Evanston, IL - Today's advanced online publication of the journal Nature Biotechnology carries three important papers on crop disease resistance. They report the isolation of novel disease resistance genes and the successful transfer of resistance into wheat, soybean, and potato. The 2Blades Foundation supported the development of these efforts as part of the organization's mission to discover, advance, and deliver genetic improvements in crop disease resistance.
2Blades tackles the increasing demands on world-wide agricultural production by targeting the control of crop diseases. Plant pathogens cause global crop losses estimated at around 15%, and some pathogens can cause total crop failure. Though diseases are managed with the use of agrochemicals and resistant crop varieties, pathogen populations rapidly adapt to these measures. Recent discoveries in plant science provide opportunities to develop more durable genetic resistances to pathogens, yet the deployment of these advances in the field has scarcely advanced in the past twenty years. 2Blades works to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and agriculture by supporting initiatives to develop and deliver crops with innate disease resistance to commercial and smallholder farmers.
The Nature Biotechnology reports focus on wheat stem rust, Asian soybean rust, and potato late blight, diseases that are difficult to control, and each capable of causing yield losses over 80%.
2Blades continues to work with research, commercial, and charitable partners to ensure deployment of these technologies and to promote maximum durability of resistance traits.
Roger Freedman, Chairman of 2Blades, commented: "2Blades has favored a simple strategy for fighting plant disease. Plants are generally able to defend themselves from disease, but successful pathogens overcome the plant defenses by evading recognition. What we have done is to restore the ability of the plant to 'see' the pathogen. Once that's done the plant itself does the rest. That's the way all three of these resistances work."
"2Blades is a not-for-profit organization" said Diana Horvath, President of 2Blades. "We work for the broadest benefit, focusing exclusively on advancing scientific insights into practical applications for crop disease resistance. We aim to develop and deliver solutions to crop diseases that threaten food security throughout the world. The results reported in Nature Biotechnology are significant advances, and we will continue to undertake the efforts necessary to ensure these technologies are deployed where they are needed most."
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About 2Blades Foundation
2Blades Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to the discovery, advancement and delivery of durable disease resistance in crops. 2Blades aims to produce successful, sustainable, environmentally friendly genetic solutions that safeguard and increase the supply of safe, healthy food. More information can be found at http://www.2Blades.org .
Nature Biotechnology