developed from two California P. teres f. teres isolates (15A and 6A) that showed a differential response on barley lines Kombar and Rika, with 15A being virulent on Kombar and 6A being virulent on Rika. Four virulence QTL were identified, two from 15A (VK1 and VK2) that conferred virulence on Kombar and two from 6A (VR1 and VR2) that conferred virulence on Rika. Previous studies have shown necrotrophic effectors to be small secreted proteins. Current annotation has predicted a total of 5 and 3 genes encoding small (<50kDa) secreted proteins near the most significant markers associated with VR1 and VR2, respectively. We have generated reference quality genome assemblies as well as RNAseq data from multiple infection time points for both parental isolates. Comparative analysis revealed strong candidate genes with signal peptides, high cysteine content (>10%), and low identity between parental isolates within the VR1 and VR2 regions. Work will be presented on the validation of these candidate genes in the VR1 and VR2 regions using site-directed gene disruption, gene transformation, and heterologous expression.

Abstract Number: P9-323
Session Type: Poster