WO2013064436A1

WO2013064436A1 - Peronospora resistance in spinacia oleracea

Info

Publication number: WO2013064436A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/071299
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Hugo Den Braber
Original assignee: Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt En Zaadhandel B.V.
Priority date: 2011-10-31
Filing date: 2012-10-26
Publication date: 2013-05-10
Also published as: JP2014532398A; EP4234702A3; EP2586294A1; ES2850173T3; JP2019010103A; AU2012331260B2; EP4234702A2; EP2773185A1; US20130230635A1; ES2850173T1; AU2012331260A1; DK2773185T3; AU2018203335B2; US9615531B2; AU2018203335A1; EP2773185B1; JP6457269B2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spinach plant comprising a single dominant gene which confersresistance to Peronospora farinosaf. sp. spinaciae races Pfs1, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfs11, Pfs12, Pfs13and UA4410, wherein the gene is obtainable by introgression from a plant grown from seeds of which arepresentative sample wasdeposited with the NCIMB under NCIMB accession number 41857. The invention further relates to progeny of the plant, to propagation material therefore, such as seed, and to food products comprising the spinach leaves.

Description

PERONOSPORA RESISTANCE IN SPINACIA OLERACEA

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a spinach plant comprising a single dominant gene which leads to resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and

UA4410. The invention also relates to progeny of said spinach plant, to propagation material of said spinach plant, to a cell of said spinach plant, to seed of said spinach plant, and to harvested leaves of said spinach plant. This invention further relates to use of a spinach plant in breeding to confer resistance against Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae.

Background of the invention

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a flowering plant from the Amaranthaceae family that is grown as a vegetable. The consumable parts of spinach are the leaves from the vegetative stage. Spinach is sold loose, bunched, in pre^¬ packed bags, canned, or frozen. There are three basic types of spinach, namely the savoy, semi-savoy and smooth types. Savoy has dark green, crinkly and curly leaves. Flat or smooth leaf spinach has broad, smooth leaves. Semi-savoy is a variety with slightly crinkled leaves. The main market for spinach is baby-leaf. Baby spinach leaves are usually of the flat-leaf variety and usually the harvested leaves are not longer than about eight centimetre. These tender, sweet leaves are sold loose rather than in bunches. They are often used in salads, but can also be lightly cooked.

Downy mildew - in spinach caused by the oomycete fungus Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae (formerly known as P. effusa) - is a major threat for spinach growers, because it affects the harvested plant parts, namely the leaves. Infection makes the leaves unsuitable for sale and consumption, as it manifests itself phenotypically as yellow lesions on the older leaves, and on the abaxial leaf surface a greyish fungal growth can be observed. The infection can spread very rapidly, and it can occur both in glasshouse cultivation and in soil cultivation. The optimal temperature for formation and germination of P. farinosa f. sp .

spinaciae spores is 9 to 12°C, and it is facilitated by a high relative humidity. When spores are deposited on a humid leaf surface they can readily germinate and infect the leaf. Fungal growth is optimal between 8 and 20 °C and a relative humidity of ≥80%, and within 6 and 13 days after infection mycelium growth can be observed. Oospores of P. farinosa can survive in the soil for up to 3 years, or as mycelium in seeds or living plants.

In recent years various resistance genes have been identified that provide spinach plants with a resistance against downy mildew. However, it has been observed that previously resistant spinach cultivars can again become susceptible to the fungus. Investigations revealed that the cultivars themselves had not changed, and that the loss of downy mildew resistance must therefore be due to P. farinosa overcoming the resistance in these spinach cultivars. The downy mildew races (also called physios or isolates) that were able to infect resistant spinach cultivars were

collected in a differential reference set, which can be used to test spinach cultivars for resistance. The differential set comprises a series of spinach cultivars (hybrids) that have different resistance patterns to the currently

identified pathogenic races.

To date 14 pathogenic races of spinach downy mildew (Pfs) have been officially identified and characterized. Races 4 through 10 have been identified between 1990 and 2009 (Irish et al . , 2008, Phytopathol. 98: 894-900), which illustrates the versatility and adaptability of the fungus to overcome resistances in spinach. In

different geographical regions different combinations of pathogenic races occur, and the spinach industry therefore has a strong demand for spinach cultivars that are resistant to as many relevant downy mildew races as possible,

preferably to all races that may occur in their region, and even to the newest threats that cannot be countered with the resistances that are present in the commercially available spinach cultivars.

In March and August 2011, the "International

Working Group on Peronospora farinosa" (IWGP) designated two isolates as the type isolates for new races Pfsl2 and Pfsl3, respectively. As illustrated by Table 1, these newly

identified Peronospora races can break the resistance of many spinach varieties that are currently used commercially worldwide, and they thus pose a serious threat to the productivity of the spinach industry.

Spinach variety Viroflay is susceptible to all known physios, while cultivars such as Lion and Lazio show resistance to multiple races. However, it is crucial to stay at the forefront of developments in this field, as

Peronospora continuously develops the ability to break the resistances that are present in commercial spinach

varieties. For this reason new resistance genes are very valuable assets, and they form an important research focus in spinach breeding. The goal of spinach breeders is to rapidly develop spinach varieties with a resistance to as many Peronospora races as possible, including the latest identified races, before these races become wide-spread and can threaten the industry. Recently another new Peronospora isolate has been identified, termed UA4410, which subsequently has been officially named Pfsl4. Along with the 13 other officially recognized Pfs races this isolate is publicly available from the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA, and also from NAK Tuinbouw, Sotaweg 22, 2371 GD Roelofarendsveen, the Netherlands.

In the prior art no single dominant resistance gene is known that confers resistance to the new physios Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and UA4410. In the absence of a suitable resistance to counter this pathogenic threat, these new isolates may spread during the next growing seasons and cause great damage to the worldwide spinach industry in the immediate future.

In order to confer a resistance that is as broad as possible, i.e. that confers resistance to as many Pfs physios as possible, preferable to all known Pfs physios, it is very useful to be able to stack different resistance genes against Peronospora infection in spinach. Such a combination of different resistance genes on one gene segment is highly desirable. It is much easier if the resistance genes inherit as single dominant loci, because in that case the resistance pattern conferred by the dominant resistance gene cannot segregate away in the progeny of the cross, and will always inherit as one single set of

resistances to various pathogenic races.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a single, dominant resistance gene in spinach, conferring resistance to various Peronospora races,

including the ones that have been most recently identified, which enables the easy transfer of this broad resistance pattern to other spinach plants. Summary of the invention

The invention thus relates to spinach plants comprising a single dominant gene which confers resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and

UA4410, wherein the gene is obtainable by introgression from a plant grown from seeds of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB under NCIMB accession number 41857.

The present invention relates to a new resistance gene - named R6 - that confers resistance onto spinach plants to downy mildew races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and UA4410. In the prior art no spinach cultivars are known that have a resistance against the combination of these pathogenic races, that is conferred by a single dominant resistance gene. The current invention thus represents an important step forward in the field of downy mildew resistance in spinach. The new

resistance gene of the invention (R6) behaves as a single dominant locus. It can be easily introduced into any other spinach plant, irrespective of the type (smooth, semi-savoy or savoy) or leaf morphology (smooth, weakly to strongly incised) or any other characteristic, to render it resistant against Peronospora isolates Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and UA4410.

Stacking of the R6 resistance gene of the invention that provides resistance to Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and UA4410 with other resistance genes known in the art and/or with those that will be identified in the future can lead to resistance against all known Peronospora races.

Spinach plants of the invention, carrying the new source of resistance designated as R6, can be crossed to other spinach plants carrying one or more resistance genes different from R6, to obtain an even broader resistance to the various Peronospora races.

The spinach plants of the invention are obtainable by crossing a first spinach plant with a second spinach plant, wherein one or both of the spinach plants comprises the resistance gene of the invention, to obtain Fl plants.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention thus relates to a dominant resistance gene in spinach, that confers resistance to a broad range of pathogenic races, in particular the races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and UA4410 of the fungus Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae . The resistance trait is genetically inherited as a single dominant locus. Its presence in a plant can be detected using a disease resistance assay as described in example 1. The disease resistance assay shows the phenotype, as illustrated by example 1. The genotype of the disease resistance can be assayed by testing the inheritance of the resistance gene. In an F2 population this gene segregates in a 3:1 ratio, i.e. on average 3 out of 4 F2 plants possess the resistance pattern of the invention, as is illustrated by example 2.

The single dominant R6 gene can be introduced into any other plant by introgression from a plant grown from seeds of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB on July 26^th 2011 under NCIMB accession number 41857 or any other plant derived therefrom. The deposited seeds comprise the R6 gene and are thus a source of the gene. It can be introduced into other spinach plants of the same or a different type, such as savoy, semi-savoy and smooth as described in example 2. Spinach plants that carry the same dominant R6 gene as is found in plants grown from seeds deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857 but are not directly obtained therefrom are also plants of the invention .

The invention also relates to progeny of a spinach plant, which progeny is resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and UA4410. Such progeny can be produced by sexual or vegetative reproduction of a plant of the invention or a progeny plant thereof. The progeny plant displays the R6 resistance trait in the same or in a similar way as the plant of which representative seed was deposited (NCIMB 41857) . This means that such progeny has the same downy mildew resistance characteristics as claimed for the spinach plants of the invention.

As used herein the word "progeny" is intended to mean the offspring or the first and all further descendants from a cross with a plant of the invention that shows the R6 resistance trait. Progeny of the invention comprises

descendants of any cross with a plant of the invention that carries the R6 resistance trait. Such progeny is for example obtainable by crossing a first spinach plant with a second spinach plant, wherein one of the spinach plants was grown from seeds of a plant of the invention, representative seeds of which were deposited with the NCIMB under NCIMB accession number 41857, but can also be the progeny of any other spinach plant carrying the R6 gene as present in NCIMB

41857.

The said progeny plants comprise an introgression fragment that comprises resistance gene R6, wherein the said introgression fragment is obtainable from a spinach plant of which representative seed is deposited with the NCIMB under NCIMB accession number 41857. The resistance trait thus has a genetic basis in the genome of a spinach plant, and using the assay described in example 1, spinach plants can be identified as being plants of the invention. It is

understood that a parent plant that provides the trait of the invention is not necessarily a plant grown directly from the deposited seeds. The parent can also be a progeny plant from the seed, or a progeny plant from seeds that are identified to have (or to have acquired) the trait of the invention by other means. In one embodiment, the invention relates to spinach plants that carry the trait of the invention and that have acquired the said trait by

introduction of the genetic information that is responsible for the trait from a suitable source, either by conventional breeding, or genetic modification, in particular by cis- genesis or trans-genesis. Cis-genesis is genetic

modification of plants with a natural gene, encoding an (agricultural) trait from the crop plant itself or from a sexually compatible donor plant. Trans-genesis is genetic modification of a plant with a gene from a non-crossable species or with a synthetic gene.

In one embodiment, the source from which the genetic information is acquired is formed by plants grown from the deposited seeds, or by sexual or vegetative

descendants therefrom. "Progeny" also encompasses plants that carry the trait of the invention which are obtained from other plants of the invention by vegetative propagation or multiplication.

The invention further relates to propagation material of a spinach plant of the invention, wherein a plant grown or regenerated from the said propagation

material is resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp .

spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and UA4410. In one embodiment, the propagation material is suitable for sexual reproduction. Such propagation material comprises for example microspores, pollen, ovaries, ovules, embryo sacs and egg cells. In another embodiment, the propagation material is suitable for vegetative reproduction. Such propagation material comprises for example cuttings, roots, stems, cells, protoplasts, and tissue cultures of regenerable cells, parts of the plant that are suitable for preparing tissue cultures, in

particular leaves, pollen, embryos, cotyledons, hypocotyls, meristematic cells, root tips, anthers, flowers, seeds and stems .

The invention further relates to a spinach plant grown or regenerated from the said propagation material of a plant of the invention, which plant is resistant to

Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and

UA4410.

The invention further relates to a cell of a spinach plant of the invention, which cell comprises a single dominant gene which leads to resistance to

Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410, wherein the said gene is as present in a spinach plant, representative seeds of which were deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857. The said cell thus comprises the genetic information encoding the said resistance, in

particular genetic information which is substantially identical, preferably completely identical to the genetic information encoding the said resistance trait of the spinach plant, representative seeds of which were deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857, more in particular the R6 gene described herein. Preferably, the cell of the invention is part of a plant or plant part, but the cell may also be in isolated form.

The invention also relates to a cell of a spinach plant of the invention, which cell comprises a single dominant gene which leads to resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410, and which plant is obtained by transferring the Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae resistance as found in seeds that were deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857 into an

agronomically valuable spinach plant.

The invention further relates to seed of the spinach plant of the invention, which seed contain in their genome the genetic information that encodes the resistance trait of the invention.

The invention also relates to the use of seeds that were deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857 for transferring resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp .

spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 into another agronomically valuable spinach plant.

The invention also relates to the use of a spinach plant of the invention that is resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 due to the presence, in the genome of the plant, of the Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae resistance as found in seeds that were deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857 as a crop.

The invention further relates to the use of a spinach plant of the invention that is resistant to

Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 due to the presence, in the genome of the plant, of the Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae resistance as found in seeds that were deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857 as a source of seed.

The invention also relates to the use of a spinach plant of the invention that is resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 due to the presence, in the genome of the plant, of the Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae resistance as found in seeds that were deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857 as a source of propagating material.

The invention also relates to the use of a spinach plant of the invention that is resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 due to the presence, in the genome of the plant, of the Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae resistance as found in seeds that were deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857 for consumption .

The invention also relates to harvested leaves of spinach plants of the invention, to food products comprising harvested leaves of spinach plants of the invention, either in natural or in processed form, and to a container

comprising one or more spinach plants of the invention in a growth substrate for harvest of leaves from the spinach plant in a domestic environment.

The invention further relates to the use of a spinach plant of the invention in breeding to confer

resistance against Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae.

The invention also relates to the use of the

Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae resistance as found in seeds that were deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857 for conferring resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 onto a Spinacia oleracea plant.

The invention further relates to the use of a Spinacia oleracea plant as a recipient of Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae resistance as found in seeds that were deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857.

In one aspect the invention relates to a method for production of a spinach plant which is resistant to

Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410, comprising

a) crossing a plant comprising a genetic determinant that leads to the said trait with another plant;

b) selecting plants that have the said trait in the Fl;

c) optionally performing one or more rounds of selfing or crossing, and subsequently selecting, for a plant comprising/showing the trait of the invention.

The word "trait" in the context of this application refers to the phenotype of the plant. In particular, the word "trait" refers to the trait of the invention, more in particular to the resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410. The term "genetic determinant" is used for the genetic information in the genome of the plant that causes the trait of the invention. When a plant shows the trait of the invention, its genome comprises the genetic determinant causing the trait of the invention. The plant thus has the genetic determinant of the invention.

It is clear that the parent that provides the trait of the invention is not necessarily a plant grown directly from the deposited seeds. The parent can also be a progeny plant from the seed or a progeny plant from seeds that are identified to have the trait of the invention by other means .

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for production of a spinach plant which is resistant to

Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2,

Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410, comprising

a) crossing a plant comprising the genetic

determinant that leads to the said trait with another plant;

b) optionally backcrossing the resulting Fl with the preferred parent;

c) selecting for plants that have the said trait in the Fl or in the F2 ;

d) optionally performing one or more additional rounds of selfing or crossing, and subsequently selecting, for a plant comprising the said trait.

The invention additionally provides a method of introducing another desired trait into a spinach plant which is resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2,

Pfsl3, UA4410, comprising:

a) crossing a spinach plant that is resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410, representative seed of which were deposited under deposit number NCIMB 41857, with a second spinach plant that

comprises a desired trait to produce Fl progeny;

b) selecting an Fl progeny that comprises said resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 and the desired trait;

c) crossing the selected Fl progeny with either parent, to produce backcross progeny; d) selecting backcross progeny comprising the desired trait and resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410; and

e) optionally repeating steps c) and d) one or more times in succession to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny that comprises the desired trait and resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410. The invention includes a spinach plant produced by this method.

In one embodiment selection for plants that are resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 is done in the Fl or any further generation of a cross or alternatively of a backcross. Selection of plants can be done phenotypically as e.g. described in Example 1.

In one embodiment the plant comprising the genetic determinant is a plant of an inbred line, a hybrid, a doubled haploid, or of a segregating population.

The invention further provides a method for the production of a spinach plant resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 by using a doubled haploid generation technique to generate a doubled haploid line comprising the said trait.

The invention furthermore relates to hybrid seed that can be grown into a plant resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 and to a method for producing such hybrid seed comprising crossing a first parent plant with a second parent plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid seed, wherein said first parent plant and/or said second parent plant is the plant as claimed.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for producing a hybrid spinach plant that is resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2,

Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410, comprising crossing a first parent spinach plant with a second parent spinach plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid seed, of which the first parent plant and/or the second parent plant is resistant to Peronospora farinosa f . sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410, and growing said hybrid seeds into hybrid plants that are resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410.

The invention also relates to a method for the production of a spinach plant that is resistant to

Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 by using a seed that comprises a genetic determinant in its genome that leads to resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 for growing the said spinach plant. The seeds are suitably seeds of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB under deposit number NCIMB 41857.

The invention also relates to a method for seed production comprising growing spinach plants from seeds of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB under deposit number NCIMB 41857, allowing the plants to produce seeds, and harvesting those seeds. Production of the seeds is suitably done by crossing or selfing. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for the production of a spinach plant resistant to

Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 by using tissue culture.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for the production of a spinach plant resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 by using vegetative reproduction.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for the production of a spinach plant resistant to

Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 by using a method for genetic modification to introgress the said trait into the spinach plant. Genetic modification comprises transgenic modification or transgenesis , using a gene from a non-crossable species or a synthetic gene, and cisgenic modification or cisgenesis, using a natural gene, coding for an (agricultural) trait, from the crop plant itself or from a sexually compatible donor plant.

The invention also relates to a breeding method for the development of spinach plants that are resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 wherein germplasm comprising said trait is used.

Representative seed of said plant comprising the genetic determinant and being representative for the germplasm was deposited with the NCIMB under deposit number NCIMB 41857.

In a further embodiment the invention relates to a method for the production of a spinach plant resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 wherein progeny or propagation material of a plant comprising the genetic determinant conferring said trait is used as a source to introgress the said trait into another spinach plant. Representative seed of said plant comprising the genetic determinant was deposited with the NCIMB under deposit number NCIMB 41857.

The invention provides preferably a spinach plant resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410, which plant is obtainable by any of the methods herein described and/or familiar to the skilled person .

In the context of this application the resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3, UA4410 is preferably caused by a genetic determinant, in particular a single dominant gene, that is present in the genome of seed of deposit number NCIMB 41857. EXAMPLES EXAMPLE 1

Testing for the R6 resistance trait in spinach plants

The resistance to downy mildew infection was assayed as described by Irish et al . (2008; Phytopathol. 98: 894-900), using a differential set. Spinach plants of the invention (R6) were planted along with spinach plants from different other genotypes (see Table 1) in trays containing Scotts Redi-Earth medium, and fertilized twice a week after seedling emergence with Osmocote Peter's (13-13-13)

fertilizer (Scotts) . Plants were inoculated with a

sporangial suspension (2.5 ^χ lOVml) of a pathogenic race of Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae at the first true leaf stage. In this manner, 11 pathogenic races were tested (as shown in Table 1) .

The inoculated plants were placed in a dew chamber at 18°C with 100% relative humidity for a 24 h period, and then moved to a growth chamber at 18 °C with a 12 h

photoperiod for 6 days. After 6 days, the plants were returned to the dew chamber for 24 h to induce sporulation, and they were scored for disease reaction.

Plants were scored as resistant or susceptible based on symptoms of chlorosis and signs of pathogen

sporulation on the cotyledons and true leaves, as described by Irish et al . (2007; Plant Dis . 91: 1392-1396) . Plants exhibiting any evidence of chlorosis and sporulation were considered susceptible. Resistant plants were re-inoculated to assess whether plants initially scored as resistant had escaped infection, or whether they were truly resistant.

Table 1 shows the differential set of spinach downy mildew races and the resistance of various spinach varieties (hybrids) to each one of these pathogenic races. A susceptible reaction is scored as (indicating a

successful infection by the fungus, with sporulation

occurring on the entire cotyledon) , and resistance is depicted as (absence of sporulation on the cotyledons) .

A weak resistance response is indicated as " ( + ) ", which in practice means a slightly reduced level of infection (with sporulation only occurring on the tips of the cotyledons in the differential seedling test) . R6 is a line exhibiting the resistance of the present invention, and the resistance patterns of the parental lines of hybrid variety "Lion" are also shown.

Comparison of the parental lines of Lion to Lion itself reveals that the broad resistance pattern of Lion results from the combination of at least two resistance genes, coming from either of the parents, because both parents only possess parts of the resistance profile of the hybrid (Lion) that results from the crossing of these two lines. The genetic basis of the resistance in Lion is thus multigenic in nature, caused by the stacking of at least two resistance genes in the hybrid variety, and hence the genetic basis of the Peronospora resistance in Lion is entirely different from that in plants of the present invention .

In contrast, the R6 resistance trait of the present invention is conferred by a single dominant locus, which has the great advantage that the R6 resistance trait can be easily transferred to other spinach varieties by crossing/introgression, and that it can easily be combined with other resistance genes. When combined with selected other genes that e.g. confer resistance to downy mildew races Pfs7, Pfs8 and PfslO, the R6 trait can be used to provide resistance to all downy mildew races known to date in spinach.

Table 1

EXAMPLE 2

Introduction of the R6 resistance trait into other spinach plants

A plant of the invention was crossed (as a father) with a plant that does not contain the R6 resistance trait, to obtain an Fl . Thirty plants of the Fl population were tested for resistance to Peronospora race UA4410, as

described in example 1. This particular resistance was absent from the mother plant used in the said cross. All 30 plants showed the resistance pattern of the invention, i.e. resistance to pathogenic race UA4410. This demonstrated that the R6 resistance gene inherits in a dominant manner.

In another experiment, a plant of the invention was crossed (as a mother) with a different spinach plant that does not contain the R6 resistance trait of the

invention. Plants of the Fl population were selfed, and a total of 76 plants of the F2 generation were tested for Peronospora resistance, as described in example 1. As a positive discriminator for the presence of the R6 trait, resistance to Pfsll was assayed, because this resistance was present in the mother plant (R6) but not in the father plant of the cross.

It was observed that Pfsll resistance segregated in the F2 generation in a fashion that corresponds to dominant monogenic inheritance: 60 of the 76 F2 plants exhibited the R6-resistance pattern. Table 2 gives a

detailed overview of the segregation of the R6 resistance trait in five F2 populations. Chi-square tests confirmed that the observed segregation in the F2 populations was consistent with a 3:1 segregation of the R6 resistance profile, cL S cL S S cLyed here with resistance to Pfsll. Table 2

cross

Chi square > 0.05 ?

yes

Table 2: segregation of the R6 resistance profile in five F2 populations from a cross between a spinach plant of the invention (mother) to a father plant of a different

genotype, which lacked the R6 resistance trait. Chi-square tests confirm that the observed numbers of F2 plants that were resistant and sensitive were in agreement with what is expected if the trait segregates in a dominant monogenic fashion, namely 3:1 (resistant : sensitive) . In all cases chi-square values are well above 0.05.

Similar segregation results were obtained when the progeny of a cross between a plant that carries the R6 resistance trait and a plant not carrying the said trait were assayed for the races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and UA4410, which together constitute the R6 resistance profile. Print Out (Original in Electronic Form)

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Claims

1. Spinach plant comprising a single dominant gene which confers resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp .

spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and UA4410, wherein the gene is

obtainable by introgression from a plant grown from seeds of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB under NCIMB accession number 41857.

2. Progeny of a spinach plant as claimed in claim

1, which progeny is resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and UA4410, wherein the resistance is the result of the single dominant gene as defined in claim 1, which is as found in seeds of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB under NCIMB accession number 41857.

3. Propagation material of a plant as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a plant grown or regenerated from the material is resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp .

spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and UA4410.

4. Cell of a spinach plant as claimed in any one of the claims 1-3, which cell comprises a single dominant gene which leads to resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae races Pfsl, Pfs2, Pfs3, Pfs4, Pfs5, Pfs6, Pfs9, Pfsll, Pfsl2, Pfsl3 and UA4410, wherein the said gene is as present in a spinach plant, representative seeds of which were deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857.

5. Seed of a spinach plant as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

6. Harvested leaves of a spinach plant as claimed in any one of the claims 1-3.

7. Food product comprising the harvested leaves of claim 6.

8. Container comprising one or more spinach plants as claimed in any one of the claims 1-3 in a growth

substrate for harvest of leaves from the spinach plant in a domestic environment.

9. Use of spinach plant as claimed in any of the claims 1-3, representative seeds of which were deposited under NCIMB accession number 41857, in breeding to confer resistance against Peronospora farinosa f. sp . spinaciae.