Phytophthora resistant plants belonging to the solanaceae family

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plant belonging to the Solanaceae family wherein said plant comprises a genetic trait providing Phytophthora resistance and wherein said resistance trait is encoded by a combination of at least two genes having a reduced expression, or transcription, of said genes or a reduced activity of proteins encoded by said genes as compared to said plant belonging to Solanaceae family being susceptible to Phytophthora . The present invention especially relates to plants belonging to the Solanaceae family selected from the group consisting of sweet pepper ( Capsicum annuum ), Capsicum spp., potato ( Solanum tuberosum ), petunia, tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ), Nicotinia benthamiana , and tabacco ( Nicotinia tabacum ), and the present Phytophthora resistance is especially a resistance to a plant pathogen selected from the group consisting of Phytophthora spp., Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora infestans , and Phytophthora nicotinae.

1 . A plant belonging to the Solanaceae family wherein said plant comprises a genetic trait providing  Phytophthora  resistance and wherein said resistance trait is encoded by a combination of at least two genes having a reduced expression, or transcription, of said two genes or a reduced activity of proteins encoded by said two genes as compared to said plant belonging to Solanaceae family being susceptible to  Phytophthora.    
     
     
         2 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant belonging to the Solanaceae family is selected from the group consisting of sweet pepper ( Capsicum annuum ),  Capsicum  spp., potato ( Solanum tuberosum ), petunia, tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ),  Nicotinia benthamiana , and tabacco ( Nicotinia tabacum ). 
     
     
         3 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said  Phytophthora  resistance is resistance to a plant pathogen selected from the group consisting of  Phytophthora  spp.,  Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora infestans , and  Phytophthora nicotinae.    
     
     
         4 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant is potato ( Solanum tuberosum ), said  Phytophthora  resistance is resistance to  Phytophthora infestans  and said combination of at least two genes are genes encoding proteins according to SEQ ID No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 2 or proteins having at least 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID No. 1 and/or SEQ ID No. 2, preferably at least 95% sequence identity, most preferably at least 99% sequence identity. 
     
     
         5 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant is petunia, said  Phytophthora  resistance is resistance to  Phytophthora nicotianae  and said combination of at least two genes are genes encoding proteins according to SEQ ID No. 3 and SEQ ID No. 4 or or proteins having at least 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID No. 3 and/or SEQ ID No. 4, preferably at least 95% sequence identity, most preferably at least 99% sequence identity. 
     
     
         6 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant is tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ), said  Phytophthora  resistance is resistance to  Phytophthora infestans  and/or  Phytophthora capsici  and said combination of at least two genes are genes encoding proteins according to SEQ ID No. 5 and SEQ ID No. 6 or proteins having at least 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID No. 5 and/or SEQ ID No. 6, preferably at least 95% sequence identity, most preferably at least 99% sequence identity. 
     
     
         7 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant is sweet pepper ( Capsicum annuum ) or  Capsicum  spp., said  Phytophthora  resistance is resistance to  Phytophthora capsici  and said combination of at least two genes are genes encoding proteins according to SEQ ID No. 16 and SEQ ID No. 17 or proteins having at least 90% sequence identity with SEQ ID No. 16 and/or SEQ ID No. 17, preferably at least 95% sequence identity, most preferably at least 99% sequence identity. 
     
     
         8 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant is  Nicotinia benthamiana , said  Phytophthora  resistance is resistance to  Phytophthora capsici  and/or  Phytophthora infestans  and/or  Phytophtora nicotinanae  and said combination of at least two genes are genes encoding proteins according to SEQ ID No. 18 and a protein having at least 70% sequence identity with SEQ ID No. 18, preferably at least 85% sequence identity, most preferably at least 95% sequence identity. 
     
     
         9 . The plant according to  claim 1 , wherein said plant is tabacco ( Nicotinia tabacum ), said  Phytophthora  resistance is resistance to  Phytophthora capsici  and/or  Phytophthora infestans  and/or  Phytophtora nicotinanae  and said combination of at least two genes are genes encoding proteins according to SEQ ID No. 19 and a protein having at least 70% sequence identity with SEQ ID No. 19, preferably at least 85% sequence identity, most preferably at least 95% sequence identity. 
     
     
         10 . A plant belonging to the Solanaceae family, wherein said plant comprises a genetic trait providing  Phytophthora  resistance said resistance trait is obtainable by down regulating the expression, or translation, of a combination of two genes or reducing the activity of proteins encoded by said combination of two genes in an  Phytophthora  susceptible plant wherein said combination of two genes encode for proteins selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos. 1 and 2; SEQ ID Nos. 3 and 4; SEQ ID Nos. 5 and 6; SEQ ID Nos. 16 and 17; SEQ ID No. 18 and a protein having at least 70% sequence identity with SEQ ID No. 18, preferably at least 85% sequence identity, most preferably at least 95% sequence identity; and SEQ ID No. 19 and a protein having at least 70% sequence identity with SEQ ID No. 19, preferably at least 85% sequence identity, most preferably at least 95% sequence identity. 
     
     
         11 . The plant according to  claim 10 , wherein said plant belonging to the Solanaceae family is selected from the group consisting of sweet pepper ( Capsicum annuum ),  Capsicum  spp., potato ( Solanum tuberosum ), petunia, tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ),  Nicotinia benthamiana , and tabacco ( Nicotinia tabacum ). 
     
     
         12 . The plant according to  claim 10 , wherein said  Phytophthora  resistance is resistance to a plant pathogen selected from the group consisting of  Phytophthora  spp.,  Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora infestans , and  Phytophthora nicotinae.    
     
     
         13 . Use of a combination of two genes, wherein said combination of two genes encodes protein combinations selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID Nos. 1 and 2; SEQ ID Nos. 3 and 4; SEQ ID Nos. 5 and 6; SEQ ID Nos. 16 and 17; SEQ ID No. 18 and a protein having at least 70% sequence identity with SEQ ID No. 18; and SEQ ID No. 19 and a protein having at least 70% sequence identity with SEQ ID No. 19, for providing  Phytophthora  resistance in plants belonging to the Solanaceae family. 
     
     
         14 . The use according to  claim 13 , wherein said plant belonging to the Solanaceae family is selected from the group consisting of sweet pepper ( Capsicum annuum ),  Capsicum  spp., potato ( Solanum tuberosum ), petunia, tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ),  Nicotinia benthamiana , and tabacco ( Nicotinia tabacum ). 
     
     
         15 . The plant according to  claim 13 , wherein said  Phytophthora  resistance is resistance to a plant pathogen selected from the group consisting of  Phytophthora  spp.,  Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora infestans , and  Phytophthora nicotinae.    
     
     
         16 . A protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 16, 17, 18 and 19 and proteins having at least 90% sequence identity therewith.