Akdeniz Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Dergisi, vol.17, no.1, pp.9-17, 2004 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Plant disease resistance (R) genes govern the recognition of specific pathogens and activate subsequent
defense responses. The recently cloned RPW8 gene controls resistance to powdery mildew pathogens. To characterise
RPW8 specificity, a range of powdery mildew pathogens was examined for virulence on Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0
containing the RPW8 transgene. All the tested Erysiphe pathogens were avirulent on the RPW8 containing plants
showing the RPW8 gene was a broad-spectrum powdery mildew resistance gene. The resistance conferred by RPW8
gene was associated with a hypersensitive response (HR). This was characterized by timing of hydrogen peroxide
(H2O2) accumulation in plant epidermal cells penetrated by the pathogen. The powdery mildew attacked cells
accumulated H2O2 producing rapid cell death that restricts growth of the pathogen in the plant cells.