Convergent evidence for a role of WIR1 proteins during the interaction of barley with the powdery mildew fungus Blumeria graminis

Discovery of genes affecting resistance of barley to adapted and non-adapted powdery mildew fungi

“…The fourth group consisted of 111 target genes that could be mapped to the confidence interval of a meta-QTL for QR to Bgh on the short arm of chromosome 5H. We were previously directed towards this meta-QTL by an association-genetic approach of candidate genes that revealed co-localization of several QR-associated genes within this region at genetic distances extending beyond local linkage disequilibrium [9,[27][28][29]. Thus, the functional architecture of the resistance QTL on 5HS might be complex with more than one causative gene acting either independently or in concerto in different genotypes of the association-mapping panel.…”

Host and Nonhost Response to Attack by Fungal Pathogens

“…Combining these and possibly other datasets may create a body of converging evidence for the importance of specific genes in durable host resistance. This approach recently led to the identification of nine interesting barley gene candidates for future exploitation in translational research (Douchkov et al 2011;Spies et al 2012).…”

Gene expression analysis of four WIR1-like genes in floret tissues of European winter wheat after challenge with G. zeae

“…Therefore it is assumed that both might be based upon similar principles (Nicks and Marcel 2009). WIR1 (wheat induced resistance 1) proteins are supposed to play a role in the basal and non-host resistance (Bull et al 1992;Schweizer et al 1989;Neu et al 2003;Douchkov et al 2011). The transcription of these proline and glycine -rich proteins are highly induced in cereals during fungal attack, but the mode of function of WIR1 proteins is still unclear.…”

“…It is presumed that WIR1 proteins might act by strengthening the adhension of the cell wall to the plasma membrane and add to its stability during pathogen attack (Bull et al 1992). WIR1 genes were shown to collocate with QTLs for the basal resistance of barley against the biotrophic pathogen Blumeria graminis (Douchkov et al 2011). Gene silencing of sub-families of the WIR1 group produced varying results concerning the alteration of the phenotype (Douchkov et al 2011).…”

“…WIR1 genes were shown to collocate with QTLs for the basal resistance of barley against the biotrophic pathogen Blumeria graminis (Douchkov et al 2011). Gene silencing of sub-families of the WIR1 group produced varying results concerning the alteration of the phenotype (Douchkov et al 2011). The overexpression of Rir1, a rice homologue of WIR1, led to partial resistance against the hemibiotrophic rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea (Schaffrath et al 2000).…”