Review: mlo-based resistance: An apparently universal “weapon” to defeat powdery mildew disease ($)

Powdery mildew disease is a broad term that encompasses more than 650 species of powdery mildew fungi that affect about 10,000 plant species, with serious economic consequences.  In the 1930s/40s, broad-spectrum resistance to powdery mildew was found in barley with a loss-of-function of the Mildew resistance locus o (Mlo) gene. Subsequently, resistance conferred by induced and natural loss-of-function alleles of the Mlo gene has been demonstrated in other species. Kusch and Panstruga review research into the molecular function of MLO and the molecular basis of mlo-based resistance, as well as side-effects of mlo-based resistance and efforts to extend it to other plants. Mol. Plant Microbe Interact. 10.1094/MPMI-12-16-0255-CR