Unravelling the Mystery of Powdery Mildew Resistance in Hemp: Cornell Researchers Discover a Gene
Key Highlights :
The hemp industry is on the rise, and with it comes a number of challenges. One of the most prevalent diseases affecting the production of high-cannabinoid Cannabis sativa is powdery mildew, a fungus that can cause severe damage to the plant's tissues and significantly reduce crop yields. In a major breakthrough, Cornell researchers have discovered a gene in hemp that confers resistance to powdery mildew, providing the fledgling industry with a powerful tool to combat this destructive disease.
The research, published in the journal Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, was led by George Stack, Ph.D., postdoctoral associate in the School of Integrative Plant Science, and Ali Cala, Ph.D. The team identified a hemp cultivar that was consistently resistant to powdery mildew in both natural infections in field trials and in controlled inoculations in growth chambers. Stack and Cala then conducted genetic marker analysis on more than 700 plants in the trial and identified a gene mutation that is highly likely to be responsible for the resistance.
"Identifying resistance will result in better overall crop production and quality," said Larry Smart, a plant breeder and professor in the School of Integrative Plant Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). "It's a huge advance," added plant pathologist Christine Smart, professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and a co-author on the paper.
The gene mutation can now be used to breed resistant cultivars for indoor production, hemp cultivars for field-grown grain and fiber, and even high-THC lines to produce cultivars resistant to powdery mildew. The gene mutation also allows breeders to screen for resistant seedlings without having to grow the plants to maturity.
"Growers, especially for indoor production, put a lot of effort and money into trying to control powdery mildew on their plants," Christine Smart said. "So having resistant plants will greatly improve indoor production."
The discovery of the gene mutation is a major step forward in the effort to combat powdery mildew in hemp. The research team is continuing to identify more resistance genes for powdery mildew and characterize the interactions between the gene they identified and other potential genetic resistance factors in order to maximize genetic resistance. With this new tool, the hemp industry can now look forward to improved crop production and quality.
