The present invention relates to an allele designated alpha-CMV which confers resistance to CMV when present in a spinach plant, wherein the protein encoded by said allele is a CC-NBS-LRR protein that comprises in its amino acid sequence: a) the motif “MAEIGYSVC” (SEQ ID NO: 22) at its N-terminus; and b) the motif “KWMCLR” (SEQ ID NO: 23); and c) an LRR domain that has in order of increased preference at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100% sequence similarity to SEQ ID NO: 10. The allele has a genomic nucleotide sequence which in order of increased preference has at least 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100% sequence similarity to SEQ ID NO: 1. The invention further relates to plants comprising the allele and to various methods involving the allele.

The present invention relates to an allele designated alpha-WOLF 8 which confers resistance to at least one Peronospora farinosa f. Sp. spinacea race, wherein the protein encoded by said allele is a CC-NB S-LRR protein that comprises in its amino acid sequence: a) the motif “MAEIGYSVC” (SEQ ID NO: 15) at its N-terminus; and b) the motif “KWMCLR” (SEQ ID NO: 16); and wherein the LRR domain of the protein has in order of increased preference at least 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100% sequence similarity to SEQ ID NO: 12. When the allele is homozygously present in a spinach plant confers complete resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. Sp. spinacea races pfs:1, pfs:2, pfs:6, pfs:8 and pfs:15, and isolate US1508, and confers intermediate resistance to pfs:5, pfs:10 and pfs:16, and does not confer resistance to pfs:3, pfs:4, pfs:7, pfs:9, pfs:11, pfs:12, pfs:13 and pfs:14.

The present invention relates to an allele designated alpha-WOLF 15 which confers resistance to at least one Peronospora farinosa f. Sp. spinacea race, wherein the protein encoded by said allele is a CC-NBS-LRR protein that comprises in its amino acid sequence: a) the motif “MAEIGYSVC” (SEQ ID NO: 13) at its N-terminus; and b) the motif “KWMCLR” (SEQ ID NO: 14); and wherein the LRR domain of the protein has in order of increased preference at least 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100% sequence similarity to SEQ ID NO: 10. The allele when homozygously present in a spinach plant confers complete resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. Sp. spinacea races pfs:1, pfs:2, pfs:3, pfs:4 and pfs:5, pfs:6, pfs:8, pfs:9, pfs:11, pfs:12, pfs:13, pfs:14, pfs:15, pfs:16 and isolates UA1014 and US1508, and confers intermediate resistance to pfs:10, and does not confer resistance to pfs:7.

The present invention relates to a method for modifying the resistance profile of a spinach plant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae, comprising introducing a WOLF allele or a resistance-conferring part thereof into the genome of said spinach plant, or modifying an endogenous WOLF allele in the genome of said spinach plant. The invention further provides a method for selecting a spinach plant comprising a novel WOLF gene that confers resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae in a spinach plant and a method for identifying a WOLF allele that confers resistance to one or more pathogenic races of Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae in a spinach plant and to primers for use in these methods.

The present invention relates to the field of spinach breeding, in particular to a new dominant resistance gene, designated RPF12, which confers resistance against all races of Peronospora farinosa and to spinach plants comprising said gene.

The present disclosure relates to the field of plant breeding and, more specifically, to the development of white rust (Albugo occidentalis) resistant and downy mildew (Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaceae) resistant spinach plants having elite agronomic traits. The resistance to white rust is conferred by one or more alleles that co-segregate with at least one molecular marker selected from the group of SEQ ID No. 1-10. The resistance to downy mildew is conferred by an allele that co-segregates with at least one molecular marker selected from the group of SEQ ID No. 11-13. The disclosure relates further to the use of the molecular markers.

The present invention relates to a method for modifying the resistance profile of a spinach plant to Peronospora farinosa f sp. spinaciae, comprising introducing a WOLF allele or a resistance-conferring part thereof into the genome of said spinach plant, or modifying an endogenous WOLF allele in the genome of said spinach plant. A WOLF allele encodes a CC-NBS-LRR protein that comprises in its amino acid sequence: the motif “MAEIGYSVC” at its N-terminus, and the motif “KWMCLR” for alpha-type WOLF proteins or “HVGCVVDR” for beta-type WOLF proteins. The invention relates to the WOLF alleles referred to in Table 3. The invention further provides a method for selecting a spinach plant comprising a novel WOLF gene that confers resistance to Peronospora farinosa f sp. spinaciae in a spinach plant and a method for identifying a WOLF allele that confers resistance to one or more pathogenic races of Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae in a spinach plant and to primers for use in these methods.

The present invention relates to an allele designated alpha-WOLF 24 which confers resistance to at least one Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinacea race, wherein the protein encoded by said allele is a CC-NBS-LRR protein that comprises in its amino acid sequence: a) the motif “MAEIGYSVC” (SEQ ID NO: 1) at its N-terminus; and b) the motif “KWMCLR” (SEQ ID NO: 2); and wherein the LRR domain of the protein has in order of increased preference at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 98.2%, 98.5%, 98.8%, 99%, 100% sequence similarity to SEQ ID NO: 10. The allele when present in a spinach plant confers complete resistance to at least Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinacea race Pfs:1, Pfs:2, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:9, Pfs:11, Pfs:13, Pfs:15 and Pfs:17, and does not confer resistance to downy mildew race Pfs: 16.

The present invention relates to an allele designated alpha-WOLF 27 which confers resistance to at least one Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinacea race, wherein the protein encoded by said allele is a CC-NBS-LRR protein that may comprise in its amino acid sequence: a) the motif “MAEIGYSVC” SEQ ID NO: 1 at its N-terminus; and b) the motif “KWMCLR” SEQ ID NO: 2; and wherein the LRR domain of the protein has in order of increased preference at least 95%, 95.5%, 96%, 96.5%, 97%, 97.5%, 98%, 98.5%, 99%, 99.5%, 100% sequence similarity to SEQ ID NO: 10. The allele when present in a spinach plant confers complete resistance to at least Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinacea race Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs:11, Pfs:12, Pfs:13, Pfs:14, Pfs:15, Pfs:17.

The present invention relates to a spinach plant that is resistant to downy mildew caused by Peronospora farinosa. The present invention further relates to a resistance gene that confers resistance to downy mildew in spinach plants, and methods for obtaining a spinach plant that is resistant to downy mildew, and use of one or more markers for providing a spinach plant that is resistant to downy mildew.