Effector-triggered immunity by the plant pathogen Phytophthora

A new genetic locus mediating avirulence in the potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans has been discovered. The Avr3b–Avr10–Avr11 locus is recognized by three different potato resistance genes, and is different from other Avr loci that have been identified thus far. This locus encodes a large protein with a WD40 domain and sequence similarities to transcription factors. Multiple, truncated copies of this gene have arisen by gene amplification and are characteristic of avirulent strains of P. infestans. Here, we describe the new avirulence locus and discuss the importance of this finding.