Evolution of eudicots quantitative disease resistance to necrotrophic fungal pathogens – ResiDEvo

Quantitative disease resistance (QDR) is a ubiquitous process limiting pathogen infection in land plants. QDR is often broad spectrum and durable but its molecular bases remain elusive. Determining the extent to which plants evolved QDR from a common ancestor or by convergence is key to understand how durability and resistance spectrum evolve. Here, we will combine association genomics and transcriptomics to characterize the mechanisms underlying QDR in eudicot plants from the genera Arabidopsis and Solanum against the necrotrophic fungal pathogens Sclerotinia and Alternaria for which partners of the project have documented worldwide natural diversity. We will then compare lineages to infer paths for the evolution of QDR and validate cases of convergent QDR evolution using genome editing. Ultimately, this will provide novel opportunities for engineering disease resistance in crops and reducing the use of pesticides.