Melhoramento da resistência da Pereira ao fogo bacteriano: da resiliência natural à regulação de genes de suscetibilidade pelas Novas Técnicas Genómicas

PearGAIN was conceived to address a specific need of pear producers from the West Coast of Portugal, who are struggling with the increased occurrence of fire blight in their orchards. Improving the natural resistance of traditional cv. Rocha to this disease through NGTs is pivotal to supporting sustainable and resilient agronomic practices with a reduced input demand, preserving varietal traits. pearGAIN aims to explore natural resilience occurring among cv. Rocha and develop an integrated and durable solution for improved resistance by modifying the molecular entry points for infection, the plant S genes. More specifically we aim to: (I) Identify cv. Rocha clones with contrasting sensitivity to fire blight and explore the genetic backgrounds related to contrasting phenotypes: we will obtain a catalogue of resistant clones for propagation as well as genetic variants that could be used for the selection of additional targets for gene editing after pearGAIN; (II) Identify pear orthologs of apple S genes and validate their target specificity for known E. amylovora protein effectors: this information will be crucial for the selection the best plant target genes and the strategy for gene edition to be tested during pearGAIN; (III) Establish a gene editing framework at the host institution for pear: we will invest in the optimization of protocols for Agrobacterium-mediated and transgene-free protocols in this species (cv. Rocha); this will allow the team to consolidate the expertise and resources to continue designing new strategies for gene editing after pearGAIN, in close contact with producer’s needs; (IV) Significantly contribute to stakeholder awareness on plant production needs and breeding approaches: we will tackle the concerns raised by the use of NGTs in the context of plant improvement in fruit species, by (a) assessing public perception on this subject and further (b) designing targeted stakeholder engagement activities to foster an open-minded dialogue among consumers, scientists, and producers. Collectively, pearGAIN aims to provide a proof-of-concept on the use if NGTs for improving pear resistance against fire blight, and raise opportunities for further performance tests in contained conditions.