Rpi-amr3 confers resistance to multiple Phytophthora species by recognizing a conserved RXLR effector

Abstract

Diverse pathogens from the genus Phytophthora cause disease and reduce yields in many crop plants. Although many Resistance to Phytophthora infestans (Rpi) genes effective against potato late blight have been cloned, few have been cloned against other Phytophthora species. Most Rpi genes encode nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat-containing (NLR) proteins, that recognize RXLR effectors. However, whether NLR proteins can recognize RXLR effectors from multiple different Phytophthora pathogens has rarely been investigated. Here, we report the effector AVRamr3 from P. infestans that is recognized by Rpi-amr3 from S. americanum. We show here that AVRamr3 is broadly conserved in many different Phytophthora species, and that recognition of AVRamr3 homologs enables resistance against multiple Phytophthora pathogens, including P. parasitica and P. palmivora. Our findings suggest a novel path to identifying R genes against important plant pathogens.