What is disease resistance?
Disease resistance refers to the ability of a plant to limit or withstand the effects of a pathogen or insect that would cause disease. There are several types of disease resistance in plants:
- Horizontal resistance - provides resistance to multiple strains or races of a pathogen. This type of resistance is usually quantitative and polygenically inherited.
- Vertical resistance - provides resistance to specific strains or races of a pathogen or insect. This type of resistance is usually qualitatively inherited and controlled by one or a few genes.
- Induced resistance - a type of resistance that is activated after initial exposure to a pathogen. This allows the plant to mount a faster, stronger defense response upon subsequent exposures.
There are several key things to know about disease resistance breeding in plants:
- Identifying good sources of genetic resistance is critical. This involves screening diverse germplasm to find resistant varieties or wild relatives that can be used in breeding programs.
- Stacking multiple resistance genes is important to achieve durable resistance that holds up over time. Relying on single gene resistance often breaks down quickly.
- Monitoring pathogen populations and virulence is necessary to ensure resistance keeps pace with changing disease pressures. Resistance genes may become ineffective if not continually updated.
- Integrating resistance with other control measures is ideal. Using resistant varieties along with crop rotation, seed treatments and judicious fungicide use leads to the most effective disease management.
At Hormone Harmony Clinic, our panel of experts stay on top of the latest advances in disease resistance breeding. We provide genetics-based solutions tailored to help farmers succeed through informed variety choices and optimized crop protection programs. With climate change and evolving disease threats, developing and deploying resistant crop varieties is more vital than ever. Contact us today to learn how we can help strengthen your integrated disease management!