WO2024008763A2

WO2024008763A2 - Orobanche resistant plants

Info

Publication number: WO2024008763A2
Application number: PCT/EP2023/068472
Authority: WO
Inventors: Irina CALIC; Anna Maria FINKERS-TOMCZAK; Martin De Vos; Jan Willem Ligterink
Original assignee: Keygene N.V.
Priority date: 2022-07-05
Filing date: 2023-07-05
Publication date: 2024-01-11
Also published as: WO2024008763A3

Abstract

The invention pertains to a method for producing a plant having improved Orobanche resistance as compared to a control plant. The method comprises the steps of impairing expression and/or activity of a protein selected from the group consisting of a UDP-glucuronate 4 epimerase protein, a protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein, an acid phosphatase protein, an indole-3- pyruvatemonooxygenase protein, an inorganic phosphate transporter protein, a cis- epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein, and an alcohol acetyltransferase protein. The invention further concerns a plant having an impaired expression and/or activity of at least one of these proteins and a nucleic acid comprising a gene encoding at least one of the proteins, and wherein the gene comprises one or more modifications resulting in impaired expression and/or activity.

Description

Orobanche resistant plants

Field of the invention

The invention is in the field of agriculture, in particular in the field of crop protection, more particularly in the field of providing Orobanche resistance, preferably Orobanche cumana Wallr. resistance, to plants.

Background of the invention

The genus Orobanche (commonly known as broomrape) consists of over 200 different species of parasitic herbaceous plants. They do not contain chlorophyll, meaning that they are unable to photosynthesize and are dependent on other sources for their nutrients and energy. Orobanche parasitizes on a host plant, thereby leaching away from the host photosynthetically fixed carbon, as well as nutrients taken up by the root-system of the host plant. As a result the host plant will get severely stunted in its growth or die off completely. Some Orobanche species are only able to parasitize a single plant species and are often named after their host, such as Orobanche hederae, while other Orobanche species are able to parasitize on several host species, such as Orobanche minor (Fernandez-Aparicio et al., Annals of botany, 2009; 103 (3): 423-431).

While certain Orobanche species (Orobanche crenata) are considered a delicacy in certain regions, most of the Orobanche species are considered a major threat to crops worldwide. Especially in the warmer part of Europe, Africa and Asia where Orobanche mainly parasitizes species of the leguminous, oilseeds, Solanaceous, cruciferous and medicinal plant plants, crop yield losses range from 5% to 100% (Habimana et al. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 2014, 14(1), 43-62). Orobanche is a long-term problem, with their seeds persisting in the soil for up to 20 years and being spread through common agricultural practices (Habimana et al, supra).

Currently the limitation of Orobanche infection is heavily dependent on prevention of spread and establishment in agricultural fields. Proper phytosanitary measures to clean equipment are essential to limit the spread of Orobanche from field to field, as well as the use of fermented instead of fresh manure to fertilize the fields. Once established, it is extremely difficult to eradicate Orobanche from a field.

Methods of control include physical and chemical methods. Heating wetted soil trapped under polyethylene film to temperatures of 48 °C to 57 °C, is a physical way to control but not to eradicate Orobanche seeds in open crop fields (Habimana et al, supra). Chemical control comprises, amongst others, the application of synthetic strigolactones to a field, triggering Orobanche to germinate while no viable host is present, resulting in suicidal germination (Habimana et al, supra). While there are herbicides currently on the market that can limit Orobanche infestation, the risk of developing resistance and increased stringency in regulation mean that the use of herbicides is not a sustainable method of Orobanche control.

Resistance breeding of specific crops is largely based on germination as well. Low germination host varieties have been found in model species such as Arabidopsis and tobacco. Other facets of the line of defense against Orobanche is the thickening of cell walls, the exudation of toxic compounds and sealing of vascular tissues. All of these responses entail a growth penalty and more importantly, the resistance resulting from these responses can be broken by Orobanche.

For this purpose a different strategy can be chosen which is based on the discovery of so- called plant susceptibility factors. Such S factors are plant-expressed proteins or RNAs that are exploited by Orobanche to complete its lifecycle in host plants. S gene products result in a susceptible plant often by interacting with Orobanche proteins which are thereby hijacked for use by the parasites. Resistance can be achieved by specific alterations in a given S gene product leading to altered structure and function or a loss of expression of the S gene all together, which then results in a loss of susceptibility and plants having an increased Orobanche resistance or Orobanche resistant plants. Though less frequent than for R genes, such examples of natural functional S gene variants have been described for viruses and bacteria (e.g. Clarke et al. PeerJ 2020; 8e9268: DOI 10.7717/peerj.9268). Combining S gene based resistance with R gene based resistance furthermore provides the opportunity to create more durable resistance complexes.

Thus, there remains a need in the art to uncover new molecular target(s) (e.g. genes) and their related protein(s), which can be manipulated or altered in a plant to prevent or reduce at least one of the successful invasion, establishment and spread of an Orobanche species, preferably Orobanche cumana, in said plant. There is also a need for an alternative or an improved method for conferring Orobanche, preferably O. cumana, resistance to a plant, preferably a method that allows for the efficient generation of plants resistant to Orobanche or having an improved Orobanche resistance as compared to a control plant, e.g., a wild-type plant.

Summary of the invention

The present invention describes the discovery of S genes. Mutants of these one or more S genes lead to increased resistance against O. cumana in Helianthus annuus (sunflower) in an R gene independent manner, allowing for crop protection against Orobanche, wherein said Orobanche preferably is O. cumana. Plants, preferably Helianthus crops such as sunflower and topinambour, are likely to generate resistance that is longer lasting than resistance based on an R gene.

In a first embodiment, the invention provides for a method for producing a plant having improved Orobanche resistance as compared to a control plant, comprising the steps of impairing expression and/or activity of at least one of: a UDP-glucuronate 4 epimerase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; a protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; an acid phosphatase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; an indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; an inorganic phosphate transporter protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; a cis-epoxycarotenoidoxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; and an alcohol acetyltransferase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 or a homologue or orthologue thereof.

Preferably expression and/or activity of said protein is impaired by modifying an endogenous gene encoding said protein.

The step of impairing expression may comprise the insertion, deletion and/or substitution of at least one nucleotide in the sequence encoding the protein, resulting in a sequence encoding a modified protein with reduced function, preferably having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 8, SEQ ID NO 9, SEQ ID NO 11 , SEQ ID NO 12, SEQ ID NO 14, SEQ ID NO 16..

In addition or alternatively, the step of impairing expression may comprise the insertion, deletion and/or substitution of at least one nucleotide in a transcription regulatory sequence of the gene encoding the protein, resulting in decreased protein expression.

Preferably, said Orobanche is O. cumana.

The method may further comprise the step of regenerating said plant.

Preferably, expression of the protein is impaired at least in the leaves and/or roots of said plant.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides for a nucleic acid comprising a gene encoding a protein, wherein said gene comprises one or more modifications resulting in impaired expression and/or activity of at least one of: a UDP-glucuronate 4 epimerase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; a protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; an acid phosphatase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; an indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; an inorganic phosphate transporter protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; a cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; and an alcohol acetyltransferase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 or a homologue or orthologue thereof.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides for a construct, vector or host cell comprising the nucleic acid of the previous embodiment. In a further embodiment, the invention provides for a protein encoded by a nucleic acid of the invention having one or more modifications in the coding sequence of the gene encompassed in the nucleic acid, wherein said protein is capable of improving Orobanche resistance when expressed in a plant.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides for a plant obtainable by a method of the first embodiment.

Preferably the plant of the invention has improved Orobanche resistance as compared to a control plant, wherein said plant shows impaired expression and/or activity of at least one protein selected from the group consisting of: a UDP-glucuronate 4 epimerase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; a protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; an acid phosphatase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; an indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; an inorganic phosphate transporter protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; a cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; and an alcohol acetyltransferase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 or a homologue or orthologue thereof.

Preferably, the plant of the invention, or progeny thereof, comprises a nucleic acid, construct, vector or host cell of the invention, or expresses a protein of the invention.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides for a use of a nucleic acid, construct vector and/or host cell of the invention for improving Orobanche resistance in a plant.

In a further embodiment, the invention provides for a method of screening a plant for Orobanche resistance, wherein said method comprises the steps of: assessing the presence of the nucleic acid, a construct, vector, host cell, or a protein of the invention in said plant; and optionally selecting said plant.

Definitions

Various terms relating to the methods, compositions, uses and other aspects of the present invention are used throughout the specification and claims. Such terms are to be given their ordinary meaning in the art to which the invention pertains, unless otherwise indicated. Other specifically defined terms are to be construed in a manner consistent with the definition provided herein. It is clear for the skilled person that any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used for practicing the present invention. Methods of carrying out the conventional techniques used in methods of the invention will be evident to the skilled worker. The practice of conventional techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry, computational chemistry, cell culture, recombinant DNA, bioinformatics, genomics, sequencing and related fields are well-known to those of skill in the art and are discussed, for example, in the following literature references: Sambrook et al. Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual, 4th Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N. Y., 2012; Ausubel et al.. Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1987 and periodic updates; the series Methods in Enzymology, Academic Press, San Diego and JM Walker, the series Methods in Molecular Biology, Springer Protocols.

The singular terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a cell” includes a combination of two or more cells, and the like. The indefinite article "a" or "an" thus usually means "at least one".

“Analogous to” in respect of a domain, sequence or position of a protein, in relation to an indicated domain, sequence or position of a reference protein, is to be understood herein as a domain, sequence or position that aligns to the indicated domain, sequence or position of the reference protein upon alignment of the protein to the reference nucleic acid using alignment algorithms as described herein, such as Needleman Wunsch. “Analogous to” in respect of a domain, sequence or position of a nucleic acid, in relation to an indicated domain, sequence or position of a reference nucleic acid, is to be understood herein as a domain, sequence or position that aligns to the indicated domain, sequence or position of the reference nucleic acid upon alignment of the nucleic acid to the reference nucleic acid using alignment algorithms as described herein, such as Needleman Wunsch.

The term “and/or” refers to a situation wherein one or more of the stated cases may occur, alone or in combination with at least one of the stated cases, up to with all of the stated cases.

As used herein, the term “about” is used to describe and account for small variations. For example, the term can refer to less than or equal to ± (+ or -) 10%, such as less than or equal to ±5%, less than or equal to ±4%, less than or equal to ±3%, less than or equal to ±2%, less than or equal to ±1 %, less than or equal to ±0.5%, less than or equal to ±0.1 %, or less than or equal to ±0.05%. Additionally, amounts, ratios, and other numerical values are sometimes presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such range format is used for convenience and brevity and should be understood flexibly to include numerical values explicitly specified as limits of a range, but also to include all individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly specified. For example, a ratio in the range of about 1 to about 200 should be understood to include the explicitly recited limits of about 1 and about 200, but also to include individual ratios such as about 2, about 3, and about 4, and sub-ranges such as about 10 to about 50, about 20 to about 100, and so forth.

The term “comprising” is construed as being inclusive and open ended, and not exclusive. Specifically, the term and variations thereof mean the specified features, steps or components are included. These terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components. The terms “protein” or “polypeptide” are used interchangeably and refer to molecules consisting of a chain of amino acids, without reference to a specific mode of action, size, 3 dimensional structure or origin. A “fragment” or “portion” of a protein may thus still be referred to as a “protein”. An “isolated protein” is used to refer to a protein which is no longer in its natural environment, for example in vitro or in a recombinant bacterial or plant cell. The protein of the invention may be at least one of a recombinant, synthetic or artificial protein.

"Plant" refers to either the whole plant or to parts of a plant, such as cells, protoplasts, calli, tissue, organs (e.g. embryos pollen, ovules, seeds, gametes, roots, leaves, flowers, flower buds, anthers, fruit, etc.) obtainable from the plant, as well as derivatives of any of these and progeny derived from such a plant by selfing or crossing. Non-limiting examples of plants include crop plants and cultivated plants, such as African eggplant, alliums, artichoke, asparagus, barley, beet, bell pepper, bitter gourd, bladder cherry, bottle gourd, cabbage, canola, carrot, cassava, cauliflower, celery, chicory, common bean, corn salad, cotton, cucumber, eggplant, endive, fennel, gherkin, grape, hot pepper, lettuce, maize, melon, oilseed rape, okra, parsley, parsnip, pepino, pepper, potato, pumpkin, radish, rice, ridge gourd, rocket, rye, snake gourd, sorghum, spinach, sponge gourd, squash, sugar beet, sugar cane, sunflower, tomatillo, tomato, tomato scion, vegetable Brassica, watermelon, wax gourd, wheat and zucchini.

"Plant cell(s)" include protoplasts, gametes, suspension cultures, microspores, pollen grains, etc., either in isolation or within a tissue, organ or organism. The plant cell can e.g. be part of a multicellular structure, such as a callus, meristem, plant organ or an explant.

“Similar conditions” for culturing the plant I plant cells means among other things the use of a similar temperature, humidity, nutrition and light conditions, and similar irrigation and day/night rhythm.

“Sequence identity” is herein defined as a relationship between two or more amino acid (polypeptide or protein) sequences or two or more nucleotide (polynucleotide) sequences, as determined by comparing the sequences. In the art, "identity" also means the degree of sequence relatedness between amino acid or nucleic acid sequences, as the case may be, as determined by the match between strings of such sequences. "Similarity" between two amino acid sequences is determined by comparing the amino acid sequence and its conserved amino acid substitutes of one polypeptide to the sequence of a second polypeptide. "Identity" and "similarity" can be readily calculated by known methods. The percentage sequence identity I similarity can be determined over the full length of the sequence.

“Sequence identity” and “sequence similarity” can be determined by alignment of two amino acid or two nucleotide sequences using global or local alignment algorithms, depending on the length of the two sequences. Sequences of similar lengths are preferably aligned using a global alignment algorithms (e.g. Needleman Wunsch) which aligns the sequences optimally over the entire length, while sequences of substantially different lengths are preferably aligned using a local alignment algorithm (e.g. Smith Waterman). Sequences may then be referred to as "substantially identical” or “essentially similar” when they (when optimally aligned by for example the programs GAP or BESTFIT using default parameters) share at least a certain minimal percentage of sequence identity (as defined below). GAP uses the Needleman and Wunsch global alignment algorithm to align two sequences over their entire length (full length), maximizing the number of matches and minimizing the number of gaps. A global alignment is suitably used to determine sequence identity when the two sequences have similar lengths. Generally, the GAP default parameters are used, with a gap creation penalty = 50 (nucleotides) 1 8 (proteins) and gap extension penalty = 3 (nucleotides) I 2 (proteins). For nucleotides the default scoring matrix used is nwsgapdna and for proteins the default scoring matrix is Blosum62 (Henikoff & Henikoff, 1992, PNAS 89, 915-919). Sequence alignments and scores for percentage sequence identity may be determined using computer programs, such as the GCG Wisconsin Package, Version 10.3, available from Accelrys Inc., 9685 Scranton Road, San Diego, CA 92121-3752 USA, or using open source software, such as the program “needle” (using the global Needleman Wunsch algorithm) or “water” (using the local Smith Waterman algorithm) in EmbossWIN version 2.10.0, using the same parameters as for GAP above, or using the default settings (both for ‘needle’ and for ‘water’ and both for protein and for DNA alignments, the default Gap opening penalty is 10.0 and the default gap extension penalty is 0.5; default scoring matrices are Blossum62 for proteins and DNAFull for DNA). When sequences have a substantially different overall lengths, local alignments, such as those using the Smith Waterman algorithm, are preferred.

Alternatively percentage similarity or identity may be determined by searching against public databases, using algorithms such as FASTA, BLAST, etc. Thus, the nucleic acid and protein sequences of the present invention can further be used as a “query sequence” to perform a search against public databases to, for example, identify other family members or related sequences. Such searches can be performed using the BLASTn and BLASTx programs (version 2.0) of Altschul, et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403 — 10. BLAST nucleotide searches can be performed with the NBLAST program, score = 100, word length = 12 to obtain nucleotide sequences homologous to nucleic acid molecules of the invention. BLAST protein searches can be performed with the BLASTx program, score = 50, word length = 3 to obtain amino acid sequences homologous to protein molecules of the invention. To obtain gapped alignments for comparison purposes, Gapped BLAST can be utilized as described in Altschul et al., (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25(17): 3389-3402. When utilizing BLAST and Gapped BLAST programs, the default parameters of the respective programs (e.g., BLASTx and BLASTn) can be used. See the homepage of the National Center for Biotechnology Information at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.

A “nucleic acid” or “polynucleotide” according to the present invention may include any polymer or oligomer of pyrimidine and purine bases, preferably cytosine, thymine, and uracil, and adenine and guanine, respectively (See Albert L. Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry, at 793-800 (Worth Pub. 1982) which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes). The present invention contemplates any deoxyribonucleotide, ribonucleotide or nucleic acid component, and any chemical variants thereof, such as methylated, hydroxy methylated or glycosylated forms of these bases, and the like. The polymers or oligomers may be heterogeneous or homogenous in composition, and may be isolated from naturally occurring sources or may be artificially or synthetically produced. In addition, the nucleic acids may be DNA (optionally cDNA) or RNA, or a mixture thereof, and may exist permanently or transitionally in single-stranded or double-stranded form, including homoduplex, heteroduplex, and hybrid states. An “isolated nucleic acid” is used to refer to a nucleic acid which is no longer in its natural environment, for example in vitro or in a recombinant bacterial or plant cell. The nucleic acid of the invention may be at least one of a recombinant, synthetic or artificial nucleic acid.

The terms “nucleic acid construct”, “nucleic acid vector”, “vector” and “expression construct” are used interchangeably herein and is herein defined as a man-made nucleic acid molecule resulting from the use of recombinant DNA technology. The terms “nucleic acid construct” and “nucleic acid vector” therefore does not include naturally occurring nucleic acid molecules although a nucleic acid construct may comprise (parts of) naturally occurring nucleic acid molecules. The vector backbone may for example be a binary or superbinary vector (see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,591 ,616, US 2002138879 and WO 95/06722), a co-integrate vector or a T-DNA vector, as known in the art, into which a chimeric gene is integrated or, if a suitable transcription regulatory sequence is already present, only a desired nucleic acid (e.g. comprising a coding sequence, an antisense or an inverted repeat sequence) is integrated downstream of the transcription regulatory sequence. Vectors can comprise further genetic elements to facilitate their use in molecular cloning, such as e.g. selectable markers, multiple cloning sites and the like.

The term “gene” means a DNA fragment comprising a region (transcribed region), which is transcribed into an RNA molecule (e.g. an mRNA) in a cell, operably linked to suitable regulatory regions (e.g. a promoter). A gene will usually comprise several operably linked fragments, such as a promoter, a 5’ leader sequence, a coding region and a 3’ non-translated sequence (3’ end) comprising a polyadenylation site.

“Expression of a gene” refers to the process wherein a DNA region which is operably linked to appropriate regulatory regions, particularly a promoter, is transcribed into an RNA, which is biologically active, e.g. a regulatory non-coding RNA or an RNA which is capable of being translated into a biologically active protein or peptide. Expression in relation to a protein or peptide is to be understood herein as the process of gene expression resulting in production of said protein or peptide.

The term “operably linked” refers to a linkage of polynucleotide elements in a functional relationship. A nucleic acid region is “operably linked” when it is placed into a functional relationship with another nucleic acid region. For instance, a promoter, or rather a transcription regulatory sequence, is operably linked to a coding sequence if it affects the transcription of the coding sequence. Operably linked may mean that the DNA sequences being linked are contiguous.

“Promoter” refers to a nucleic acid fragment that functions to control the transcription of one or more nucleic acids. A promoter fragment is preferably located upstream (5’) with respect to the direction of transcription of the transcription initiation site of the gene, and is structurally identified by the presence of a binding site for DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, transcription initiation site(s) and can further comprise any other DNA sequences, including, but not limited to transcription factor binding sites, repressor and activator protein binding sites, and any other sequences of nucleotides known to one of skill in the art to act directly or indirectly to regulate the amount of transcription from the promoter.

Optionally, the term “promoter” may also include the 5’ UTR region (5’ Untranslated Region) (e.g. the promoter may herein include one or more parts upstream of the translation initiation codon of transcribed region, as this region may have a role in regulating transcription and/or translation). A “constitutive” promoter is a promoter that is active in most tissues under most physiological and developmental conditions. An “inducible” promoter is a promoter that is physiologically (e.g. by external application of certain compounds) or developmentally regulated. A “tissue specific” promoter is only active in specific types of tissues or cells.

A “3’ UTR” or “3’ non-translated sequence” (also often referred to as 3’ untranslated region, or 3’end) refers to the nucleic acid sequence found downstream of the coding sequence of a gene, which comprises for example a transcription termination site and (in most, but not all eukaryotic mRNAs) a polyadenylation signal (such as e.g. AAUAAA or variants thereof). After termination of transcription, the mRNA transcript may be cleaved downstream of the polyadenylation signal and a poly(A) tail may be added, which is involved in the transport of the mRNA to the cytoplasm (where translation takes place).

The term “wild type” as used in the context of the present invention in combination with a protein or nucleic acid means that said protein or nucleic acid consists of an amino acid or nucleotide sequence, respectively, that occurs as a whole in nature and can be isolated from organisms in nature as such, e.g. is not the result of modification techniques such as targeted or random mutagenesis or the like. A wild type protein is expressed in at least a particular developmental stage under particular environmental conditions, e.g. as it occurs in nature.

The term “endogenous” as used in the context of the present invention in combination with a protein or nucleic acid (e.g. gene) means that said protein or nucleic acid originates from the plant. Often an endogenous protein or nucleic acid will be present in its normal genetic context in the plant. In the present invention, an endogenous protein or nucleic acid may be modified in situ (in the plant or plant cell) using standard molecular biology methods, e.g. gene silencing, random mutagenesis or targeted mutagenesis.

The term “a UDP-glucuronate 4 epimerase” protein refers to a protein belonging to the family UDP-glucuronate 4 epimerase proteins, which preferably is, or is a homologue of the protein comprising or consisting of at least one of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 1. An example of an orthologous UDP-glucuronate 4 epimerase gene is to be understood herein as a gene comprising a sequence encoding an UDP-glucuronate 4 epimerase protein.

The term “protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 ” protein refers to a protein belonging to the family protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 proteins, which preferably is, or is a homologue of the protein comprising or consisting of at least one of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 3. An example of an orthologous protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene is to be understood herein as a gene comprising a sequence encoding an protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein.

The term “acid phosphatase” protein refers to a protein belonging to the family acid phosphatase proteins, which preferably is, or is a homologue of the protein comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 5. An example of an orthologous acid phosphatase gene is to be understood herein as a gene comprising a sequence encoding an acid phosphatase protein.

The term “indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase” protein refers to a protein belonging to the family indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase proteins, which preferably is, or is a homologue of the protein comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 7. An example of an orthologous indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene is to be understood herein as a gene comprising a sequence encoding an indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein.

The term “inorganic phosphate transporter” protein refers to a protein belonging to the family inorganic phosphate transporter proteins, which preferably is, or is a homologue of the protein comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 10. An example of an orthologous inorganic phosphate transporter gene is to be understood herein as a gene comprising a sequence encoding an inorganic phosphate transporter protein.

The term “cis-epoxycarotenoidoxygenase” protein refers to a protein belonging to the family cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase proteins, which preferably is, or is a homologue of the protein comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 13. An example of an orthologous cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene is to be understood herein as a gene comprising a sequence encoding an cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein.

The term “alcoholacatyltransferase” protein refers to a protein belonging to the family alcohol acetyltransferase proteins, which preferably is, or is a homologue of the protein comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO 15. An example of an orthologous alcohol acetyltransferase gene is to be understood herein as a gene comprising a sequence encoding an alcohol acetyltransferase protein.

“Mutagenesis” and/or “modification of a gene or nucleic acid” may be random mutagenesis or targeted mutagenesis resulting in an altered or mutated nucleic acid. Random mutagenesis may be, but is not limited to, chemical mutagenesis and gamma radiation. Non-limiting examples of chemical mutagenesis include, but are not limited to, EMS (ethyl methanesulfonate), MMS (methyl methanesulfonate), NaN3 (sodium azide) D), ENU (N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea), AzaC (azacytidine) and NQO (4-nitroquinoline 1 -oxide). Optionally, mutagenesis systems such as TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomics; McCallum et al., 2000, Nat Biotech 18:455, and McCallum et al. 2000, Plant Physiol. 123, 439-442, both incorporated herein by reference) may be used to generate plant lines with a modified gene as defined herein. TILLING uses traditional chemical mutagenesis (e.g. EMS mutagenesis) followed by high-throughput screening for mutations. Thus, plants, seeds and tissues comprising a gene having one or more of the desired mutations may be obtained using TILLING. Targeted mutagenesis is mutagenesis that can be designed to alter a specific nucleotide or nucleic acid sequence, such as but not limited to, oligo-directed mutagenesis, RNA-guided endonucleases (e.g. CRISPR-technology), TALENs or Zinc finger technology.

A “control plant” as referred to herein is a plant of the same species and preferably same genetic background as the plant that is, or is a progeny of, a plant (or “putative test plant” or “test plant”) that has been subjected to a method as taught herein, i.e. a method for improving Orobanche resistance, preferably Orobanche cumana resistance. In case the test plant is a plant having a modified (endogenous) UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene, a modified protein kinase RLK-Pelle- CrRLK1 L-1 gene, a modified (endogenous) acid phosphatase gene, a modified (endogenous) indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene, a modified (endogenous) inorganic phosphate transporter gene, a modified (endogenous) cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene, a modified (endogenous) alcohol acetyltransferase gene, or a combination thereof, the control plant preferably comprises a wild type, preferably an endogenous or unmodified, UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene, acid phosphatase gene, indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene, inorganic phosphate transporter gene, cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene, alcohol acetyltransferase gene respectively. The control plant is susceptible to Orobanche infection, may develop symptoms of Orobanche infection or has low resistance to Orobanche infection. Preferably the Orobanche is O. cumana, can successfully invade, establish itself and/or spread in the control plant. Preferably, the control plant only differs from the putative test plant in that the control plant lacks the protein, nucleic acid and/or vector or construct of the invention.

Preferably the control plant is grown under the same conditions as the test plant comprising “Orobanche resistance” refers herein to various levels of Orobanche resistance or tolerance of a plant, including moderate resistance and high resistance or complete resistance to the Orobanche. It can be measured and optionally quantified by comparison of disease caused symptoms, preferably foliar and/or root and/or fruit and/or parasitic growth symptoms relative to those seen in susceptible control plants when grown under similar conditions, including identical disease pressure. Such disease bioassays can be carried out using known methods such as described in Louarn et al. Frontiers in Plant Science 2016; 7; 590. Orobanche resistance can also be indirectly measured as higher yield of resistant plants compared to susceptible plants when grown under disease pressure, such as after inoculation with an Orobanche, preferably with O. Cumana, preferably with O. Cumana Wallr.. For instance, seedlings of test and control plants may be inoculated with O. cumana at 4 days after sowing, and O. cumana caused symptoms may be assessed visually at 14, 21 , and 28 days after inoculation. Infection can be monitored by qPCR of O. cumana nucleic acids.

“Orobanche caused symptoms” and “disease caused symptoms” can be used interchangeably herein and include, but are not limited to any symptoms of disease, such as wilting, drooping, stunted growth, tubercule formation, haustoria formation, sprouting of Orobanche from the soil, reduced yield and quality of the host plant that are caused by an Orobanche infection, wherein preferably said Orobancheis O. cumana.

“Improved Orobanche resistance” refers to an increase in Orobanche resistance of a plant or plant tissue compared to a suitable control plant, wherein said Orobanche preferably is O. cumana. Both a qualitative increase (e.g. from susceptible to resistant) and a quantitative increase are encompassed herein. Also encompassed is both a reduction of disease incidence (percentage of plants becoming infected), a delay in disease onset and/or reduction of disease severity. Preferably, a plant having improved Orobanche resistance is a plant comprising at least 1 %, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or even 100% higher levels of resistance to said Orobanche than the control plant, using suitable bioassays and/or field assays for assessing disease resistance under similar conditions. For example, a reduced tubercule formation, preferably detectable by visual inspection of systemic parts of a plant for, necrosis, callose deposition, deformation and/or a combination thereof, developed in response to Orobanche infection may be determined in both a plant as taught herein and a control plant, and may be compared, as shown in the Examples section. In addition or alternatively, parts of, or a whole plant as taught herein may be quantitatively analyzed, preferably by quantitative PCR and/or sequencing, for the presence of Orobanche nucleic acids in response to Orobanche infection and preferably compared to such data of a control plant in response to the same infection the protein and/or nucleic acid of the invention.

The term “rootstock” as used herein refers to part of a plant, often an underground part, from which new above-ground growth can be produced. For instance, it may refer to a rhizome or underground stem. In grafting, it refers to a plant, sometimes just a stump, which already has an established, healthy root system, onto which a cutting, a bud, or a scion from another plant is grafted.

The term "impairing the expression of a gene” as used herein, refers to a situation wherein the level of RNA and/or protein derived (wherein “derived” in this respect is to be understood as transcribed and/or translated, respectively) from said gene in a modified plant is reduced as compared to the level of said RNA and/or protein that is produced in a suitable control plant (e.g., a wild type plant) under similar conditions. Preferably, expression of a gene is impaired when the level of RNA and/or protein derived from said gene in a plant is at least 1 %, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or even 100% lower than the level of RNA and/or protein derived from said gene in the control plant. A decrease of 100% is understood herein that the RNA and/or protein is absent in the modified plant . Alternatively or in addition, expression of a gene is impaired when the level of RNA or protein encoded by said gene in a plant is statistically significantly lower than the level of RNA or protein that is produced in the control plant.

The term "impairing the expression of a protein” as used herein, refers to a situation wherein the level of said protein in a modified plant is reduced as compared to the level of said protein produced in a suitable control plant (e.g., a wild type plant) under similar conditions. Preferably, expression of a protein is impaired when the level of said protein produced in a plant is at least 1 %, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or even 100% lower than the level of said protein that is produced in the control plant. Alternatively or in addition, expression of a protein is impaired when the level of said protein produced in a plant is statistically significantly lower than the level of protein that is produced in the control plant. It is understood herein that “impaired expression” may include both e.g. a modification of one or more regulatory elements and/or a modification of the coding sequence. As a non-limiting example, modification of a regulatory element may result in lower transcript levels, while a modification of the coding sequence may result in the complete absence of any transcripts encoding the wild type protein.

The term “reduced activity of a protein” as used herein refers to a situation wherein activity of a protein, preferably the natural (or “wild type”) activity, such as for example its ability to bind to a promoter element, to bind to a receptor, to catalyze an enzymatic reaction, to regulate gene expression, etc, is altered, reduced, blocked or inhibited, for instance due to a modification in structure, as compared to the activity of the same protein albeit without said modification, preferably in a plant maintained under similar conditions. Preferably, the activity of a modified protein may be considered to be impaired when the activity of said modified protein produced in a plant is at least 1 %, 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or even 100% lower than the activity of the same protein without said modification as produced in a control plant. The skilled person will readily be capable of establishing whether or not activity of a protein is impaired.

Detailed description of the invention

In a first aspect, the invention encompasses a nucleic acid comprising a gene or modified gene, wherein said gene comprises one or more modifications resulting in impaired expression and/or activity of an encoded protein selected from the group consisting of:

UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase protein; protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein; acid phosphatase protein; indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein; inorganic phosphate transporter protein; cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein; and alcohol acetyltransferase protein.

In other words, the invention provides for a nucleic acid comprising a modified gene derived from a gene encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of

UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase protein; protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein; acid phosphatase protein; indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein; inorganic phosphate transporter protein; cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein; and alcohol acetyltransferase protein, wherein said modified gene comprises one or more modifications resulting in impaired expression and/or activity of the encoded protein as compared to the originating gene. Preferably, the modified gene is derived from a wild type, preferably endogenous gene, by said one or more modifications.

Hence, the nucleic acid of the invention may also be considered as a nucleic acid comprising a modified wild type gene or a modified endogenous gene. Said modified gene may be a mutant gene. The mutant gene may be a naturally occurring mutant gene or a man-made mutant gene, e.g. obtainable by a technical process, such as, but not limited to, targeted and/or random mutagenesis. The nucleic acid of the invention comprising the modified gene that, preferably in the absence of expression of the unmodified gene, results in improved Orobanche resistance of a plant when present in said plant as compared to a control plant comprising the unmodified gene, wherein the unmodified gene preferably is a wild type and/or endogenous gene. The improved resistance is preferably to Orobanche Cumana, even more preferably to Orobanche Cumana Wallr.. Preferably, the modified gene of the nucleic acid of the invention is derived from a wild type and/or an endogenous gene by a step of genetic modification. Said wild type and/or endogenous gene is preferably a plant gene. The one or more modifications of the wild type and/or endogenous gene may result in impaired expression of the protein encoded by said wild type and/or endogenous gene. The modified gene of the nucleic acid of the invention preferably is a modified endogenous gene, wherein the modified gene shows at least one of a reduced expression and reduced activity of the encoded protein when present in a plant as compared to the endogenous gene in a control plant, preferably under similar conditions. Optionally, the modified gene is obtained from said wild type and/or endogenous gene by deletion, insertion and/or substitution of at least one nucleotide, wherein said deletion, insertion and/or substitution results in a gene with impaired expression and/or decreased activity of the encoded protein. Said modified gene may be obtained via random or targeted mutagenesis. Such modification may be within the coding sequence of said gene, resulting in a modified protein which may be less functional as compared to the protein encoded by the unmodified gene or which is a dysfunctional protein, wherein a dysfunctional protein is to be understood as a protein not being capable of fulfilling the function of the protein encoded by the unmodified gene. Optionally, the modification is an early stop which results in a truncated protein which has a reduced function or may be dysfunctional. Preferably, said stop being present in exon 1 of the sequence encoding the protein. Expression of said modified protein in a plant, preferably in the absence of expression of the unmodified protein encoded by the wild type, preferably endogenous, gene, results in improved Orobanche resistance of said plant as compared to a control plant expressing the unmodified protein. Optionally, the modification of the coding sequence of the wild type and/ or endogenous gene is the deletion of all or most of the nucleotides of the sequence encoding the protein, resulting in an absence of said protein in the cell. Optionally, the modification of the coding sequence results in the expression of an aberrant mRNA molecule that e.g. is no longer recognized by the translational machinery and degraded prior to translation.

In addition or alternatively, such modification may be in a regulatory sequence, such as the promoter sequence, or 3’UTR or 5’UTR located regulatory sequenced, resulting in impaired or lost expression of the encoded protein.

In addition or alternatively, the modified gene may comprise one or more epigenetic modifications that silence or reduce gene expression.

In an embodiment, said mutant gene is not an Arabidopsis thaliana gene, i.e. is not a gene originating from Arabidopsis thaliana, preferably is not an Arabidopsis thaliana gene comprising a T-DNA insertion.

Preferably, the unmodified, wild type and/or endogenous gene encodes for a protein that is, or is a homologue or orthologue of, a protein having an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 1 , 3, 4, 7, 10, 13 and 15, and/or comprising the coding sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO: 17, 19, 21 , 23, 26, 29, and 31 , respectively.

Preferably, the modified gene shows an impaired expression and/or activity of the encoded protein as compared to the corresponding (unmodified) endogenous gene under similar and suitable conditions. The modified gene of the nucleic acid of the invention may be derived by genetic modification from a UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase protein gene that comprises any one of:

(a) a sequence encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 1 ;

(b) a CDS of SEQ ID NO: 33; and,

(c) a homologue or orthologue of any one of (a) and (b), wherein preferably, said modified gene shows an impaired expression and/or activity of the encoded protein as compared to the (unmodified) endogenous gene encoding the protein of SEQ ID NO: 1 under similar and suitable conditions, preferably when present in a plant cell of Helianthus annuus. Preferably, said modified gene encodes for the modified protein having amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. Preferably, said modified gene has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 40. Preferably said modified gene comprises the CDS that has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18.

The modified gene of the nucleic acid of the invention may be derived by genetic modification from a protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene that comprises any one of:

(d) a sequence encoding a protein SEQ ID NO: 3;

(e) a CDS of SEQ ID NO: 34; and,

(f) a homologue or orthologue of any one of (a) and (b), wherein preferably, said modified gene shows an impaired expression and/or activity of the encoded protein as compared to the (unmodified) endogenous gene encoding the protein of SEQ ID NO: 3 under similar and suitable conditions, preferably when present in a plant cell of Helianthus annuus. Preferably, said modified gene encodes for the modified protein having amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4. Preferably, said modified gene has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 41 . Preferably said modified gene comprises the CDS that has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20.

The modified gene of the nucleic acid of the invention may be derived by genetic modification from an acid phosphatase gene that comprises any one of:

(g) a sequence encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 5;

(h) a CDS of SEQ ID NO: 35; and

(i) a homologue or orthologue of any one of (d) and (e), wherein preferably, said modified gene shows an impaired expression and/or activity of the encoded protein as compared to the (unmodified) endogenous gene encoding the protein of SEQ ID NO: 5 under similar and suitable conditions, preferably when present in a plant cell of Helianthus annuus. Preferably, said modified gene encodes for the modified protein having amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6. Preferably, said modified gene has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 42. Preferably said modified gene comprises the CDS that has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22.

The modified gene of the nucleic acid of the invention may be derived by genetic modification from a indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene that comprises any one of:

(j) a sequence encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 7;

(k) a CDS of SEQ ID NO: 36; and (l) a homologue or orthologue of any one of (g) and (h), wherein preferably, said modified gene shows an impaired expression and/or activity of the encoded protein as compared to the (unmodified) endogenous gene encoding the protein of SEQ ID NO: 7 under similar and suitable conditions, preferably when present in a plant cell of Helianthus annuus. Preferably, said modified gene encodes for the modified protein having amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 or SEQ ID NO: 9. Preferably, said modified gene has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 43. or SEQ ID NO: 44 Preferably said modified gene comprises the CDS that has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 24 or SEQ ID NO: 25.

The modified gene of the nucleic acid of the invention may be derived by genetic modification from an inorganic phosphate transporter gene that comprises any one of:

(m) a sequence encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 10;

(n) a CDS of SEQ ID NO: 37; and

(o) a homologue or orthologue of any one of (j) and (k), wherein preferably, said modified gene shows an impaired expression and/or activity of the encoded protein as compared to the (unmodified) endogenous gene encoding the protein of SEQ ID NO: 10 under similar and suitable conditions, preferably when present in a plant cell of Helianthus annuus. Preferably, said modified gene encodes for the modified protein having amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 or SEQ ID NO: 12. Preferably, said modified gene has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 45 or SEQ ID NO: 46. Preferably said modified gene comprises the CDS that has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27 or SEQ ID NO: 28.

The modified gene of the nucleic acid of the invention may be derived by genetic modification from a cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene that comprises any one of:

(p) a sequence encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 13;

(q) a CDS of SEQ ID NO: 38; and

(r) a homologue or orthologue of any one of (m) and (n), wherein preferably, said modified gene shows an impaired expression and/or activity of the encoded protein as compared to the (unmodified) endogenous gene encoding the protein of SEQ ID NO: 13 under similar and suitable conditions, preferably when present in a plant cell of Helianthus annuus. Preferably, said modified gene encodes for the modified protein having amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14. Preferably, said modified gene has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 47. Preferably said modified gene comprises the CDS that has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30.

The modified gene of the nucleic acid of the invention may be derived by genetic modification from an alcohol acetyltransferase gene that comprises any one of:

(s) a sequence encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 15;

(t) a CDS of SEQ ID NO: 39; and

(u) a homologue or orthologue of any one of (p) and (q), wherein preferably, said modified gene shows an impaired expression and/or activity of the encoded protein as compared to the (unmodified) endogenous gene encoding the protein of SEQ ID NO: 15 under similar and suitable conditions, preferably when present in a plant cell of Helianthus annuus. Preferably, said modified gene encodes for the modified protein having amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 16. Preferably, said modified gene has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 48. Preferably said modified gene comprises the CDS that has the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32.

A homologue or orthologue of a nucleotide sequence preferably has at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% sequence identity to said nucleotide sequence over its whole length. A homologue or orthologue of an amino acid sequence preferably has at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% sequence identity to said amino acid sequence over its whole length. The homologous or orthologous protein preferably has the same or a similar function. Preferably, the modified gene of the nucleic acid of the invention shows at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% sequence identity to the unmodified, wild type and/or endogenous gene were it is derived from.

A modified protein derived from wild type, preferably an endogenous, protein as indicated herein preferably means that said modified protein differs from said wild type, preferably endogenous, protein in that it has one or more amino acid substitutions, insertions and/or deletions, optionally a truncation, resulting in a protein having a reduced function, a dysfunctional protein, and/or a truncated protein.

A modified gene derived from an endogenous gene as indicated herein preferably means that said gene differs from said endogenous gene in that it has one or more modifications, preferably one or more nucleotide substitutions, insertions and/or deletions. The modifications may result in a gene that encodes a protein having a reduced function, a dysfunctional protein and/or truncated protein and/or the modifications may result in a decrease in expression of the encoded gene, for instance by modification of a regulatory sequence such as the promoter sequence of said gene. The modification of the endogenous gene may thus be a modification in the coding region and/or in a non-coding region of the gene, e.g. by modifying the coding sequence, altering a regulatory sequence, and/or introducing or removing a splice (donor I acceptor) site. Optionally, the modification may be a synonymous or a non-synonymous alteration of a codon.

Preferably, expression and/or activity of the protein of the modified gene is impaired at least in a root and/or a leaf of a plant and/or at least in a plant root cell and/or a leaf cell, which represents a main area typically infected by Orobanche and where symptoms (e.g. stunted growth, reduced leaf quality, wilting, drooping, tubercule formation, haustorua formation, emergence of Orobanche sprouts, Orobanche germination and/or a combination thereof) of Orobanche infection are typically visible or prominent. Optionally, expression and/or activity of the protein is impaired in a root and/or a leaf of said plant and/or in a plant root cell and/or a leaf cell. Preferably, expression and/or activity of the protein is impaired in all roots and/or all leafs of said plant and/or in all plant roots cells and/or all leaf cells. Optionally, expression and/or activity of the protein is not impaired in one or more plant parts such as leaves, flowers, roots and/or fruits. Optionally, expression and/or activity of the protein is impaired only in the fruits, roots and/or leaves of said plant and/or at only in plant root cells and/or leaf cells. In an embodiment, the phenotype of the plant as taught herein is not altered compared to a control plant, with the exception of said plant having an improved Orobanche resistance compared to said control plant. For instance, yield, reproduction, flowering, growth, development, etc. is not affected in plants subjected to the methods according to the invention compared to a control plant or wild type plant, preferably of the same species.

The nucleic acid of the invention may be comprised within an expression construct or within the genome of a cell, preferably a plant cell. The invention therefore also provides for a construct or vector comprising the nucleic acid as defined herein and/or encoding the protein of the invention. The construct may be an expression construct for expressing the modified nucleic acid of the invention and/or expression of the modified protein of the invention. In addition or alternatively, the invention provides for a construct or vector for silencing the wild type, preferably endogenous, gene, which encodes an non-coding RNA designed to silence said endogenous gene (via RNAi). Expression of said silencing construct or gene silencing construct in a plant results in reduced expression of the endogenous protein in a plant cell, plant tissue and/or plant. The invention therefore also provides for a nucleic acid encoding for an RNAi designed to silence said endogenous gene.

In an embodiment, the silencing construct may express at least one of an miRNA or siRNA targeting the transcript of the endogenous gene. Said siRNA or miRNA may comprise at least 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24 or at least 25 contiguous nucleotides. The mature siRNA or miRNA may comprise at least 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24 or at least 25 contiguous nucleotides that have at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence complementarity with a contiguous sequence in the transcript expressed from the endogenous gene. Expression of the miRNA or siRNA is preferably controlled by a suitable promoter for expression in a plant cell. Preferably, the promoter is suitable for expression at least in the fruits, roots and/or leaf cells of a plant. Preferably, the promoter is only active in the fruits, roots and/or leaf cells of a plant, most preferably only in the roots.

The transcript is preferably the wild type and/or endogenous mRNA molecule, and preferably includes the 3’ and 5’ untranslated sequence. Hence, the sequence of the non-coding RNA, or non-coding small RNA, can be, partly or completely, complementary to a sequence comprised in the coding sequence or, partly or completely, complementary to a sequence comprised in the 3’ or 5’ untranslated region of the transcript. Preferably, the siRNA or miRNA can be partly or completely complementary to a sequence comprised in the coding sequence. For example, at least 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24 or at least 25 contiguous nucleotides of the non-coding RNA, or non-coding small RNA, molecule has at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% sequence complementarity with a contiguous sequence of at least 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24 or at least 25 contiguous nucleotides of the endogenous transcript, respectively.

The skilled person knows how to design a small non-coding RNA molecule that is capable of downregulating endogenous protein expression using conventional RNAi.

Preferably, within a construct or vector of the invention, the sequence encoding the modified protein of the invention is operably linked to one or more transcription regulatory elements for expression in a cell such as a 5’ UTR and 3’ UTR, preferably said sequence is operably linked at least to a promoter for expression in plant. Hence preferably, the construct comprises a sequence encoding a modified protein defined herein that is operably linked to a promoter for expression in a cell, such as a bacterial cell or a plant cell. Preferably, the sequence encoding a modified protein of the invention is operably linked to a promoter for expression in a plant cell. In case the modified protein is encoded by a modified gene of a UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene, a protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene, an acid phosphatase gene, an indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene, an inorganic phosphate transporter gene, a cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene or an alcohol acetyltransferase gene, preferably, the promoter is the native promoter of said UDP- glucuronate-4 epimerase gene, said protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene, said acid phosphatase gene, said indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene, said inorganic phosphate transporter gene, said cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene or said alcohol acetyltransferase gene, respectively.

The promoter for expression in plant cells can be a constitutive promoter, an inducible promoter or a tissue specific promoter. Preferably, the promoter is a constitutive promoter. The promoter for expression in plant cells is herein understood as a promoter that is active in plants or plant cells, i.e. the promoter has the general capability to drive transcription within a plant or plant cell. Preferably, the promoter is active in at least the fruits and/or leaf cells of a plant. Preferably, the promoter is only active in the roots and/or leaf cells of a plant.

Preferably, the nucleic acid of the invention is capable of improving Orobanche resistance, or reducing Orobanche susceptibility, of a plant when present in said plant in the absence of its unmodified endogenous counterpart, i.e. the wild type, preferably endogenous, gene wherefrom the nucleic acid of the invention is derived from by modification. Preferably, Orobanche resistance of the plant comprising the nucleic acid of the invention is improved as compared to a control plant. Preferably, said (test) plant comprises said modified gene Orobanche in its genome (i.e. both or all alleles of the endogenous gene have been modified to impair the expression and/or activity of the encoded protein as defined herein) and preferably said (test) plant has an improved Orobanche resistance as compared to a control plant that only differs from the (test) plant in that said endogenous genes are unmodified, under similar conditions.

In addition or alternatively, gene expression may be silenced by introducing one or more non-coding RNAs (e.g. a miRNA or an siRNA) that are capable of RNA interference or RNAi, i.e. interfering with gene expression into a cell targeting and preferably degrading the transcript.

The nucleic acid of the invention may be DNA, CDS, cDNA or RNA. The nucleic acid can be transiently introduced into the plant cell, e.g. by transient transfection of a plasmid, optionally in combination with impairing or reducing expression, knocking out and/or silencing (e.g. by RNAi) the corresponding endogenous gene of said plant cell. Alternatively or in addition, the nucleic acid can be stably present in the genome of the plant cell. As a non-limiting example, the nucleic acid may be stably integrated into the genome of the plant cell. Alternatively or in addition, the nucleic acid can be a modified wild type nucleic acid, e.g. a wild type and/or endogenous nucleic acid that is modified to have reduced or absence of protein expression or is modified to encode the modified protein of the invention. The nucleic acid may be indicated as a mutant nucleic acid. Preferably, said nucleic acid is capable of improving Orobanche resistance to a plant.

In an aspect, the invention pertains to a nucleic acid encoding a modified protein as defined herein.

In a further aspect, the invention encompasses the protein or modified protein encoded by a nucleic acid of the first aspect having one or more modifications in the coding sequence of the gene encompassed in the nucleic acid. The modified protein may be a mutant protein. The mutant protein may be a naturally occurring mutant protein or a man-made mutant protein, e.g. obtainable by a technical process, such as, but not limited to, targeted and/or random mutagenesis of the sequence encoding the protein.

Said modified protein may be less functional or dysfunctional as compared to the protein encoded by an unmodified gene, wherein said function is to be understood as the normal function of the protein encoded by the unmodified gene. The modified protein is capable of improving Orobanche resistance when expressed in a plant in the absence of its unmodified counterpart, i.e. the protein encoded by the unmodified endogenous gene. In other words, the invention encompasses a modified protein having a modification that improves Orobanche resistance when expressed and/or present in a plant. Preferably the modified protein is a modified endogenous protein of said plant, which is encoded by a modified endogenous gene. Preferably the modified protein is a modified endogenous protein of said plant. Preferably, Orobanche resistance of a plant comprising the modified endogenous gene encoding the modified protein of the invention is improved as compared to a control plant not comprising said modified protein. The modification may be one or more amino acid insertions, deletions and/or substitutions. The modification may be a truncation of the protein for instance because of an early stop in the encoded gene.

The protein of the invention may be produced synthetically, or in vivo (in cell or in planta) for instance by transcription and translation of a gene or construct as defined herein, optionally comprising a transgene encoding such protein, e.g. a wild type gene modified to encode said protein, or by transcription and translation of an endogenous sequence modified to encode such protein. Preferably, the protein of the invention is derived from a wild type and/or endogenous protein. The expression of the protein of the invention may be controlled by an endogenous promoter, such as, but not limited to, the promoter naturally controlling the expression of the wild type or endogenous protein from which the protein of the invention is derived.

Preferably, the nucleic acid and/or protein of the invention is present in a plant as defined herein. Preferably, the nucleic acid and/or protein of the invention is derived from a wild type, preferably an endogenous, gene and/or protein of said plant.

The invention also relates to a nucleic acid encoding the modified protein of the invention as defined herein.

In a further aspect, the invention provides for a host cell comprising the nucleic acid and/or protein of the invention. Preferably the nucleic acid of the invention is comprised within the genome of said host cell.

Preferably, said host cell is a plant cell. Even more preferably, said host cell is a plant cell that is desired to have an improved Orobanche resistance, preferably to be Orobanche resistant. Preferably, all homologous genes within the genome of said plant cell are modified to result in a nucleic acid of the invention. Preferably, the modification results in an impaired expression and/or activity of at least one protein selected from a group of:

Optionally, the host cell comprises a combination of modified genes, wherein each modified gene preferably at least partly contributes to an improved Orobanche resistance of said host cell. Optionally, said combination is a combination any modified gene and/or protein of the invention. Optionally said combination is a combination of one or more modified genes and/or proteins of the invention in combination with one or more modified other S genes known in the art to at least partly improves Orobanche resistance, wherein preferably said one or more other S genes are modified to show reduced expression or activity. Preferably, said one or more other S genes or endogenous S genes. Optionally said combination is a combination of one or more modified genes and/or proteins of the invention in combination with one or more modified and/or introduced R genes known in the art to at least partly improves Orobanche resistance, wherein preferably said one or more R genes are modified to show increased expression or activity and/or introduced, either by transfection or by introgression. Optionally said combination is a combination of one or more modified genes and/or proteins of the inventions in combination with one or more of said modified other S genes and one or more of said modified and/or introduced R genes. Optionally, within the host cell, the modified genes are modified endogenous genes. The introduced genes from another species and/or from the same species but from a different variant or cultivar. Combinations of modified genes in a single host cell may be obtained by sequential or simultaneous targeted mutagenesis of these genes. Alternatively or in addition, combinations of modified genes and/or R genes in a single host cell may be obtained by stacking of such modified genes and/or R genes through introgression. For instance, in case the host cell is a plant cell, crossing two parents each comprising a different modified gene and/or R gene that each improve Orobanche resistance may result in offspring with (host) cells comprising the combination of these modified genes. Such combination may result in additive or even synergistic increase in Orobanche resistance. Preferred combinations of modified and/or introduced genes and/or proteins present in said host cell and preferably each at least partly improve Orobanche resistance to said host cell are:

(i) the modified UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention, with at least one of: the modified protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified acid phosphatase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified inorganic phosphate transporter gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified alcohol acetyltransferase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; and an R gene known in the art to improve at least partly improve Orobanche resistance;

(ii) the modified protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene of the nucleic acid of the invention, with at least one of: the modified UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified acid phosphatase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified inorganic phosphate transporter gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified alcohol acetyltransferase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; and an R gene known in the art to improve at least partly improve Orobanche resistance;

(iii) the modified acid phosphatase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention, with at least one of: the modified UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified inorganic phosphate transporter gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified alcohol acetyltransferase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; and an R gene known in the art to improve at least partly improve Orobanche resistance;

(iv) the modified indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention, with at least one of: the modified acid phosphatase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified inorganic phosphate transporter gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified alcohol acetyltransferase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; and an R gene known in the art to improve at least partly improve Orobanche resistance;

(v) the modified inorganic phosphate transporter gene of the nucleic acid of the invention, with at least one of: the modified acid phosphatase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified alcohol acetyltransferase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; and an R gene known in the art to improve at least partly improve Orobanche resistance; (vi) the modified cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention, with at least one of: the modified acid phosphatase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified inorganic phosphate transporter gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified alcohol acetyltransferase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; and an R gene known in the art to improve at least partly improve Orobanche resistance;

(vii) the modified alcohol acetyltransferase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention, with at least one of: the modified acid phosphatase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified inorganic phosphate transporter gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; and an R gene known in the art to improve at least partly improve Orobanche resistance;

(viii) an R gene known in the art to improve at least partly improve Orobanche resistance, with at least one of: the modified acid phosphatase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified inorganic phosphate transporter gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified alcohol acetyltransferase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; and the modified UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the modified protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene of the nucleic acid of the invention.

The modification of the homologous genes does not have to be the same or identical modifications. Preferably, said plant cell comprises the nucleic acid of the invention in its genome homozygously. Said plant cell may be from any plant species. The plant of the invention may be a monocot or dicot, and may be from a plant of any species belonging to the Solanaceae family (optionally of the genus Solanum), Brassicaceae family, Cucurbitaceae family, Fabaceae family, Rosaceae family and Poaceae family, Asteraceae family (optionally the genus Helianthus). Preferred plant species belong to the Asteraceae family (optionally of the genus Helianthus) and Cucurbitaceae (optionally of the genus Cucumis). Preferably, the plant species is a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), potato (Solanum tuberosum), pepper (Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens or Capsicum baccatum), aubergine or eggplant (Solanum melongena), pepino (Solanum muricatum), tabacum (Nicotiana species, e.g. N. benthamiana, N. plumbaginifolia, N. tabacum, etc.), a cucumber (Cucumis sativus), a Brassica juncea, a Brassica napus, a Brassica oleraceae, Vicia fabus, a Daucus carota, a Cannabis sativa a, Pisum sativum a, Apium graveolens or a Spinacia pleracea.

In an embodiment, the host cell of the invention is produced by at least one of mutagenesis of transformation of a nucleic acid as defined herein. In an embodiment, the host cell can be a mutagenized or transgenic host cell.

In an embodiment, the host cell of the invention is not, or is not exclusively, obtained by an essentially biological process. Preferably, the host cell of the invention is obtained by a method comprising a technical step. Preferably the host cell of the invention is man-made.

In a further aspect, the invention encompasses a method for producing a plant having improved Orobanche resistance, wherein said method comprises the step of impairing expression and/or activity of at least one protein selected from the group consisting of: the encoded UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded acid phosphatase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded inorganic phosphate transporter protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; and the encoded alcohol acetyltransferase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 or a homologue or orthologue thereof.

Preferably said protein is a wild type and/or endogenous protein. As defined herein, said plant may be a plant cell or plant tissue. Impaired expression of the endogenous protein may involve a genetic modification of an endogenous gene as detailed herein. Preferably, all homologous genes within the genome have been modified to impair expression of the endogenous protein as defined herein. Preferably, the modifications results in an impaired expression and/or activity of the encoded protein. The modification of the homologous genes does not have to be the same or identical modifications. Preferably, said genome comprises the nucleic acid of the invention in its genome homozygously. Preferably, said genome is a plant genome.

Optionally expression of the endogenous protein is reduced by silencing or knocking out the endogenous gene. Knocking out the endogenous gene, e.g. by T-DNA insertion or introduction of an early stop in the coding sequence, may result in the expression a dys- or non-functional protein. Silencing an endogenous gene in a plant may be performed by transfecting and/or expressing a gene silencing construct as detailed herein in said plant.

In case the step of impairing expression of the endogenous protein is in a plant cell or plant tissue, the method may further comprise the step of regenerating the plant cell or plant tissue into a plant. The method for producing a plant having improved Orobanche resistance can also be regarded as a method for improving or conferring Orobanche resistance to said plant.

Optionally, the method of the invention comprises the step of introducing expression of the modified protein of the invention. Introducing expression of said protein may be achieved by transfection (transient or stable) of the plant by a nucleic acid and/or a construct encoding said protein. Such method may comprises an additional or simultaneous step of reducing or abolishing the expression of its endogenous counterpart. The step of introducing the expression of the protein of the invention may be performed using any conventional means known to the skilled person. Direct transformation of a nucleic acid encoding the protein of the invention into a plant can occur by one of many techniques known to one skilled in the art and the manner selected is not critical to the practice of the invention. Methods for introducing nucleic acids, constructs and expression vectors into plant tissue available to one skilled in the art are varied and will depend on the plant selected. Procedures for transforming a wide variety of plant species are well known and described throughout the literature. A nucleic acid encoding the protein of the invention may be introduced into a plant to introduce expression of the protein. The nucleic acid expressing the protein of the invention can be introduced into a plant using any conventional method known in the art. As a nonlimiting example, this can occur by direct transformation methods, such as Agrobacterium transformation of plant tissue, microprojectile bombardment, electroporation, transfection or any one of many methods known to one skilled in the art.

Alternatively or in addition, introducing expression of the modified protein of the invention may be achieved by mutating an endogenous gene in a plant, resulting in decreased expression of the endogenously encoded protein. The endogenous coding sequence may be modified by mutagenesis to result in a sequence encoding the modified protein of the invention. Optionally, the modification results in a non-naturally occurring gene, i.e. a gene that does not occur in nature, and optionally the modification results in expression of a non-natural protein, i.e. a protein not occurring in nature.

The expression of the protein of the invention may be controlled by an endogenous promoter, such as, but not limited to the promoter controlling the expression of the endogenous, protein in a control plant. Alternatively or in addition, expression of the protein of the invention may be controlled by a promoter that is not a native promoter, i.e. the promoter sequence is introduced in the plant. Optionally, the method of the invention comprises a step of modifying a regulatory sequence of the gene, such as the promoter sequence resulting in reduced expression of the encoded protein. In such case, expression of the protein of the invention may be controlled by a modified promoter, preferably a modified endogenous promoter, wherein said modification results in reduced expression as compared to the expression level of said protein that is under the control of an unmodified (native) promoter, preferably an unmodified endogenous promoter.

The invention further pertains to a method for improving Orobanche resistance in a plant as compared to a control plant, comprising treating the plant with one or more compounds that inhibit the activity of the unmodified endogenous protein as defined herein in said plant. Optionally the plant is a scion. Optionally such scion is part of a chimera or grafted plant that further comprises a rootstock from another plant which may not have the modified gene and/or protein of the invention. Such rootstock may therefore comprise an endogenous, and/or unmodified gene and/or protein.

The plant or plant part (e.g. a scion) of the method of the invention may be a monocot or dicot, and may be from a plant of any species belonging to the Solanaceae family (optionally of the genus Solanum), Brassicaceae family, Cucurbitaceae family, Fabaceae family, Rosaceae family and Poaceae family, Asteraceae family (optionally the genus Helianthus). Preferred plant species belong to the Asteraceae family (optionally of the genus Helianthus) and Cucurbitaceae (optionally of the genus Cucumis). Preferably, the plant species is a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens or Capsicum baccatum), aubergine or eggplant (Solanum melongena), pepino (Solanum muricatum), tabacum (Nicotiana species, e.g. N. benthamiana, N. plumbaginifolia, N. tabacum, etc.), or a cucumber (Cucumis sativus), a Brassica juncea, a Brassica napus, a Brassica oleraceae, Vicia tabus, a Daucus carota, a Cannabis sativa a, Pisum sativum a, Apium graveolens or a Spinacia pleracea.

The plant may be, or may be obtainable from, the family of Asteraceae. The plant may be of the genus Helianthus, more preferably said plant is a Helianthus annuus plant. The plant produced by the method of the invention preferably has a modification in a gene selected from the group consisting of: the UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the acid phosphatase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the inorganic phosphate transporter gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; the cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention; thealcohol acetyltransferase gene of the nucleic acid of the invention.

In addition or alternatively, the plant may be of the genus Helianthus, more preferably said plant is a Helianthus annuus plant, and preferably the modified protein of the method of the invention is derived from any one of: the encoded UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded acid phosphatase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded inorganic phosphate transporter protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; and the encoded alcohol acetyltransferase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 or a homologue or orthologue thereof.

A homologue or orthologue of a gene as defined herein preferably has at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence of said gene, over its full length. A homologue or orthologue of a protein as defined herein preferably has the same or similar functionality and at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% sequence identity to said protein, over its full length. The homologous or orthologous protein preferably has the same or a similar function.

Optionally, the method of the invention further comprises a step for transferring the nucleic acid of the invention to offspring of the plant produced by the method of the invention, which may be performed by introgression. Breeding techniques for introgression are well known to one skilled in the art.

Preferably, the method of the invention results in a plant having improved Orobanche resistance compared to a control plant as defined herein.

The method of the invention may further comprise a step of screening or testing the plant for improved Orobanche resistance. Any screening or testing method known in the art can be used for screening the plant, such as, but not limited to, the methods described herein. Said screening or testing can be by phenotyping using a biological assay by assessing symptoms of Orobanche infection after inoculation by the Orobanche. Alternatively or in addition, expression levels of modified and/or unmodified protein at a molecular level (protein or mRNA) may be determined. In addition or alternatively, the presence of a nucleic acid or construct comprising the modified gene of the nucleic acid of the invention and/or encoding the modified protein of the invention may be determined. The person skilled in the art is aware of techniques to determine protein expression levels and/or the presence or absence of a nucleic acid sequence within a plant.

The method for producing a plant of the invention having improved Orobanche resistance as defined herein may further comprise a step of assessing expression of the protein of the invention and/or detecting the presence of the nucleic acid of the invention in said plant and optionally subsequently selecting said plant.

Expression levels of the protein of the invention can be determined using any conventional method known to the skilled person. Such methods include detecting the transcript (e.g. mRNA) or detecting the protein of the invention. Non-limiting examples for detecting the transcript include e.g. PCR, q-PCR and northern blotting. Non-limiting examples for detecting the presence of the protein of the invention includes e.g. western blotting and mass spectrometry on full polypeptides and peptide digests. The person skilled in the art is also aware of using methods for screening for the presence of the nucleic acid of the invention.

As also indicated herein above, the method may further comprise a step of producing progeny of the plant comprising the nucleic acid of the invention and/or expressing the protein of the invention. The method can comprise a further step of producing seeds from the plant expressing the protein of the invention. The method may further comprise growing the seeds into plants that have improved Orobanche resistance.

In a further aspect, the invention also provides for a method of screening a plant for the presence of the nucleic acid of the invention and/or for expression of the protein of the invention. Said method comprises a step of assessing the presence of the nucleic acid of the invention in said plant and/or assessing expression of the protein of the invention in said plant. The person in the art is well aware of molecular techniques to identify such sequences, e.g. using Sequence Based Genotyping (Hoa T. Truong, A. Marcos Ramos, Feyruz Yalcin, Marjo de Ruiter, Hein J. A. van der Poel, Koen H. J. Huvenaars, Rene C. J. Hogers, Leonora. J. G. van Enckevort, Antoine Janssen, Nathalie J. van Orsouw, and Michiel J. T. van Eijk. Sequence-Based Genotyping for Marker Discovery and Co-Dominant Scoring in Germplasm and Populations. PLoS One. 2012; 7(5): e37565), oligo-ligation (SNPSelect; Rene C. J. Hogers, Marjo de Ruiter, Koen H. J. Huvenaars, Hein van der Poel, Antoine Janssen, Michiel J. T. van Eijk, Nathalie J. van Orsouw. SNPSelect: A scalable and flexible targeted sequence-based genotyping solution; PLoS One. 2018; 13(10): e0205577), AFLP (Zabeau.M. and Vos,P. (1993) Selective restriction fragment amplification; a general method for DNA fingerprinting; Vos,P., Hogers, R., Bleeker.M., Reijans.M., van de Lee,T., Hornes, M., Frijters.A., Pot, J., Peleman.J., Kuiper, M. et al. (1995) AFLP: a new technique for DNA fingerprinting. Nucl. Acids Res., 21 , 4407-4414), and the like. Another suitable assay to assess the presence of a nucleic acid of the invention is a KASP assay (Kompetitive allele specific PCR) as exemplified herein. In such assay, the following respective target specific sequences may be used in allele-specific primers of such KASP assay: SEQ ID NO: 49 (UDP-glucuronate 4-epimerase wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 50 (UDP-glucuronate 4-epimerase_Ala39Val), SEQ ID NO: 51 (protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 52 (protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1_Assp26Asn), SEQ ID NO: 53 (acid phosphatase wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 54 (acid phosphatase_Pro101 Ser), SEQ ID NO: 55 (indole- 3-pyruvatemonooxygenase a wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 56 (indole-3- pyruvatemonooxygenase_Gly244Asp), SEQ ID NO: 57 (indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase b wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 58 (indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase_Pro151 Leu), SEQ ID NO: 59 (inorganic phosphate transporter a wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 60 (inorganic phosphate transporter_Ala310Val), SEQ ID NO: 61 (inorganic phosphate transporter b wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 62 (inorganic phosphate transporter_Ala331 Vai), SEQ ID NO: 63 (cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 64 (cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase_Ser554Leu), SEQ ID NO: 65 (alcohol acetyltransferase wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 66 (alcohol acetyltransferase_Ala324Val).

Optionally the method further comprises a step of selecting said plant, essentially as described herein above. As defined herein, said plant may be a plant cell or plant tissue. In case multiple plants are screened, said method may further comprise a stop identifying, detecting and/or selecting a plant comprising the nucleic acid of the invention and/or expressing the protein of the invention. Therefore, the invention also provides for a method of identifying, detecting and/or selecting a plant comprising the nucleic acid of the invention and/or expressing the protein of the invention. Optionally, said method further comprises a step of phenotyping, i.e. assessing Orobanche resistance.

In a further aspect, the invention provides for a plant comprising the protein, nucleic acid and/or construct of the invention, and/or a plant obtainable from a method as defined herein. The plant may comprise a mutation in an endogenous genomic gene as defined herein. The plant may comprise a mutation in an endogenous genomic coding sequence of the gene, wherein the mutation results in the impaired expression and/or activity of an unmodified endogenous protein. Preferably, all homologous genes within the genome of said plant are modified to result in a nucleic acid of the invention. Preferably, the modification results in an impaired expression and/or activity of a protein selected from the group consisting of:

- the encoded UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded acid phosphatase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded inorganic phosphate transporter protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; and the encoded alcohol acetyltransferase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 or a homologue or orthologue thereof.

The modification of the homologous genes does not have to be the same or identical modification. Preferably, said plant comprises the nucleic acid of the invention in its genome homozygously. The plant of the invention may be characterized by a modified protein, optionally a disrupted protein, which shows a decreased or lost function and/or activity. Further, the plant of the invention may be characterized by a reduced or abolished expression of the endogenous protein as defined herein. The plant comprising the modified gene of the nucleic acid of the invention and/or the modified protein of the invention has, or has improved, Orobanche resistance as compared to a control plant, which can be tested for and/or screened for as indicated herein. As defined herein, the plant may be a plant cell or plant tissue. Optionally the plant cell, tissue or plant of the invention is a leaf, fruit and/or scion.

As a non-limiting example, the conferred or improved Orobanche resistance can be determined by comparing a control plant with a plant of the invention, under controlled conditions chosen such that in the control plant at least one sign of infection can be observed after a certain period. Such controlled conditions include e.g. infection of infestation of plants with the Orobanche.

Under the controlled conditions chosen, the control plant shows preferably at least one disease sign (i.e. one symptom) upon Orobanche infection as known in the art and as exemplified herein. The control plant can show one or more of the symptoms indicated herein, preferably at least two, three, four or five the signs of disease after a certain period of time.

A certain period as used herein is preferably any period prior to the observing at least one, two or three signs of disease in the control plant after inoculation and this period may be dependent on the experimental set up. Such period can be easily determined by the person skilled in the art. Preferably, such period before observing at least one, two or three signs of disease is at least about 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60 or about 70 days, preferably at least about 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 weeks.

Preferably, the plant of the invention will show less, reduced and/or no signs of disease as compared to the control plant after the certain period as defined herein.

Alternatively or in addition, the plant of the invention may show one or more signs of disease as defined herein at a similar or same severity as the control plant, however the one or more signs of disease will be at a later time period as compared to the control plant, e.g. there will be a delay in onset of one or more symptoms of the disease. As a non-limiting example, there can be a delay of at least 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 weeks as compared to the control plants. The skilled person knows how to select suitable conditions.

When a plant has an improved Orobanche resistance, it is preferably capable of sustaining a normal growth and/or a normal development when the plant is subjected to Orobanche infection, which infection would otherwise have resulted in reduced growth and/or reduced development of the plant. Hence, an improved Orobanche resistance can be determined by comparing plants. As a non-limiting example, one plant of the invention may be compared with one control plant. Alternatively or in addition, a group of plants of the invention may be compared with a group of control plants. Each group can comprise e.g. at least about 2 ,3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50 or 100 individual plants.

The skilled person is well aware how to select appropriate conditions to determine improved Orobanche resistance and how to measure signs of infection.

As a non-limiting example, Orobanche resistance can be measured by visual inspection, as exemplified herein. For instance the number of root-knots (e.g.) can be counted in case of infection with Orobanche preferably after about 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 weeks of Orobanche infection.

The plant may be an Orobanche, transgenic and/or man-made (non-natural) mutant plant cell, tissue or plant, i.e. not being a wild type or naturally occurring plant cell, tissue or plant as it comprises the modified gene of the invention and/or expresses the modified protein of the invention.

In an embodiment, the plant of the invention is not, or is not exclusively, obtained by an essentially biological process. Preferably, the plant of the invention is obtained by a method comprising a technical step. Preferably, the plant of the invention is man-made.

The plant of the invention may be a monocot or dicot, and may be from a plant of any species belonging to the Solanaceae family (optionally of the genus Solanurri), Brassicaceae family, Cucurbitaceae family, Fabaceae family, Rosaceae family and Poaceae family, Asteraceae family (optionally the genus Melianthus). Preferred plant species belong to the Asteraceae family (optionally of the genus Melianthus) and Cucurbitaceae (optionally of the genus Cucumis). Preferably, the plant species is a tomato (Solarium lycopersicum), pepper (Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens or Capsicum baccaturri), aubergine or eggplant (Solanum melongena), pepino (Solanum muricaturri), tabacum (Nicotiana species, e.g. N. benthamiana, N. plumbaginifolia, N. tabacum, etc.), or a cucumber (Cucumis sativus), a Brassica juncea, a Brassica napus, a Brassica oleraceae, Vicia tabus, a Daucus carota, a Cannabis sativa a, Pisum sativum a, Apium graveolens or a Spinacia pleracea.

Preferably, the plant of the invention and/or of the method of the invention may be a crop plant or a cultivated plant, i.e. plant species which is cultivated and bred by humans. A crop plant may be cultivated for food or feed purposes (e.g. field crops), or for ornamental purposes (e.g. production of flowers for cutting, grasses for lawns, etc.). A crop plant as defined herein also includes plants from which non-food products are harvested, such as oil for fuel, plastic polymers, pharmaceutical products, cork, fibres (such as cotton) and the like. Preferably, the plant part, leaf, fruit, plant cell, seed, and/or scion as taught herein are from a crop plant.

The plant may be, or may be obtainable from, the family of Asteraceae. The plant may be of the genus Helianthus, more preferably said plant is a Helianthus annuus plant, comprising a modified gene of the invention that is derived from any one of:

UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase gene is a gene that comprises a sequences encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 gene is a gene that comprises a sequences encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; acid phosphatase gene is a gene that comprises a sequences encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase gene is a gene that comprises a sequences encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; inorganic phosphate transporter gene is a gene that comprises a sequences encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 10 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase gene is a gene that comprises a sequences encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 13 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; alcohol acetyltransferase gene is a gene that comprises a sequences encoding a protein of SEQ ID NO: 15 or a homologue or orthologue thereof.

In addition or alternatively, the plant may be, or may be obtainable from the family of Asteraceae, preferably of the genus Helianthus, more preferably said plant is a Helianthus annuus plant, comprising a modified protein of the invention that is derived from any one of: the encoded UDP-glucuronate-4 epimerase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded acid phosphatase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded inorganic phosphate transporter protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded alcohol acetyltransferase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 or a homologue or orthologue thereof.

Optionally, the plant comprises a combination of modified genes. Preferred combinations have been defined herein in the aspect providing the host cell of the invention. It is to be understood herein that the plant of the invention may comprise such any one of such combinations that preferably at least partly contribute to an improved Orobanche resistance of said plant.

An additional aspect of the invention pertains to plants grown from the seeds or regenerated from the plant cell, comprising the nucleic acid and/or protein of the invention as defined herein.

An additional aspect of the invention described herein pertains to progeny of the plant of the invention, wherein the progeny has improved Orobanche resistance as specified herein and wherein the progeny comprises the nucleic acid and/or protein of the invention. The progeny may be obtained by selfing or breeding and selection, wherein the selected progeny retains the increased Orobanche resistance of the parent plant and/or retain the expression of the protein of the invention.

In an aspect, the invention further concerns the use of a nucleic acid, protein, construct, or host cell of the invention for increasing Orobanche resistance in a plant.

In an aspect, the invention pertains to plant parts and plant products derived from the plant of the invention and/or plant obtained or obtainable by the method of the invention, wherein the plant part and/or plant product comprise the modified gene, modified protein and/or silencing constructs of the invention, or parts thereof. Such plant parts and/or plant products may be seed or fruit and/or products derived therefrom. Such plant parts, plant products may also be nonpropagating material.

The present invention has been described above with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawings. Modifications and alternative implementations of some parts or elements are possible, and are included in the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims.

Table 1: Description sequences

SEQ ID NO: 1

MDEELFPSTPGKIKSDRRTFHRCFASTSTMFLWALFLIALTASYLSFIATGNHHIHHTSHRSVTGP

HWEKRWSSSQIHRKNGFSVLVTGAAGFVGTHVSLALKKRGDGWGIDNFNDYYDPALKKARRK

MLESKNIFIINADINDQNVLAKLFEIVAFTHVMHLAAQAGVRYAMENPKSYVHSNIAGLVTLLEQCK

SADPQPAVVWASSSSVYGLNDKVPFSESDRTDQPASLYAATKKAGEEITHTYNHIYGLSITGLRF

FTVYGPWGRPDMAYFSFTKNILKGKPITVYRGKNGVDLARDFTYIDDIVKGCVGSLDTAGKSTGS

GGKKKGPAPYRIFNLGNTSPVTVPTLVSILEKNLKMKAKKNVVDMPGNGDVPFTHANISLAQREL

GYKPTTDLPTGLRKFVKWYLWYYGYEQGKVKSVKS

SEQ ID NO: 2

MDEELFPSTPGKIKSDRRTFHRCFASTSTMFLWALFLIVLTASYLSFIATGNHHIHHTSHRSVTGP

HWEKRVVSSSQIHRKNGFSVLVTGAAGFVGTHVSLALKKRGDGVVGIDNFNDYYDPALKKARRK

MLESKNIFIINADINDQNVLAKLFEIVAFTHVMHLAAQAGVRYAMENPKSYVHSNIAGLVTLLEQCK

SADPQPAVVWASSSSVYGLNDKVPFSESDRTDQPASLYAATKKAGEEITHTYNHIYGLSITGLRF

FTVYGPWGRPDMAYFSFTKNILKGKPITVYRGKNGVDLARDFTYIDDIVKGCVGSLDTAGKSTGS

GGKKKGPAPYRIFNLGNTSPVTVPTLVSILEKNLKMKAKKNVVDMPGNGDVPFTHANISLAQREL

GYKPTTDLPTGLRKFVKWYLWYYGYEQGKVKSVKS

SEQ ID NO: 3

MDAFLQQFQNLKIQLEEIILATNNFDNQNNCIGRGGFGKVYKGEVSHSKGQSMVAIKRLDCRHGQ

GAPEFLKEITTLSRYCHENLISLLGFCHQEDEMILVYEYASRGSLDRYLNSPLLTWTQRLKICLDVA

KGLSYLHDPRETHQRLIHCDVKSSNILLDEQWNAKVSDFGLSVMGPANEQYSVIVILAAGTPGYC

DPQYAMTHTLTKESDVYSLGVVLFEVLCGRLCCTYSNGCVQQILVPTWIESYEEKKLYDIIFKDPTI

QPLEQSALKTFSNIAYRCLKESREDRPKMAEVVTELETALDNEEFSNWINPLIDYDEMSKNAETPL

NCSSKDEVRKFLSKGVLLKGGKTWISLNKKGERCGMVSFAECLDSDPNEFKSVFDSR SEQ ID NO: 4

MDAFLQQFQNLKIQLEEIILATNNFNNQNNCIGRGGFGKVYKGEVSHSKGQSMVAIKRLDCRHGQ

GAPEFLKEITTLSRYCHENLISLLGFCHQEDEMILVYEYASRGSLDRYLNSPLLTWTQRLKICLDVA

KGLSYLHDPRETHQRLIHCDVKSSNILLDEQWNAKVSDFGLSVMGPANEQYSVIVILAAGTPGYC

DPQYAMTHTLTKESDVYSLGVVLFEVLCGRLCCTYSNGCVQQILVPTWIESYEEKKLYDIIFKDPTI

QPLEQSALKTFSNIAYRCLKESREDRPKMAEVVTELETALDNEEFSNWINPLIDYDEMSKNAETPL

NCSSKDEVRKFLSKGVLLKGGKTWISLNKKGERCGMVSFAECLDSDPNEFKSVFDSR

SEQ ID NO: 5

MFPFVWLYKHGICSCQRNHSLLIHAKFRSLLILKHRAREMKNQRETLMCSLLFWLTMVMNTKVY

AHSQYGGRLVELSLSYCLSWRLAEETGNIQGWRTVPIQCLLDVEVYMLGGQYASDLNLIVDQISS

YVDEIIMSDDGLDAWILDVDDTCLSNIFYYKGKRFGGDPYDPQAFKEWASRGICRAIPPILRLFQK

LIDRGFKVFLISGRDETTFEQPTLHNLHFQGFFGFERLILRSEAYKGQSGIVYKSEMRRKLVEEGY

RIWGNVGDQWSDLRGQFVGNRTFKLPNPMYFVP

SEQ ID NO: 6

MFPFVWLYKHGICSCQRNHSLLIHAKFRSLLILKHRAREMKNQRETLMCSLLFWLTMVMNTKVY

AHSQYGGRLVELSLSYCLSWRLAEETGNIQGWRTVSIQCLLDVEVYMLGGQYASDLNLIVDQISS

YVDEIIMSDDGLDAWILDVDDTCLSNIFYYKGKRFGGDPYDPQAFKEWASRGICRAIPPILRLFQK

LIDRGFKVFLISGRDETTFEQPTLHNLHFQGFFGFERLILRSEAYKGQSGIVYKSEMRRKLVEEGY

RIWGNVGDQWSDLRGQFVGNRTFKLPNPMYFVP

SEQ ID NO: 7

MSQSHASLVANSHPIYTSAILSNPFHTCPSSLIFSLEFYPIHFTFVFSHLMHCACSVNLNHFQAMV

QQALDHSDLFSRRCIVVNGPVIIGAGPSGLAVGAGLRQQGVPFVILERADCIASLWKNKTYDRLKL

HLPKQFCQLPFFPFPPNFPEYPSKYQFVDYLESYTKKFEINPRFNESVQSAKYDEVCGLWRVRT

VVNDCEVEYICRWLWATGENADKWPAFEGLDEFGGHVMHACDYRSGEQYEGKKVLVVGCG

NSGMEVCLDLCHHNAFPSMVVRSAVHVLPREIAGKSTFELATTLMKWLPLNMTDKILLILARITLG

NLEKYGIKRPLMGPLELKNTIGKTPVLDIGALQKIKSGNIQIVPGIKKFSRGCVELVDGRNLDIDSVIL

ATGYCSNVPSWLKESDLFSKEGMPTTSFPEGWKGKCGVYAVGFTRRGLSGASFDAIRVSQDIAK IWNQETRPLCHSFM

SEQ ID NO: 8

MSQSHASLVANSHPIYTSAILSNPFHTCPSSLIFSLEFYPIHFTFVFSHLMHCACSVNLNHFQAMV

QQALDHSDLFSRRCIVVNGPVIIGAGPSGLAVGAGLRQQGVPFVILERADCIASLWKNKTYDRLKL

HLPKQFCQLPFFPFPPNFPEYPSKYQFVDYLESYTKKFEINPRFNESVQSAKYDEVCGLWRVRT

VVNDCEVEYICRWLVVATGENADKVVPAFEGLDEFGGHVMHACDYRSDEQYEGKKVLWGCGN

SGMEVCLDLCHHNAFPSMVVRSAVHVLPREIAGKSTFELATTLMKWLPLNMTDKILLILARITLGN

LEKYGIKRPLMGPLELKNTIGKTPVLDIGALQKIKSGNIQIVPGIKKFSRGCVELVDGRNLDIDSVILA TGYCSNVPSWLKESDLFSKEGMPTTSFPEGWKGKCGVYAVGFTRRGLSGASFDAIRVSQDIAKI

WNQETRPLCHSFM

SEQ ID NO: 9

MSQSHASLVANSHPIYTSAILSNPFHTCPSSLIFSLEFYPIHFTFVFSHLMHCACSVNLNHFQAMV

QQALDHSDLFSRRCIVVNGPVIIGAGPSGLAVGAGLRQQGVPFVILERADCIASLWKNKTYDRLKL

HLPKQFCQLPFFPFPPNFLEYPSKYQFVDYLESYTKKFEINPRFNESVQSAKYDEVCGLWRVRTV

VNDCEVEYICRWLWATGENADKWPAFEGLDEFGGHVMHACDYRSGEQYEGKKVLVVGCGN

SGMEVCLDLCHHNAFPSMVVRSAVHVLPREIAGKSTFELATTLMKWLPLNMTDKILLILARITLGN

LEKYGIKRPLMGPLELKNTIGKTPVLDIGALQKIKSGNIQIVPGIKKFSRGCVELVDGRNLDIDSVILA

TGYCSNVPSWLKESDLFSKEGMPTTSFPEGWKGKCGVYAVGFTRRGLSGASFDAIRVSQDIAKI

WNQETRPLCHSFM

SEQ ID NO: 10

MAATSGNLKVLNALDGAKTQWYHFTAIVIAGMGFFTDAYDLFCISLVTKMLGRIYYTKLDSPKPGS

LPPNVSAMVNGVALVGTLAGQLFFGWLGDKLGRKKVYGITLMLMCLCSIASGLSFGSSPKTVMT

TLCFFRFWLGFGIGGDYPLSATIMSEYSNKKTRGGFIAAVFAMQGFGILAGGVFAIIMSSVFNSRY

EAPPYEVDPVKSTVPEADYVWRIILMVGAVPALMTFYSRSKMPETARYTALVAKNATKAASDMSK

ILNMEIESEQQKVDGKSNNGYGLFSREFLKRHGLHLLGTTSTWFLLDIAFYSQNLFQKDIFSAIGWI

PPAKTMNAIEEVYRIARAQTLIALCSTVPGYWFTVFLIDRMGRFKIQLLGFSMMTIFMFALAFPYNH

WTRPENNISFWMYSFTFFFANFGPNTTTFVVPAEIFPARVRSTCHGISAASGKLGAMVGAFGFL

YLAQNQDPAKTDAGYPAGIGVKNSLIVLGVINFLGTLCTFMVPESKGKSLEEMTGENNDSQP

SEQ ID NO: 11

MAATSGNLKVLNALDGAKTQWYHFTAIVIAGMGFFTDAYDLFCISLVTKMLGRIYYTKLDSPKPGS

LPPNVSAMVNGVALVGTLAGQLFFGWLGDKLGRKKVYGITLMLMCLCSIASGLSFGSSPKTVMT

TLCFFRFWLGFGIGGDYPLSATIMSEYSNKKTRGGFIAAVFAMQGFGILAGGVFAIIMSSVFNSRY

EAPPYEVDPVKSTVPEADYVWRIILMVGAVPALMTFYSRSKMPETARYTALVAKNATKAASDMSK

ILNMEIESEQQKVDGKSNNGYGLFSREFLKRHGLHLLGTTSTWFLLDIVFYSQNLFQKDIFSAIGWI

PPAKTMNAIEEVYRIARAQTLIALCSTVPGYWFTVFLIDRMGRFKIQLLGFSMMTIFMFALAFPYNH

WTRPENNISFWMYSFTFFFANFGPNTTTFVVPAEIFPARVRSTCHGISAASGKLGAMVGAFGFL

YLAQNQDPAKTDAGYPAGIGVKNSLIVLGVINFLGTLCTFMVPESKGKSLEEMTGENNDSQP

SEQ ID NO: 12

MAATSGNLKVLNALDGAKTQWYHFTAIVIAGMGFFTDAYDLFCISLVTKMLGRIYYTKLDSPKPGS

LPPNVSAMVNGVALVGTLAGQLFFGWLGDKLGRKKVYGITLMLMCLCSIASGLSFGSSPKTVMT

TLCFFRFWLGFGIGGDYPLSATIMSEYSNKKTRGGFIAAVFAMQGFGILAGGVFAIIMSSVFNSRY

EAPPYEVDPVKSTVPEADYVWRIILMVGAVPALMTFYSRSKMPETARYTALVAKNATKAASDMSK

ILNMEIESEQQKVDGKSNNGYGLFSREFLKRHGLHLLGTTSTWFLLDIAFYSQNLFQKDIFSAIGWI

PPVKTMNAIEEVYRIARAQTLIALCSTVPGYWFTVFLIDRMGRFKIQLLGFSMMTIFMFALAFPYNH WTRPENNISFWMYSFTFFFANFGPNTTTFVVPAEIFPARVRSTCHGISAASGKLGAMVGAFGFL

YLAQNQDPAKTDAGYPAGIGVKNSLIVLGVINFLGTLCTFMVPESKGKSLEEMTGENNDSQP

SEQ ID NO: 13

MASSTSTSAYTPTFNNPTTRFSSSSASNRPSISFSKKPQNSIVSALQTPSILQIPKQAPMKSSTST

GILELPSSPVVQQNWNVFQKVAAMALDAIEDGLKARENMRPLPKTVDPNVQIAGNFSPVPEQQV

RQLLPWGTIPEYIQGVYLRNGANPLFEPTSGHHLFDGDGMIYAVKFENGSVSYACRFTETHRLV

QERAFGKPVFPKAIGELHGHSGIAKLMLFYARGLCGLIDHTNGIGVANAGLVYFNNRLLAMSEDD

LPYHVRVTCSGDLKTAGRYDFDGQLESTMIAHPKIDPVSGELFALSYDVIKKPYLKYFRFSPDGKK

SNDVAIDLETPTMVHDFAITENFVVVPDHQVVFKMSEMVTGGSPVVYDKEKVSRFGVLDKYAEN

GSNIKWVDVPECFCFHLWNAWEEPEHNEVVVIGSCMTPADSIFNECSDELKSILSEIRLNLKTGK

STRRQIISPENDVNLEAGMVNKHLLGRKTQFAYLAIAEPWPKVSGFAKVDLSTGETKKFFYGDEK

YGGEPLFLPRTPNSAAEDDGHILAFVHDEKTWRSELQIVNAMTMELEATVKLPSRVPYGFHGTFI EANDLATQA

SEQ ID NO: 14

MASSTSTSAYTPTFNNPTTRFSSSSASNRPSISFSKKPQNSIVSALQTPSILQIPKQAPMKSSTST

GILELPSSPVVQQNWNVFQKVAAMALDAIEDGLKARENMRPLPKTVDPNVQIAGNFSPVPEQQV

RQLLPVVGTIPEYIQGVYLRNGANPLFEPTSGHHLFDGDGMIYAVKFENGSVSYACRFTETHRLV

QERAFGKPVFPKAIGELHGHSGIAKLMLFYARGLCGLIDHTNGIGVANAGLVYFNNRLLAMSEDD

LPYHVRVTCSGDLKTAGRYDFDGQLESTMIAHPKIDPVSGELFALSYDVIKKPYLKYFRFSPDGKK

SNDVAIDLETPTMVHDFAITENFVVVPDHQVVFKMSEMVTGGSPVVYDKEKVSRFGVLDKYAEN

GSNIKWVDVPECFCFHLWNAWEEPEHNEVWIGSCMTPADSIFNECSDELKSILSEIRLNLKTGK

STRRQIISPENDVNLEAGMVNKHLLGRKTQFAYLAIAEPWPKVSGFAKVDLSTGETKKFFYGDEK

YGGEPLFLPRTPNSAAEDDGHILAFVHDEKTWRLELQIVNAMTMELEATVKLPSRVPYGFHGTFI EANDLATQA

SEQ ID NO: 15

MIKYYHLFKFARSKGFPVSNKKWFYQSSFIRSQHFLCYPQQPQPPVEVPHPTENVRNICYGTTLS

YVTQYRSNHHHAQLSTLHKPSFPDHDGGNRHDYHVSIKDRDVICAAHGPKFEYWLPQSNLDLLL

PPHHAGVFFCYQKQKDTSMSPETVIKTIKNSLSEVLSTFYPLAGEIVPNSQGEPEVLCNNSGVEF

VYAHADVELENLDLHHPDETVNGKLVPDLNRGILSVQVTEFNCGAITVSCTFDHRIGDGTSLNMF

LVAWAEYARFKKISNIPSFRRSILNPRRPPHYNTVYDDFYLHLSSLPPPPSEENKPHSRIYYIHAES

INNLQHEASSKEIRRSKLQSFVAFIWKLIAQEGHNEPNKTSRMGVVVDGRKHLSGNREQVSSMLA

NHFGNVVSIPYGVLSNQHLQEMQLSEVATKVNKFVTDATQEEHFRGLIDWVELHRPQPAFARINL

KLQENDGDTIVVSSGQGLPISETNFGWAQPYFGSYHFPWGGHTGYITTMPSTKKNGDWIVYAHL KQKHLDLIESKAQHVFNPITHSYLRFH

SEQ ID NO: 16 MIKYYHLFKFARSKGFPVSNKKWFYQSSFIRSQHFLCYPQQPQPPVEVPHPTENVRNICYGTTLS YVTQYRSNHHHAQLSTLHKPSFPDHDGGNRHDYHVSIKDRDVICAAHGPKFEYWLPQSNLDLLL PPHHAGVFFCYQKQKDTSMSPETVIKTIKNSLSEVLSTFYPLAGEIVPNSQGEPEVLCNNSGVEF VYAHADVELENLDLHHPDETVNGKLVPDLNRGILSVQVTEFNCGAITVSCTFDHRIGDGTSLNMF LVAWAEYARFKKISNIPSFRRSILNPRRPPHYNTVYDDFYLHLSSLPPPPSEENKPHSRIYYIHVES INNLQHEASSKEIRRSKLQSFVAFIWKLIAQEGHNEPNKTSRMGVWDGRKHLSGNREQVSSMLA NHFGNVVSIPYGVLSNQHLQEMQLSEVATKVNKFVTDATQEEHFRGLIDWVELHRPQPAFARINL KLQENDGDTIVVSSGQGLPISETNFGWAQPYFGSYHFPWGGHTGYITTMPSTKKNGDWIVYAHL KQKHLDLIESKAQHVFNPITHSYLRFH

Examples

Example 1

In order to test broomrape resistance in sunflower plants the infection levels of wild type Helianthus annuus genotype HA304 and 9 chemically mutated susceptibility-gene candidates (Table 2) were compared. The homozygosity of the mutation was confirmed using a KASP assays on DNA extracted from the mother plant (as described e.g. in He et al., Crop breeding, 2014; 75- 86). Each mutant was detected using a KAPS assay with two allele specific primers, i.e. one specific for the mutant allele, one specific for the wild type allele. For these allele specific primers, the following respective target specific sequences were used: SEQ ID NO: 49 (UDP-glucuronate 4- epimerase wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 50 (UDP-glucuronate 4- epimerase_Ala39Val), SEQ ID NO: 51 (protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 52 (protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1_Assp26Asn), SEQ ID NO: 53 (acid phosphatase wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 54 (acid phosphatase_Pro101 Ser), SEQ ID NO: 55 (indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase a wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 56 (indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase_Gly244Asp), SEQ ID NO: 57 (indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase b wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 58 (indole- 3-pyruvatemonooxygenase_Pro151 Leu), SEQ ID NO: 59 (inorganic phosphate transporter a wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 60 inorganic phosphate transporter_Ala310Val), SEQ ID NO: 61 (inorganic phosphate transporter b wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 62 (inorganic phosphate transporter_Ala331 Vai), SEQ ID NO: 63 (cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 64 (cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase_Ser554Leu), SEQ ID NO: 65 (alcohol acetyltransferase wild type allele) in combination with SEQ ID NO: 66 (alcohol acetyltransferase_Ala324Val).

Progeny of the wild type and the mother plant were used for resistance testing.

Per genotype 25 seeds were disinfected by incubating them in 2.5% bleach for 10 minutes and rinsing three times with sterile MQ water. Subsequently the seeds were placed on sterile Whatmann filter paper in sterile 9 cm round Petri dishes and incubated at 20 °C in the dark for 3 days. Next the integuments of the seeds were removed and germinating seeds were transferred into a 50/50 sand vermiculite mixture in alveolated trays. After 3 days the most uniform seedlings were washed with sterile MQ to remove the sand/vermiculite mixture form the roots. Rhizotrons were assembled by placing a 16x16 cm Plexiglas plate on the lab bench, putting a pre-wet 16x13 cm rockwool slab in the middle of the Plexiglas plate; adding 2 16x1 .5x1 .5 cm PVC spacer on both sides of the slab and covering the rockwool slab with a 16x13 cm piece of autoclaved Whatman glass microfiber filter (WHA1820866).

The sunflower seedlings were placed in the rhizotron with their roots and part of their hypocotyl on the upper half of the glass microfiber filter and covered with a second 16x16 cm plexiglass plate. The whole rhizotron was held together by 6 pieces of masking tape (Tesa). Excess water was allowed to drain, before the rhizotrons were placed in a 40x30x17 cm Eurobox. The side of the box was covered by aluminium foil to cover the exposed root from light. The boxes with a total of 60 rhizotrons were placed in a growth cabinet at 25 °C, 16 hours of light and 60% relative humidity. The plants were left to grow for another 4 days.

Orobanche inoculant was prepared 7 days prior to inoculation. O. cumana seeds race F (10 mg/rhizotron; INRA, France) were sterilized by adding 50 ml of 3.2 % bleach + 0.001 % TritonX- 100 and shaken gently for 5 minutes. The seeds were recovered by pouring the mixture over a cell strainer with 40 pm gaps and the seeds were rinsed with sterile MQ water 3 times. Next the seeds were incubated in sterile MQ for 7 days and right before inoculation the seeds were suspended in 100 ml 0.7 % gelrite (Duchefa Biochemie) solution.

After growing for 4 days, each rhizotron was opened and 1 .5 ml of the Orobanche seed suspension was pipetted around the roots of the sunflower seedlings. Each rhizotron was sealed and covered again and watered 2 times a week with 25 ml of Aston solution with high phosphate content (0.375g KNO₃, 0.475g Ca(NO₃)₂4H₂O, 0.264g MgSO₄7H₂O, 0.114g NaH₂PO₄2H₂O, 0.85mg MnSO₄ H₂O, 0.123mg CuSO₄5H₂O, 0.15mg ZnSO₄7H₂O, 1.5mg H3BO3, 2.5mg NaCI, 0.045mg (NH₄)6M07O₂₄4 H₂O, 0.011g NaFe-EDTA, pH adjusted to 5.6 with KOH). Developing Orobanche tubercules were counted at 14, 21 and 28 days after inoculation on the roots of each individual plant.

For all nine mutants, an significant reduction of average amount of O. cumana tubercules per root were found. This indicates that the mutations in the susceptibility gene leads to a significant improvement of O. cumana resistance.

Table 2. Orobanche tolerance in mutant Helianthus annuus in % reduction as compared to control (mean ± SE)

Claims

1 . Method for producing a plant having improved Orobanche resistance as compared to a control plant, comprising the steps of impairing expression and/or activity of at least one of: an acid phosphatase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; a UDP-glucuronate 4 epimerase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; a protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; an indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; an inorganic phosphate transporter protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; a cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; and an alcohol acetyltransferase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 or a homologue or orthologue thereof.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein expression and/or activity of said protein is impaired by modifying an endogenous gene encoding said protein.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of impairing expression and/or activity comprises the insertion, deletion and/or substitution of at least one nucleotide in the sequence encoding the protein, resulting in a sequence encoding a modified protein with reduced function, preferably resulting in a protein having the amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NO 6, SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4, SEQ ID NO 8, SEQ ID NO 9, SEQ ID NO 11 , SEQ ID NO 12, SEQ ID NO 14, SEQ ID NO 16.

4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of impairing the expression comprises the insertion, deletion and/or substitution of at least one nucleotide in a transcription regulatory sequence of the gene encoding the protein resulting in decreased protein expression.

5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said Orobanche is Orobanche cumana.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises a step of regenerating said plant.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein expression and/or activity of the protein is impaired at least in the leaves, roots and/or fruits of said plant.

8. A nucleic acid comprising a gene encoding a protein, wherein said gene comprises one or more modifications resulting in impaired expression and/or activity of at least one of: the encoded acid phosphatase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded UDP-glucuronate 4 epimerase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded inorganic phosphate transporter protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded alcohol acetyltransferase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 or a homologue or orthologue thereof.

9. A construct, vector or host cell comprising the nucleic acid of claim 8.

10. A protein capable of improving Orobanche resistance when expressed in a plant, wherein the protein has one or more modifications as compared to the protein as defined in claim 1 .

11. A plant obtainable by a method according to any one of claims 1-7, or progeny thereof.

12. A plant having improved Orobanche resistance as compared to a control plant, wherein said plant shows impaired expression and/or activity of at least one of: the encoded acid phosphatase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded UDP-glucuronate 4 epimerase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded protein kinase RLK-Pelle-CrRLK1 L-1 protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded indole-3-pyruvatemonooxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 7 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded inorganic phosphate transporter protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; the encoded cis-epoxycarotenoid oxygenase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 or a homologue or orthologue thereof; and the encoded alcohol acetyltransferase protein, preferably having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 15 or a homologue or orthologue thereof.

13. A plant according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said plant comprises a nucleic acid of claim 8 or construct, vector or host cell according to claim 9, or wherein said plant expresses a protein of claim 10, or progeny thereof.

14. Use of a nucleic acid of claim 8, construct, vector or host cell of claim 9 or protein of claim 10 for improving Orobanche resistance in a plant.

15. Method of screening a plant for Orobanche resistance, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

- assessing the presence of the nucleic acid of claim 8, a construct, vector or host cell of claim 9 or a protein of claim 10 in said plant; and

- optionally selecting said plant.