Geographical gradient of the eIF4E alleles conferring resistance to potyviruses in pea (Pisum) germplasm

Eva Konečná, Dana Safářová, Milan Navrátil, Pavel Hanáček, Clarice Coyne, Andrew Flavell, Margarita Vishnyakova, Mike Ambrose, Robert Redden, Petr Smýkal

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    21 Citations (Scopus)
    206 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Background
    The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E was shown to be involved in resistance against several potyviruses in plants, including pea. We combined our knowledge of pea germplasm diversity with that of the eIF4E gene to identify novel genetic diversity.

    Methodology/Principal findings
    Germplasm of 2803 pea accessions was screened for eIF4E intron 3 length polymorphism, resulting in the detection of four eIF4EA-B-C-S variants, whose distribution was geographically structured. The eIF4EA variant conferring resistance to the P1 PSbMV pathotype was found in 53 accessions (1.9%), of which 15 were landraces from India, Afghanistan, Nepal, and 7 were from Ethiopia. A newly discovered variant, eIF4EB, was present in 328 accessions (11.7%) from Ethiopia (29%), Afghanistan (23%), India (20%), Israel (25%) and China (39%). The eIF4EC variant was detected in 91 accessions (3.2% of total) from India (20%), Afghanistan (33%), the Iberian Peninsula (22%) and the Balkans (9.3%). The eIF4ES variant for susceptibility predominated as the wild type. Sequencing of 73 samples, identified 34 alleles at the whole gene, 26 at cDNA and 19 protein variants, respectively. Fifteen alleles were virologically tested and 9 alleles (eIF4EA-1-2-3-4-5-6-7, eIF4EB-1, eIF4EC-2) conferred resistance to the P1 PSbMV pathotype.

    Conclusions/Significance
    This work identified novel eIF4E alleles within geographically structured pea germplasm and indicated their independent evolution from the susceptible eIF4ES1 allele. Despite high variation present in wild Pisum accessions, none of them possessed resistance alleles, supporting a hypothesis of distinct mode of evolution of resistance in wild as opposed to crop species. The Highlands of Central Asia, the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, Eastern Africa and China were identified as important centers of pea diversity that correspond with the diversity of the pathogen. The series of alleles identified in this study provides the basis to study the co-evolution of potyviruses and the pea host.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere90394
    JournalPLoS ONE
    Volume9
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2014

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Geographical gradient of the eIF4E alleles conferring resistance to potyviruses in pea (Pisum) germplasm'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this