Australian scientist discovered gene sequence that would help fight leaf rust

The scientist from the University of Sydney (Australia) Hoan Dinh has determined the sequence of the Rph3 gene, which underlies the resistance of barley to leaf rust.

Rust is a fungus that infects various crops around the world and reduces food production from them by at least 10%. In Australia, leaf rust on wheat and barley costs farmers $350 million annually in yield losses and fungicide costs.

The Rph3 gene was studied over 50 years ago and has been used in Australia to protect barley crops. However, in 2009 the pathogen evolved and surpassed Rph3. Understanding the sequence of the gene may help to better deal with leaf rust in the future.

“Joan Dinh has done painstaking work over the past three years to study and isolate the gene to understand how it can be edited to make Rph3 again effective against the rust pathogen,” said Pr. Robert Park, research advisor of Hoan Dinh.

As of today, 28 rust resistance genes have been identified in barley worldwide. Three of them were isolated and studied by specialists from the University of Sydney (including Rph3).