Insights into the Verticillium dahliae effector repertoire during xylem infection of potato

Roots of Resistance: Insight into the Verticillium dahliae effector repertoire during xylem infection of potato VdAve1Verticillium wilt in potato Verticillium wilt is a disease affecting more than 400 different host species, ranging from annual crops to trees, and caused by the soilborne fungus Verticillium dahliae Kleb.Potato, the fourth most important staple food crop worldwide 1 is also affected by Verticillium wilt.The pathogen can severely reduce yields in potato fields 2 by blocking transport of water and clogging xylem vessels with conidia and fungal mycelium (Figure 1).On infected plant debris, V. dahliae produce resting structures called microsclerotia, making modern fungicides ineffective.An alternative source might be the use of natural resistance in wild potatoes.We aim to identify expressed effectors that might lead to the discovery of resistance (R) genes in wild Solanum species.