Teragen Bio Discovers Location of 'Resistance Gene' to Prevent Cabbage Clubroot Disease

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyungsoo Park] A key gene locus (specific location) that can prevent clubroot disease, one of the largest diseases affecting cruciferous crops worldwide, has been discovered by a domestic research team.

Teragen Bio announced on the 13th that, in collaboration with the Rural Development Administration, Chungnam National University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Samyook University College of Life Sciences, and the University of Western Australia College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, they decoded the genome of a European line of turnip, achieving this result.

The research team discovered two gene loci, ‘CRa’ and ‘CRb’, suspected to contain clubroot resistance genes through whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the European line of turnip, which is resistant to clubroot disease.

By analyzing the two gene loci found in turnip and comparing the differences with the cabbage genome sequence, the team finally confirmed the location of disease resistance genes of the innate immune system receptor protein type.

A Teragen Bio official said, "It is expected to be applicable to transgenic breeding for cabbage variety improvement," adding, "Through follow-up studies such as gene function identification, it can also be applied to other edible crops like cabbage and mustard greens."

Clubroot disease in cabbage is caused by a specific fungus that forms galls which absorb nutrients and grow, eventually causing the leaves and stems to wither and die. There is no definitive control method, and due to its high contagiousness, once it occurs, the damage is severe. Related research is actively underway worldwide.

The research results were published in the international genetics journal Frontiers in Genetics (IF 4.27).

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