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7 years ago

The Partnership no. 10

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By identifying which

By identifying which proteins are vital for the pathogen and which proteins can be easily adapted or discarded, it is possible to make informed decisions on selecting resistance genes that are more Local grown bittergourd emerges in Europe Organic at the Asia Fruit Logistica In Product Focus durable. Effectors Pathogens introduce molecules into plants to switch off the plants’ defence mechanism. These effectors, as they are scientifically called, are small proteins that shut down a plant’s basal defence. Special resistance genes identify the very same effectors and respond to them by causing plant cells to die in the affected area so that the pathogen is unable to develop any further. The research How do you study something like that? The gene pool, i.e. species that can be crossed with the crop of interest, offers some starting points. Wild species often have resistance to plant pathogens and these resistances can be crossed into modern varieties. Molecular phytopathologists study which of the pathogen proteins (effectors, see box 1) are being sensed by which wild plants. They check how variable the effectors are by studying sequences of these effectors from many different pathogen isolates. If the effector is identical in all isolates tested, it is likely that the protein is vital to the pathogen. Wild accessions that react resistant in response to these effectors are likely to offer more durable resistance than those that react in a resistant manner in reponse to very variable effectors. Bittergourd, Bitter Melon, Karela, Bitter Sopropo and Fu-kwa all refer to the same vegetable that just like the cucumber and pumpkin comes from the family of Cucurbitaceae. It is wellknown and appreciated in Asian, Eastern African, South American and Caribbean cuisine where it is used in curries and stir-fried vegetable dishes. The fruit differs one region from the other. It can be smooth and prickly, Hans Verwegen. “We see this in the Netherlands, Canada and the UK, for instance, where ethnic shops sell bittergourd. This exotic product, imported from overseas, also triggers the local population to try the ‘new’ vegetable in their dishes. Given the bitter taste it will not get immensely popular fast, like we have seen with sweet pepper some decades ago. However, the interest in health combined with attractive internet posts from Asia, makes it a potential growth crop.” Successful organic cropping starts with top quality organic seeds. At the Asia Fruit Logistica Enza Zaden will therefore focus on Organic. “Vitalis Organic Seeds, a subsidiary of Enza Zaden, is the global leader in organic seed production and breeding,” says Produce Chain Manager Chris Groot. “All of our varieties are thoroughly screened at the Vitalis research stations worldwide to provide quality seed that is healthy and germinates well.” Quality But quality means more than that. Disease resistance, taste and presentation for instance. “We only breed and select the varieties having the highest resistance levels. Molecular phytopathologists study how to identify the most important effectors. Knowledge of the plant genes that identify these effectors can help breeders to more effectively develop new varieties with additional resistances. In the spinach leaves on the left, the effector has not been recognised by a resistance protein, resulting in the cells remaining intact. The resistance proteins in the leaves on the right have recognised the effector, and cells that have received the effector have consequently died. Posthuma: “We also enhance our knowledge by studying resistance mechanisms in unrelated plants, such as barley.” Posthuma is referring to the research into resistance to powdery mildew in barley. The researchers discovered that barley is resistant to powdery mildew when a specific gene has a defect, leading to an absence of the protein for which the gene normally encodes. This resistance has now been used for more than forty years in barley and may be termed durable. Although barley is not directly related to vegetable plants, the gene in barley yielded light and dark. What is common for all bittergourds, however, is the bitter taste and the healthy compounds of the fruit: vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, K and the minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, manganese and zinc. For centuries bittergourd has been used in Chinese medicine in applications against diabetes. Bittergourd in Western trends The demand for bittergourd will rise as the young generation of immigrants continue to prepare it. Therefore, the option for local production has been investigated. Some bittergourd varieties, bred for Asian countries, appear to grow very well in Dutch greenhouses too. Verwegen: “The Asian population in Europe welcomes And as the ultimate consumer looks for tasty products, we make crossings with hundreds of lines to find the combinations that stand out in taste and presentation.” Combining expertise and experience Groot stresses the importance of the varieties being adapted to the organic growing systems of today. “Combining Enza Zaden's expertise in breeding and seed technology with Vitalis’ experience in organic selection and seed production, results in first-class information that could be used to develop resistance to powdery this very much. We have started products. This makes Vitalis the best choice for the mildew in other crops. Bittergourd in Western countries small local pilot productions in the professional organic vegetable grower. We’d like to You can of course protect your home with sensors, shutters, Durable resistance The vegetable is in general not that well-known in most Western Netherlands this year, distributing the products to ethnic supermarkets and show this to the visitors of the fair and talk about this in person.” locks and gates that will prevent any thief from breaking into your property, but that’s taking things a bit too far. “It’s quite similar This is only one example. Phytopathologists also study the genetic characteristics of various crops when focusing on other countries such as the USA, Europe or Australia. But this seems to be regular retailers. And it even looks like Western trends are slowly starting Booth S-28 in the case of plants. We could pre-emptively cross all possible pathogens. And the knowledge they obtain eventually goes to the changing. “Immigrants, looking for to embrace the bittergourd; new You are most welcome to visit the booth at the Asia resistances in a plant, but then the plant would invest all its breeders, who use it in their crossing and selection programmes. their traditional dishes, ask for their recipes are emerging in Europe, like Fruit Logistica S-28. Here you’ll find a great selection of energy in fighting pathogens, and would consequently grow local vegetables in their new home bittergourd smoothies. This is very the Enza Zaden product range, including the organic poorly and produce very few fruits and seeds. In other words, Molecular phytopathology has greatly enhanced the field of countries,” explains Marketing Analyst promising for the future.” varieties. And you will also be able to taste them! A chef that’s no option.” phytopathology. Knowledge of what precisely makes a pathogen will create surprising and delicious bites with the Interaction between plants and pathogens a pathogen and how plants respond to it, brings the concept of durable resistance closer to reality. Posthuma: “The more we products at the booth. While tasting, our representatives are available to answer all your questions. Molecular phytopathologists investigate which of a pathogen’s know about resistance genes in combination with molecular proteins interact with plant proteins and what the effect of that knowledge of the pathogens, the sooner and more effectively we interaction is. Such knowledge enables them to discover how can respond to prevent the risk of the resistance being broken. plants are able to sense the presence of a pathogen. That’s what we want to achieve.” 16 | The Partnership The Partnership | 17

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