FORTIPHYTE INC — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase II: 8.199999999999999

Description

Bacterial spot is a major problem for field grown fresh market tomato cultivation in the UnitedStates. Chemical controls are only partially effective add extra expense for tomato growers andcan be harmful to the environment. Breeders have worked for many years to develop a tomatovariety with resistance to this disease but have so far been unsuccessful. We identified threenaturally occurring plant immune receptor genes from wild tomato relatives which mediateimmunity to Xanthomonas the causative agent of bacterial spot. These immune receptors detectwhen an invading bacterial pathogen is attacking the plant and activate endogenous defensepathways to prevent disease.We will use these immune receptor genes to develop a commercial tomato variety that is immune tobacterial spot. We developed a gene delivery system that allows us to make precise gene insertionsinto the tomato genome. We will use this method to generate tomato plants that contain only thedesired plant immune receptor genes and don't have any non-plant DNA thereby minimizingconsumer acceptance and regulatory concerns. In addition to strong resistance against bacterialspot the tomatoes will also be immune to bacterial speck and bacterial wilt which are caused by therelated bacterial pathogens Pseudomonas syringae and Ralstonia solanacearum. This technologywill deliver up to $100 million in annual benefit to the US tomato industry while providingconsumers with cheaper higher quality tomatoes and improving the environmental sustainability oftomato cultivation.