Scientific Collaborator University of Fribourg Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
The interaction between tomato and Cladosporium fulvum, the causal agent of tomato leaf mold, serves as a key model in plant pathology. This pathosystem follows the gene-for-gene concept, where specific Cf genes in tomato recognize C. fulvum effectors, triggering a hypersensitive response (HR) to restrict infection.
Among these, Cf-Ecp5 detects the Ecp5 effector secreted by C. fulvum during infection. Recent findings show that Cf-Ecp5 genes are distributed across multiple loci in the tomato genome, highlighting their evolutionary complexity and potential functional divergence. These loci include the short arm of chromosome 1 near the Milky Way cluster, as well as chromosomes 7 and 12.
Variation in Ecp5-induced HR across tomato accessions suggests a valuable genetic resource for breeding resistant cultivars. This phenomenon of convergent evolution emphasizes the adaptive significance of Cf-Ecp5-mediated recognition in natural populations.
To elucidate Cf-Ecp5-mediated resistance, we will integrate network biology, structural modeling, and evolutionary analysis to identify unknown suppressors across multiple tomato lines. By mapping genetic interactions and applying molecular dynamics simulations, we aim to uncover key regulatory elements modulating Cf-Ecp5 function, advancing plant immunity research, and modifiable disease-resistance breeding.
