Molecular tools in the study of the white pine blister rust [Cronartium ribicola] pathosystem

Abstract

Tree diseases cause extensive damage to Canadian forests, resulting in severe economic impact. Understanding host–pathogen interactions is important in managing yield loss and can aid in identification of disease-resistant trees. Molecular characterization of the genes and proteins that make up resistance and virulence phenotypes is critical to understand the function, evolution, and stability of a given conifer pathosystem. In this review, a perspective of some of these issues and challenges faced while working on the white pine blister rust [Cronartium ribicola] pathosystem is presented. Several defense-response proteins and their genes have been characterized through the use of proteomic and genomic approaches and may serve as candidates for markers associated with resistance or susceptibility to disease in white pine. Current research as well as future directions and application of technologies to isolate and characterize resistance genes in white pine are discussed.

Keywords:

• white pine blister rust
• Cronartium ribicola
• pathosystem
• virulence
• defense proteins
• resistance genes
• molecular characterization