Mechanistic Analysis of Quantitative Disease Resistance in Brassicas by Associative Transcriptomics

油菜（OSR，Brassica napus）是世界范围内的主要作物，生产食用油、生物柴油和动物饲料蛋白。疾病是限制OSR生产的一个主要因素，由于气候变化和欧洲即将取消农用化学品，这种威胁正在增加。改善疾病控制是当务之急，育种者越来越多地使用被认为是广谱和持久的定量抗病性（QDR）。这项研究将确定OSR育种最有用的QDR基因，并了解其背后的机制，以预测其有效性和耐久性。我们的联盟结合了主要OSR病原体的领先专业知识，抗性防御机制的最新研究和关联遗传学的专业知识，以确定有效的QDR基因。我们的工业合作伙伴KWS将为QDR在该领域的部署以及为改良OSR品种的分子育种开发遗传标记提供专业知识。我们将鉴定对OSR的最重要病原体的抗性：核盘菌、轮枝孢属、斑点细球腔菌、芸苔链格孢菌、芸苔斑枯病以及模式病原体假单胞菌和灰葡萄孢。一组196个不同的OSR品种将筛选对这些病原体在受控环境中的抗性，并在KWS田间试验地点。学校将参与一个公民科学项目，评估欧洲各地的抵抗力。在相同的品种，我们将量化保守的病原体相关分子模式（PAMPs）诱导的防御反应。我们也将量化硫代葡萄糖甙、苯丙素和吲哚代谢物对耐药机制的贡献。利用关联遗传学，我们将识别针对多种病原体的抗性基因位点，并了解这与代谢产物产生和PAMP触发的免疫力的关系。我们包括对特定基因的研究，以测试有关其对抗性的贡献的假设。我们将番茄受体Ve 1导入B。并评估其介导抗黄萎病的能力。虽然芥子油苷有助于抵抗，但它们会降低种子的质量。GTR 1和GTR 2是拟南芥中控制芥子油苷向种子分配的转运蛋白。我们将测试gtr1和gtr2突变体对微生物和草食动物的敏感性，产量和根系分泌物。我们将在芜菁（Brassica rapa）（B. napus A基因组），并测量叶和种子中的硫代葡萄糖苷负载。这项工作可以开发出具有高叶片硫代葡萄糖甙以提高抗性、低含量以提高种子质量的OSR。这项研究将导致OSR的生产更加可持续，减少对化学投入的依赖，这将有利于环境。

Oilseed rape (OSR, Brassica napus) is a major crop worldwide, producing edible oil, biodiesel and protein for animal feed. Diseases are a major factor limiting OSR production, and this threat is increasing due to climate change and the imminent withdrawal of agrochemicals in Europe. Improved disease control is an urgent priority, and breeders are increasingly using quantitative disease resistance (QDR) which is considered broad-spectrum and durable. This research will identify the most useful QDR genes for OSR breeding and understand the mechanisms behind this to enable predictions of their effectiveness and durability. Our consortium combines the leading expertise on the major OSR pathogens, the latest research on defence mechanisms of resistance and expertise in association genetics to identify effective QDR genes. Our industrial partner, KWS, will provide expertise on deployment of QDR in the field, and on the development of genetic marker for molecular breeding of improved OSR varieties. We will identify resistance to the most important pathogens of OSR: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Vertcillium spp, Leptosphaeria maculans, Alternaria brassisicola, Pyenopeziza brassicae, and the model pathogens Pseudomonas syringae and Botrytis cinerea. A panel of 196 diverse OSR cultivars will be screened for resistance against these pathogens in controlled environments, and at KWS field trial sites. Schools will contribute in a citizen science project to evaluate resistance at locations throughout Europe. In the same cultivars, we will quantify induced defence responses to conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). We will also quantify glucosinolate, phenylpropanoid and and indole metabolites that contribute to resistance mechanisms. Using association genetics, we will identify resistance gene loci against multiple pathogens and understand how this relates to metabolite production and PAMP-triggered immunity.We include studies on specific genes to test hypotheses about their contribution to resistance. We will introduce tomato receptor Ve1 into B. napus and assess its ability to mediate resistance against Verticillium wilt. Whilst glucosinolates contribute to resistance, they can reduce the quality of seed. GTR1 and GTR2 are transporters in Arabidopsis that control the allocation of glucosinolates to seeds. We will test gtr1 gtr2 mutants for microbial and herbivore susceptibility, yield and root exudation. We will create gtr1, gtr2 TILLING mutants in Brassica rapa (B. napus A genome), and measure the glucosinolate loading in leaves and seed. The work could enable development of OSR with high leaf glucosinolate for resistance, and low content for improved seed quality.This research will lead to more sustainable production of OSR, with less reliance on chemical inputs which will benefit the environment.