abstract |
Plants having increased resistance to a pest relative to corresponding control plants are provided. The resistant plants have inhibited expression, activity, or function of a susceptibility gene, and thereby have decreased expression, activity, or function of the susceptibility gene in the presence of the pest as compared to a control plant in which the wild-type susceptibility gene is normally expressed in the presence of the pest. Methods of producing plants with increased resistance are also provided. The methods involve altering the expression, activity, or function of a susceptibility gene, such as Mds-1, in the plant. Isolated Mds-1 sequences are provided that can be manipulated to enhance pest resistance in modified plants. Modified plants, plant cells, tissues, seeds, and progeny are also provided having enhanced pest resistance. |