Beschreibung:
<jats:p>In the present study we screened the progeny of Vitis vinifera × V. romanetii populations segregating for resistance to powdery mildew and determined the presence of a single, dominant locus, Ren4, conferring rapid and extreme resistance to the grapevine powdery mildew fungus Erysiphe necator. In each of nine Ren4 pseudo-backcross 2 (pBC<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>) and pBC<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>populations (1,030 progeny), resistance fit a 1:1 segregation ratio and overall segregated as 543 resistant progeny to 487 susceptible. In full-sib progeny, microscopic observations revealed the reduction of penetration success rate (as indicated by the emergence of secondary hyphae) from 86% in susceptible progeny to below 10% in resistant progeny. Similarly, extreme differences were seen macroscopically. Ratings for Ren4 pBC<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>population 03-3004 screened using natural infection in a California vineyard and greenhouse and using artificial inoculation of an aggressive New York isolate were fully consistent among all three pathogen sources and environments. From 2006 to 2010, Ren4 pBC<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>and pBC<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>vines were continuously screened in California and New York (in the center of diversity for E. necator), and no sporulating colonies were observed. For population 03-3004, severity ratings on leaves, shoots, berries, and rachises were highly correlated (R<jats:sup>2</jats:sup>= 0.875 to 0.996) in the vineyard. Together, these data document a powdery mildew resistance mechanism not previously described in the Vitaceae or elsewhere, in which a dominantly inherited resistance prevents hyphal emergence and is non-race-specific and tissue-independent. In addition to its role in breeding for durable resistance, Ren4 may provide mechanistic insights into the early events that enable powdery mildew infection.</jats:p>