Disease resistant plants

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plant, which is resistant to a pathogen of viral, bacterial, fungal or oomycete origin, wherein the plant has a reduced level, reduced activity or complete absence of DMR6 protein as compared to a plant that is not resistant to the said pathogen, in particular organisms of the Fungi or the phylum Oomycota . The invention further relates to a method for obtaining a plant, which is resistant to a pathogen of viral, bacterial, fungal or oomycete origin, comprising reducing the endogenous level or activity of DMR6 protein in the plant. In addition, the invention relates to the use of a DMR6 promotor for providing disease resistant plants.

1 - 30 : (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . An isolated maize plant that is resistant to  Peronosclerospora spp. , wherein the maize plant has a reduced level or reduced activity of DMR6 protein as compared to a maize plant that is not resistant to  Peronosclerospora spp. , wherein said maize plant has a non-natural mutation introduced into the dmr6 gene encoding the DMR6 protein of SEQ ID NO: 83 and said plant has a reduced level or reduced activity of the DMR6 protein of SEQ ID NO: 83 as compared to the maize plant that is not resistant to  Peronosclerospora spp.    
     
     
         32 . The maize plant of  claim 31 , wherein the mutation in the dmr6 gene leads to an amino acid substitution in the DMR6 protein. 
     
     
         33 . The maize plant of  claim 31 , wherein the mutation in the dmr6 gene reduces expression of the dmr6 gene and leads to a reduction of endogenous level of the DMR6 protein. 
     
     
         34 . A seed, tissue, or plant part of the maize plant of  claim 31 , wherein the seed, tissue, or plant part comprises the mutation in the dmr6 gene and said plant has a reduced level or reduced activity of the DMR6 protein of SEQ ID NO: 83. 
     
     
         35 . A method for obtaining a maize plant which is resistant to  Peronosclerospora spp. , the method comprising reducing an endogenous level of the DMR6 protein of SEQ ID NO: 83 in a maize plant by introducing a non-natural mutation into the dmr6 gene encoding the DMR6 protein of SEQ ID NO: 83 to produce a maize plant that is resistant to  Peronosclerospora spp.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein reducing the endogenous level of the DMR6 protein in the maize plant is achieved by reducing expression of the dmr6 gene. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein reducing expression of the dmr6 gene is achieved by gene silencing or RNAi. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the mutation results in one or more amino acid changes that leads to a reduced enzymatic activity of the DMR6 protein of SEQ ID NO: 83. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the mutation is effected by a mutagenic treatment of the maize plant. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the mutagenic treatment is effected with a mutagen or with radiation. 
     
     
         41 . A maize plant produced from the method of  claim 35 , wherein the plant comprises the mutation in the dmr6 gene and said maize plant has a reduced level or reduced activity of the DMR6 protein of SEQ ID NO: 83. 
     
     
         42 . A seed, tissue, or plant part of the maize plant of  claim 41 , wherein the seed, tissue, or plant part comprises a mutation in the dmr6 gene and has a reduced level or reduced activity of the DMR6 protein of SEQ ID NO: 83.