Applied Plant Genomics Group - Detailed - Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology
Applied Plant Genomics Group
Applied Plant Genomics Group - Detailed
Last modified: 11. September 2025
Detailed presentation of the group
The group works on 8 projects, which include both basic and applied research. The group consists of 2 staff members and 3 PhD students.
Brief presentation of research projects
- project Genetic analysis of resistance to the bacterium Xantomonas campestris pv. euvesicatoria in sweet pepper (Capsicum spp.)
- project Genetic analysis for resistance to Xanthomonas hortorum pv gardneri in Capsicum (Capsicum spp.)
- project Investigation of the genetic background of resistance to root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) in pepper (Capsicum spp.)
- project Identification of resistance against Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in tomato
- project Identification of viruses infecting sweet potato in Hungary
Detailed presentation of research projects
1. project Genetic analysis of resistance to the bacterium Xantomonas campestris pv. euvesicatoria in sweet pepper (Capsicum spp.)
In Hungary, a significant proportion of vegetable production is accounted for by various species belonging to the Solanaceae family, including pepper (Capsicum annuum). One of the most important diseases causing damage to sweet pepper in field production is bacterial leaf spot caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. euvesicatoria (Xcv). This pathogen finds ideal conditions for its spread worldwide, but especially in tropical and subtropical areas with high temperatures and rainfall. In Hungary, the damage caused by Xcv is significant for peppers grown in field production. Today, there is an increasing demand for plant varieties resistant to pathogenic microorganisms that can produce adequate yields with less or no chemicals. Efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable pepper production is made possible by the use of resistant pepper varieties. Most of the commercially available Xcv resistant pepper varieties carry dominant resistance genes (Bs1, Bs2, Bs3). However, these genes do not provide protection against all races of Xcv bacteria. During the development of specific resistance to a pathogenic strain, the products of the pathogenic avirulence genes are recognised by the protein of the host resistance genes. The interaction between the host plant and the pathogen results in the activation of several signalling pathways. The development of pathogen infection is inhibited by the resulting cascade mechanisms. Pathogenic micro-organisms, in turn, may be able to re-infect host plants following the evolution of new avirulence factors. This evolutionary competition requires the production of new resistant lines. Our primary objective is to isolate and characterise genes (bs5, bs6) that provide protection against all races of Xcv that cause severe damage to pepper production, using mapping-based cloning.
2. project Genetic analysis for resistance to Xanthomonas hortorum pv gardneri in Capsicum (Capsicum spp.)
Bacterial spot of tomato occurs in both processed and fresh market tomato crops, especially where growing conditions are characterised by high humidity. Infected plants show black lesions on the leaves and fruit, which cause a reduction in yield and fruit quality. Bacterial spot is caused by four species of bacteria in the genus Xanthomonas: X. euvesicatoria, X. vesicatoria, X. perforans and X. gardneri. Bacterial spot of tomatoes is a soil-borne disease that is difficult to prevent and control. Currently, there are few chemicals available that are effective against the pathogens and excessive use of copper has led to the development of resistance in the bacterial population. The use of varieties resistant to bacterial spot offers a potential tool for disease control in the field. Avirulence factors recognised by resistance gene were found in X. euvesicatoria, X. vesicatoria, X. perforans T3 species, X. perforans T4 species. However, no source of resistance was described against X. gardneri. Due to its emergence in the last few years, the discovery of a resistance source is a priority. The aim of this research is to find resistance sources to Xanthomonas hortorum pv. gardneri in the genus Capsicum, which may provide genetic protection against the pathogenic bacteria. The use of resistant varieties is the only alternative to chemical control of infections.
3. project Investigation of the genetic background of resistance to root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne) in pepper
Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are among the most widespread obligate biotrophic parasites of many plant species. In agricultural vegetable production, they causes severe damage due to high yield losses when infesting mainly plants in the Solanaceae family, like tomato, pepper and potato. The root-knot nematodes cause dramatic morphological and physiological changes in the host as they establish their feeding site. Identification and molecular characterization of plant genes conferring resistance to root-knot nematodes will provide insights into the mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions. To date, several plant lines carrying root-knot nematode resistance genes have been identified from the plant family Solenaceae. Pepper breeding for resistant varieties could provide an effective and environmentally friendly sustainable crop protection against root-knot nematode in vegetable production.
The main objective of this research is to identify the Me1 nematode resistance gene and to understand the molecular mechanism of obligate endoparasitic root-knot nematode (RKN: M. arenaria, M. javanica, M. hapla, and M. incognita) infection. Soil-dwelling root-knot nematodes are among the most damaging pathogens of pepper, tomato and other species of the Solanaceae family. The aim of this research is to identify the broad-spectrum resistance gene Me1 and to perform a functional analysis of the gene and its protein products (sequence analysis, intracellular localisation, identification of interaction partners). The detailed analysis will help to map the molecular processes of plant-pathogen interaction and to identify key players (signaling pathways) involved in the resistance process as well as the pathogen virulence proteins. One of the most interesting questions to be answered is how the protein product of the Me1 gene can inhibit nematode reproduction and infectivity.
4. project Identification of resistance against Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) in tomato
Mechanically and seed transmitted Tobamoviruses cause high economic losses in field and greenhouse production of tomato. Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), a new Tobamovirus species has been identified in 2014 on tomato fields in Jordan. The virus can break down the resistance (Tm1, Tm2, Tm22) used in tomato breeding for the last 40 years. Finding new resistance sources has been the key question in pepper and tomato resistance breeding. The main objective of our research is to identify new resistance sources for breeders in wild pepper and tomato screening programs.
5. project Identification sweet potato virus pathogenes
Sweet potato production is hampered by different virus diseases in tropical and mediterranean regions. Extremely devastating (50-100%) losses are caused by sweet potato specific viruses. In the past years we collected and identified virus infected samples from homegardens and industrial sweet potato fields. Our results increased the demands for a fast and reliable sweet potato virus identification method and the screening of the hungarian viral biom.
The research group's main publications:
- Wanjohi, Francis ; Tóth, Zoltán ; Salamon, Pál ; Szabó, Zoltán Defense strategies against sweet potato chlorotic stunt and pakakuy virus coinfection unraveled CROP SCIENCE 64 : 6 pp. 3438-3460. , 23 p. (2024)
- Szabó, Zoltán ; Balogh, Márta ; Domonkos, Ágota ; Csányi, Márta ; Kaló, Péter ; Kiss, György B. The bs5 allele of the susceptibility gene Bs5 of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) encoding a natural deletion variant of a CYSTM protein conditions resistance to bacterial spot disease caused by Xanthomonas species THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS 136 : 3 Paper: 64 (2023)
- Horváth, Beatrix ; Güngör, Berivan* ; Tóth, Mónika ; Domonkos, Ágota ; Ayaydin, Ferhan ; Saifi, Farheen ; Chen, Yuhui ; Biró, János Barnabás ; Bourge, Mickael ; Szabó, Zoltán et al. The Medicago truncatula nodule‐specific cysteine‐rich peptides, NCR343 and NCR‐new35 are required for the maintenance of rhizobia in nitrogen‐fixing nodules NEW PHYTOLOGIST 239 : 5 pp. 1974-1988. , 15 p. (2023)
- Ellis Noel, Hattori Chie, Cheema Jitender, Donarski James, Charlton Adrian, Dickinson Michael, Venditti Giampaolo, Kalo Peter, Szabo Zoltan, Kiss Gyorgy B., Domoney Claire*:, Frontiers In Plant Science 9: 1022, 2018; NMR Metabolomics Defining Genetic Variation in Pea Seed Metabolites., doi:10.3389/fpls.2018.01022
- Kiemo F.W., Salamon P., Jewehan, A., Toth Z., Szabo*. Plant Pathology (2021) Detection and elimination of viruses infecting sweet potatoes in Hungary. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13519
- Kiemo F.W., Toth Z., Salamon P., Szabo*. Plant Disease (2021). First report of sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus infecting sweet potatoes in Hungary, https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-21-0944-PDN
- Jewehan, A., Salem, Tóth, Z. Salamon P. Szabo Z*. J Plant Dis Prot (2021).Screening of Solanum (sections Lycopersicon and Juglandifolia) germplasm for reactions to the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV).. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-021-00535-x
- Jewehan, A., Salem, Tóth, Z. Salamon P. Szabo Z*. J Gen Plant Pathol 88, 187–196 (2022). Evaluation of responses to tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) and selection of resistant lines in Solanum habrochaites and Solanum peruvianum https://doi.org/10.1007/s10327-022-01055-8
- Jewehan, A., Salem, Tóth, Z. Salamon P. Szabo Z*. Arch Virol 167, 1559–1563 (2022). Isolation and molecular characterization of a tomato brown rugose fruit virus mutant breaking the tobamovirus resistance found in wild Solanum https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-022-05438-2
- Tóth, M.; Tóth, Z.G.; Fekete, S.; Szabó, Z, Tóth, Z *Sustainability 2022, 14, 6525. Improved and Highly Efficient Agrobacterium rhizogenes-Mediated Genetic Transformation Protocol: Efficient Tools for Functional Analysis of Root-Specific Resistance Genes for Solanum lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116525
- Toth M, Szabo Z, Toth Z*. J Plant Sci Phytopathol. 2021; 5: 001-003. Alternative method for the transformation of Capsicum species. doi: 10.29328/journal.jpsp.1001053
- Hajnik, Lilla ; Szabó, Zoltán ; Jeney, Apor ; Tóth, Zoltán ; Domonkos, Ágota ; Szabadi, Nikolett ; Kiss, György Botond ; Kaló, Péter*. Development of genetic markers linked to TSWV resistance for marker assisted selection in pepper. In: K, Ertsey-Peregi; Zs, Füstös; G, Palotás; G, Csilléry (szerk.) Proceedings of XVIth EUCARPIA : (2016) pp. 534-537, 4 p. Közlemény:3177237
- Tóth Zoltán, Szabó Zoltán, Földi Timea, Szabadi Nikolett, Hajnik Lilla, Jeney Apor, Kiss György Botond, Kaló Péter*. Genetic mapping and identification of the Me1 gene conferring resistance to root-knot nematodes in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)., In: K, Ertsey-Peregi; Zs, Füstös; G, Palotás; G, Csilléry (szerk.) Proceedings of XVIth EUCARPIA (2016) pp. 542-545., 2016
Staff
|
Dr. Zoltán Szabó, Research associate, Group leader M.Sc.: Agricultural engineer, SZIE, MKK, 2003 Phone: +36-28/430-494 / 4147 |
|
Dr. Tóth Zoltán M.Sc.: Agricultural engineer, SZIE, MKK, 2009 Phone: 06-28-522-000/4147 |
| PhD students: |
|
Cooperating researchers of MATE GBI
Anikó Veres |
Department of Genetics and Genomics, |
Kitti Tóth-Lencsés |
Department of Genetics and Genomics, |