Differential gene regulatory pathways and co-expression networks associated with fire blight infection in apple (Malus × domestica)

Abstract

Disease resistance: How apples fight blight Different apple varieties, such as ‘Gala’ and ‘Empire,’ defend themselves against fire blight in different ways, and studying how they do it may help in breeding varieties with better resistance. Fire blight is a devastating bacterial disease that can destroy entire orchard blocks in a single season. Breeding for increased resistance is one of the most efficient ways to combat it. Some apple varieties are naturally more resistant than others, but the underlying genetics are not well understood. Awais Khan at Cornell University in New York and co-workers investigated how the ‘Gala’ and ‘Empire’ varieties defend themselves in the first 72 h after infection. ‘Empire’ showed stronger resistance than ‘Gala,’ with many distinct resistance mechanisms. The researchers identified several resistance genes in each variety, which may eventually be used in breeding more blight-resistant apple varieties.