Finding genes related to nematode resistance in sugarcane

• Grant number: 00/07421-1
• Support Opportunities: Genome Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2000
• End date: November 30, 2002
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Augusto Colombo
• Grantee: Carlos Augusto Colombo
• Host Institution: Instituto Agronômico (IAC). Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project has the main objective to search for homologs of sugarcane genes, related with stress resistance, in coffee species. Emphasis will be given to genes involved with pest-resistance. The strategie proposed comprises firstly a search in the SUCEST Data Bank to find sequences that share similarity with domains of the known structural motifs related to pest control. Secondly, heterologous primers will be designed based on the sequence of sugarcane stress related genes and tested on Coffea germoplasm. Amplified fragments will be hybridized against sugarcane sequences. The fragments that through hibridization show high homology to the selected sugarcane ESTs will be cloned, sequenced and further studied. Analysis of polymorphism within the amplified fragments can be useful to identify molecular markers. Afterward the segregation of these markers could be evaluated in well-defined Coffea populations, previously selected for nematode resistance or susceptibility. Co-segregation of these markers with resistance to nematodes will help in the identification of coffee resistance genes. (AU)