Fungal-resistance genes in wheat
Fungal disease is one of the most pressing problems facing cereal production worldwide, particularly for wheat. The gene Lr34 is known to confer lasting resistance to a number of common fungal diseases, but its exact function remains elusive. The EU-funded DURES project studied the function and evolution of this gene to better understand how it influences fungal resistance. Researchers found that Lr34 encodes for a transporter protein. The unknown substance exported by Lr34 is believed to affect the development of the diseases. A key finding was that Lr34 has evolved in wheat as recently as 8 000 years ago, likely in the fields of the earliest farmers. Interestingly, inserting the Lr34 gene into barley conferred fungal resistance to barley-specific fungal diseases. DURES research significantly expanded the body of knowledge on cereal disease. Perhaps most importantly, Lr34 has been identified as a potent potential biotechnological tool to prevent fungal disease in cereal crops.
