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What natural variation can teach us about resistance durability
Talia L Karasov1, Gautam Shirsekar1, Rebecca Schwab1
1Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Pathogen resistance in crops is often short-lived due to rapid pathogen adaptation. Incorporating genetic and spatial heterogeneity, like in wild plants, can create durable crop resistance, potentially aided by new agricultural technologies.
Area of Science:
- Plant pathology
- Agricultural science
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Crop resistance breeding is challenged by rapid pathogen evolution.
- Wild plants often exhibit durable resistance to pathogens.
- Pathogen adaptation relies on short generation times and genome fluidity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review factors contributing to durable pathogen resistance in plants.
- To examine the role of heterogeneity in preventing pathogen outbreaks.
- To explore challenges and opportunities for enhancing crop resistance diversity.
Main Methods:
- Review of current knowledge on wild and agricultural pathosystems.
- Analysis of genetic, species, and spatial heterogeneity's impact.
- Evaluation of breeding practices and pathogen co-evolution.
Main Results:
- Genetic, species, and spatial heterogeneity are crucial for durable resistance.
- Pathogen (co-)evolution and breeding practices pose challenges to resistance diversity.
- Historical agricultural practices hindered heterogeneity adoption due to harvesting inefficiencies.
Conclusions:
- Durable crop resistance can be achieved through heterogeneity.
- Advances in computer vision and automation may facilitate harvesting mixed plantings.
- Increased resistance durability in crops is a key goal for sustainable agriculture.
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