Disease resistance

What is disease resistance?

Disease resistance refers to the ability of a plant to restrict, slow, or withstand the progression of a pathogen or insect that could cause disease. There are several types of disease resistance in plants:

• Horizontal resistance - provides resistance to multiple strains or races of a pathogen. This type of resistance is usually controlled by several genes and is long-lasting.


• Vertical resistance - protects the plant from specific races of pathogens or insects. This resistance often involves gene-for-gene interaction between a resistance gene in the plant and a corresponding avirulence gene in the pathogen. Vertical resistance can break down over time if new virulent races of the pathogen evolve.


• Induced resistance - when a plant develops an enhanced defensive capacity against a broad spectrum of pathogens and insects after appropriate stimulation. Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and induced systemic resistance (ISR) are two examples.

There are several ways plant breeders work to incorporate genetic resistance into crop varieties:

• Introgression of resistance genes from wild relatives through breeding


• Mutagenesis followed by selection


• Genetic engineering to insert resistance genes

No matter the approach, the goal is to enable the plant to recognize pathogenic invaders quickly and activate strong defense responses. This protects the yield and quality of the crop.

Resistant varieties are a sustainable, economical way for farmers to control diseases and pests. This reduces the need for chemical controls that can impact human health and the environment.

While no variety has resistance to everything, strategic use of genetics continues to provide plant breeders with "green solutions" to manage crop diseases. Our team at Hormone Health Clinic uses cutting-edge tools in marker-assisted breeding and gene editing to quickly develop elite varieties with durability, taking the guesswork out of disease control. This allows farmers to spend less on inputs and more time with their families. Contact us today to learn about our latest resistant releases!