FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to plants and plant parts, in particular spinach plants (Spinacia olemcea L.), which are resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae. The invention also relates to seeds capable of producing Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae resistant plants. The invention further relates to methods for obtaining said plants with altered genotypes and seeds thereof, which are resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Spinach Spinacia oleracea L.) is a flowering plant from the Amararithaceae family that is grown as a vegetable. The consumable parts of spinach are the leaves and petioles from the vegetative stage. Spinach is sold loose, bunched, in pre-packed bags, cannedj or frozen. There.are three basic types of spinach: industry-, fresh and Asiatic spinach. Within these types three different leaf types can be recognized, namely the savoy, semi-savoy and smooth types. Savoy has dark green, crinkly and curly leaves. Flat or smooth leaf spinach has broad, smooth leaves. Semi -savoy is a variety with slightly crinkled leaves. The main market for spinach is baby-leaf. Baby spinach leaves are often of the flat-leaf variety and usually the harvested leaves are not longer than about eight centimeter. These tender, sweet leaves are sold loose rather than in bunches. They are often used in salads, but can also be lightly cooked.

Downy mildew - in spinach caused by the oomycete fungus Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae (formerly known as P. effusa) - is a major threat for spinach growers, because it affects the harvested plant parts, namely the leaves. Infection makes the leaves unsuitable for sale and consumption, as it manifests itself phenotypically with yellow lesions on the older leaves and a greyish fungal growth on the abaxial leaf. The infection can spread very rapidly and can occur both in glasshouse and in soil cultivation . The optimal temperature for formation and germination of P. farinosa f. sp. spinaciae spores is 9 to 12°C, and it is facilitated by a high relative humidity. When spores are deposited on a humid leaf surface they can readily germinate and infect the leaf. Fungal growth is optimal between 8 and 20°C and a relative humidity of >80%, and within 6 and 13 days after infection mycelium growth can be observed. Oospores of P. farinosa can survive in the soil for up to 3 years, or as mycelium in seeds or living plants.

In recent years various resistance genes or R-genes have been identified that provide spinach plants with a resistance against downy mildew, as described in e.g. US2013230635, WO2015036378, WO2015036469, and EP28481 14. Co-evolution of plant and pathogen has led to an arms race in which a R-gene mediated resistance can be broken down as a consequence of the capability of the pathogen to interact with and modify alternative host targets or the same targets in a different way. In any case, the recognition is lost and infection can be established successfully resulting in disease. In order to re-establish resistance in a plant, a new R-gene has to be introduced which is able to recognize the mode of action of an alternative pathogenicity factor.

This shows that the durability of such R-genes is relatively low, especially since in the last few years the development of new races of spinach downy mildew has increased rapidly.

To date 16 pathogenic races of spinach downy mildew (Pfs) have been officially identified and characterized, and many new candidates are observed in the field. The 16 officially recognised races of Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae, are designated Pfs: l to Pfs: 16 (Irish et al. Phtypathol. Vol. 98 pg. 894-900, 2008; Plantum NL (Dutch association for breeding, tissue culture, production and trade of seed and young plants) press release, "Benoeming van Pfs: 14, een nieuwe fysio van valse meeldauw in spinazie", September 19, 2012; Report Jim Correl (Univ. · Arkansas) and Steven Koike (UC Cooperative Extension, Monterey County), "Race Pfs: 14 - Another new race of the spinach downy mildew pathogen", September 18, 2012; Plantum NL press release, "Denomination of Pfs: 15, a new race of downy mildew in spinach", September 2, 2014, Plantum NL press release, "Denomination of Pfs: 16, a new race of downy mildew in spinach, March 15, 2016). Races 4 to 15 were identified between 1990 and 2014, while only recently another new Peronospora isolate has been identified, termed UA201519B., which subsequently has been officially named Pfs: 16 by the International Working Group on Peronospora (IWGP) (Plantum NL (Dutch association for breeding, tissue culture, production and trade of seed and young plants) press release, "Denomination of Pfs: 16, a new race of downy mildew in spinach", March \5, 2016). All 16 officially recognized Pfs races are publicly available from the Department of Plant Pathology, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA, and also from NAK Tuinbouw, Sotaweg 22, 2371 GD Roelofarendsveen, the Netherlands.

Given the fact that R-gene mediated resistance provides a resistance of relatively low durability and the fact that the downy mildew pathogen is evolving and adapting more rapidly to these R-genes, there is a need in the art to have resistance sources available which are more durable compared to R-gene mediated resistance.

Next to an R-mediated defense mechanism, a plant can exhibit a more basal form of resistance which may prevent the pathogen from infecting the plant. This non-R-gene mediated form of resistance can be considered as an extremely successful form of defense which in fact is effective for most plant pathogen interactions. Since such a resistance is not based on the kind of interaction and recognition between host and pathogen as is known for R-genes, this defense mechanism provides resistance against a broader spectrum of pathogen races than would normally be expected with R-genes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Given the significant advantages of a non-R-gene mediated resistance, it is the object of the present invention to provide a spinach plant resistant to downy mildew, wherein the resistance is caused by a non-R-gene mediated resistance conferring chromosomal interval.

In the research that led to the present invention, new spinach plants were developed which have in their genome a locus capable of providing non-R-gene mediated resistance against downy mildew. The locus of the invention providing broad spectrum resistance is named the plO locus.

The broad spectrum resistance conferred by the plO locus in the context of this invention is defined as providing at least an intermediate resistance to the following races of downy mildew {Peronospora farinosa i. sp. spinaciae) Pfs:l, Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: l l , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16.

The plO locus that confers broad spectrum resistance onto spinach plants is obtainable by introgression from seeds of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB under NCIMB accession number 42554.

The invention thus relates to a spinach plant comprising the plO locus, which when homozygously present provides at least intermediate resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: 1 to Pfs: 16, wherein the locus is as found in plants grown from seeds of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB under accession number 42554.

Spinach plants of the invention, carrying the new source of resistance designated as plO, can be crossed with other spinach plants comprising one or more dominant R-genes. In this way an even stronger resistance is obtained and the emergence of new resistance breaking downy mildew strains is slowed down thereby increasing the durability of dominant R-genes. The invention thus relates to a spinach plant exhibiting complete resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: l to Pfs: 16. Such spinach plants suitably comprise the pl O locus and one or more R-genes.

The spinach plant of the invention is obtainable by crossing a first spinach plant with a second spinach plant, wherein one or both of said spinach plants comprise the p 10 resistance locus of the invention, to obtain F 1 plants and optionally more generations of spinach plants which comprise the plO locus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention thus relates to a spinach plant which comprises a non R-gene mediated broad spectrum resistance to at least the officially recognized Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: 1 , Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: 1 1, Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16, wherein the resistance is caused by a new locus designated plO and wherein the resistance caused by the plO locus is at least of an intermediate level.

In contrast to a resistance mediated by a dominant R-gene, the pi 0 locus of the invention only provides resistance when homozygously present. Therefore, the resistance conferred by the pi 0 locus is transferred in a pattern that fits a recessive inheritance. Due to its inheritance the plO resistance is considered to be a non-R-gene mediated resistance. Furthermore, due to the resistance profile provided by the pi 0 locus the resistance is regarded to be a broad spectrum resistance.

Therefore, in a particular embodiment the plO locus is homozygously present, thus providing a spinach plant with at least intermediate resistance against Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: l , Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8; Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: l l , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16.

In the context of this invention, intermediate resistance is defined as a plant showing only symptoms of chlorosis, or sporulation occurring only on the tips of the cotyledons in the differential seedling test as described herein.

Furthermore, in the context of this invention complete resistance is defined as a plant showing no symptoms in the seedling test as described herein. Complete resistance is also referred to as full resistance.

The presence of the plO locus in a plant may be detected using a seedling test as described herein. The resistance phenotype is assessable in a disease resistance assay such as the seedling test described herein, as illustrated by the examples.

A seedling test is defined as a test wherein spinach plants are planted in trays containing growth medium, and optionally fertilized twice a week after seedling emergence. Plants are inoculated at the first true leaf stage with a sporangial suspension haviiig a concentration of approximately 2.5 x 10 ⁵ /ml of one of the pathogenic races of Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae or isolates to be tested. The inoculated plants are placed in a dew chamber at 18°C with 100% relative humidity for a 24 h period, and then moved to a growth chamber at 18°C with a 12 h photoperiod for 6 days. After 6 days, the plants are returned to the dew chamber for 24 h to induce sporulation, and subsequently scored for a disease reaction. Preferably, 30 plants per race are tested.

It was further found that the pi 0 locus of the invention is located on chromosome 1 and flanked by markers SO01770 and SO00979.

The invention thus relates to a spinach plant comprising the plO locus wherein the locus is located on chromosome 1 and is flanked by markers SO01770 and SO00979.

The plO locus of the invention is located on chromosome 1 , and in a plant grown from a seed of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB under NCIMB accession number 42554 the presence of the p 10 locus is detectable using marker SO00696 and/or marker SO0305. When crossing a plant carrying the pl O locus with a fully susceptible plant of reference variety Viroflay, i.e. not carrying the pi 0 locus, the SNPs of markers SO00696 and SO0305 as indicated in bold and underlined in SEQ ID No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 3 respectively (see Table 1) are linked to the presence of the plO locus. In such a cross the SNPs of markers SO00696 and SO0305 as indicated in bold and underlined in SEQ ID No. 2 and/or SEQ ID No. 4 respectively (see Table 1 ) are linked to the absence of the p 10 locus.

Therefore, the invention relates to a spinach plant comprising the plO locus wherein the locus is located on chromosome 1 arid linked to SNP markers as present in SEQ ID No. 1 , and/or SEQ ID No. 3.

The deposit is homozygous for the SNPs of SEQ ID No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 3. When the deposit is crossed with a plant of reference variety Viroflay these SNPs are linked to the p 10 locus. Therefore, the deposit may function as a reference for the SNPs of SEQ ED No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 3. Hence, a plant of variety Viroflay is homozygous for the SNPs of SEQ ID No. 2 and SEQ ID No. 4.

However, the skilled person is aware of the fact that recombination may unlink a marker in case the marker is not the causal mutation of the trait that it is linked to. Therefore, a plant of the invention comprising in its genome the plO resistance locus is not limited to the presence of any of the SNPs of SEQ ID No. 1 to 8 as described in Table 1.

In one embodiment the invention relates to the use of a spinach plant which comprises the plO locus to develop markers linked to the plO locus. Such a spinach plant may be, but is not limited to, a plant grown from seed of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB on 24 ^th of February 2016 under NCIMB accession number 42554.

In a further embodiment the invention relates to the use of any of the markers SO00696, SO00305, SO01770, and SO00979 as defined in Table 1 to develop new markers that are linked to the plO locus.

The invention also relates to a method of identifying a spinach plant comprising the plO locus of the invention, the method comprising detecting in a spinach plant a marker that is associated with the resistance, wherein the marker is genetically linked within 20 centiMorgan, in particular 15 centiMorgan, more particular 10 centiMorgan, even more particular 5 centiMorgan, and most particular 1 centiMorgan to at least one marker selected from the group consisting of the markers as defined in Table 1. The method may also comprise selecting a plant comprising the plO locus conferring at least intermediate resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: l , Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: l 1 , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16. In a further embodiment the invention relates to a method of identifying a spinach plant comprising the plO locus of the invention, the method comprising detecting in a spinach plant a marker that is associated with the resistance, wherein the marker is genetically linked within 20 centiMorgan, in particular 15 centiMorgan, more particular 10 centiMorgan, even more particular 5 centiMorgan, and most particular 1 centiMorgan to at least one marker selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No. 1 , SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 3, and SEQ ID No. 4 as defined in Table 1. The method may also comprise selecting a plant comprising the plO locus conferring at least intermediate resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: 1 , Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: l l, Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16.

In yet a further embodiment the invention relates to a method of identifying a spinach plant comprising the pl O locus of the invention, the method comprising detecting in a spinach plant a marker that is associated with the resistance, wherein the marker is genetically linked within 20 centiMorgan, in particular 15 centiMorgan, more particular 10 centiMorgan, even more particular 5 centiMorgan, and most particular 1 centiMorgan to at least one marker selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID No. 1 , and SEQ ID No. 3 as defined in Table 1. The method may also comprise selecting a plant comprising the plO locus conferring at least intermediate resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: l , Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: 1 1 , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16.

In one embodiment the invention relates to a spinach plant comprising the plO locus, which plant is obtainable by crossing a first spinach plant with a second spinach plant, wherein at least one of the said plants comprises the plO locus, wherein the said locus is as found in plants grown from seeds of which a representative sample was deposited with the NCIMB under accession numbers NCIMB 42554, or a progeny plant thereof carrying the plO locus, and selecting, preferably in the F2 generation, for resistant plants using a disease test, e.g. the seedling test as described herein, and/or by selecting downy mildew resistant plants using any one of the molecular markers in Table 1.

There are many different marker systems available to the skilled artisan, these include but are not limited to SNPs, AFLP markers, RFLP markers, SSRs, RAPD markers, or isozyme markers. Markers that are genetically linked to or correlated with the pi 0 locus can be utilized (e.g. Acquaah G., Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding, 2012, West Sussex UK). Methods to isolate, develop and utilize such markers are known in the art.

As used herein, linkage of two nucleic acid sequences, including a nucleic acid marker sequence and a nucleic acid sequence of a genetic determinant such as the plO locus, may be genetic or physical or both.

In the absence of molecular markers or in the event that recombination between the molecular markers and the plO locus has taken place and the markers are thus not predictive anymore for the presence of the pi 0 locus, equivalence of a genetic determinant with the pl O locus may still be determined by an allelism test. To perform an allelism test, material that is homozygous for the known locus, i.e. a tester plant, is crossed with material that is homozygous for the determinant that is to be tested. This latter plant is referred to as the donor plant. The donor plant to be tested should be or should be made homozygous for the determinant to be tested. The skilled person knows how to obtain a plant that is homozygous for the determinant to be tested. When in the F2 of the cross between a donor plant and a tester plant no segregation for the phenotype related to the locus of the invention is observed, the determinant of the donor plant and the known locus of the tester plant have been proven to be equivalent. The phenotype that should be observed is at least an intermediate resistance to the following races of downy mildew

(Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae) Pfs: l, Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: 1 1 , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16. A tester plant may be, but is not limited to, a plant grown from seed deposited with the NCIMB under accession number NCIMB 42554.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a spinach plant (Spinacia oleracea) comprising the P 10 locus that leads to a broad spectrum resistance against downy mildew

(Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae) races Pfs: l , Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: 1 1 , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16, which locus is comprised in or is equivalent to the plO locus as found in a spinach plant representative seed of which was deposited with the NCIMB under accession number NCIMB 42554 as may be determined using an allelism test, in particular as described above.

In one aspect the invention relates to a spinach plant comprising the pl O locus, obtainable by crossing a spinach plant with a plant grown from a seed of deposit NCIMB 42554 to produce Fl progeny, selfing the Fl progeny to produce F2 progeny and selecting from the F2 progeny the plants that shows at least intermediate resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp.

spinaciae races Pfs:l, Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs:l 1, Pfs: 12, Pfs: l3, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16 as plants having obtained the plO broad spectrum resistance locus.

The invention further relates to a spinach plant comprising the p 10 broad spectrum resistance locus, wherein the pi 0 locus upon introduction thereof in a spinach plant that is susceptible to all races of Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae induces a resistance profile that consists of at least intermediate resistance to races Pfs:l , Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: l 1 , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16.

The word "trait" in the context of this application refers to the phenotype of the plant, in the present invention to a particular resistance profile. A resistance profile is a combination of a number of races or isolates against which the plant shows resistance. More in particular the word "trait" refers to a phenotype caused by the homozygous presence of the plO locus of the invention which is at least intermediate resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: l , Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: l l , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16. The term "genetic determinant" or "locus" is used for the genetic information in the genome of the plant that causes the trait of the invention. When a plant shows the trait of the invention, its genome comprises the genetic determinant or locus homozygously. In the context of this invention "plO locus", "broad spectrum resistance locus" and "genetic determinant" may be used interchangeably.

It is clear that the parent that provides the trait of the invention is not necessarily a plant grown directly from the deposited seeds. The parent may also be a progeny plant from the seed or a progeny plant from seeds that are identified to have the trait of the invention by other, means.

In one embodiment the plant of the invention, i.e. a plant comprising the pi 0 locus, is an agronomically elite spinach plant.

In the context of this invention an agronomically elite spinach plant is a plant having a genotype that as a result of directed crossing and selection by human intervention results into an accumulation of distinguishable and desirable agronomic traits which allow a producer to harvest a product of commercial significance.

In the course of breeding a new spinach plant carrying the broad spectrum resistance locus of the invention, desirable agronomic traits may be introduced into said spinach plant independently of the plO locus. As used herein, "desirable traits" include but are not limited to e.g. improved yield, leaf shape, leaf size, leaf number, leaf color, seed number, seed size, plant vigor, plant height, bolting speed, and resistance to one or more diseases or disease causing organisms. Any one of these desirable traits may be combined with the p 10 locus.

In a further embodiment the spinach plant of the invention may exhibit complete resistance against one or more of the following Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: 1 , Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: 1 1 , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16 due to the presence of one or more R-genes, e.g. RPF1, RPF2, RPF3, RPF4, RPF5 and RPF6 (Feng et al. Identification of new races and deviating strains of the spinach downy mildew pathogen Peronospora farinosa f.sp. spinaciae 2014 Plant Disease 98(1): 145-152). The Spinach plant may further be resistant or tolerant to one of the following diseases: CMV, Colletotrichum, Cladosporium, and Fusarium. Next to any of the aforementioned resistances the spinach plant of the invention may comprise a delayed or enhanced bolting phenotype. The spinach plant of the invention may also comprise one of the following leaf shapes: savoy, semi-savoy or smooth leaves. The leaves of the plant may independent of their shape comprise elevated concentrations of the red pigment betacyanin in the petiole, veins and/or between the veins of the leaves (see e.g.

US20140272083). Next to the aforementioned traits a spinach plant of the invention may comprise a multileaf characteristic (see e.g. US20120054894). For example, the invention in one embodiment relates to an agronomically hybrid spinach variety that is resistant to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: l-13 and Pfs: 15 and intermediately resistant to Pfs: 14 and Pfs: 16 due to the presence of two R-genes and the plO locus, respectively, and further resistant to CMV, showing slow bolting and having smooth leaves. Another example of such an agronomically elite hybrid variety is a variety resistant to Peronospora f. arinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: l-9 and pfs: l 1 -16 and intermediately resistant to Pfs: 10 due to the presence of two R-genes and the plO locus, having a fast growing phenotype, but relatively slow bolting, and well suited for the industrial harvest segment.

In yet a further embodiment the agronomically elite spinach plant of the invention is an inbred line or a hybrid.

As used herein, a plant of an inbred line is a plant of a population of plants that is the result of three or more rounds of selling, or backcrossing; or which plant is a double haploid. An inbred line may e.g. be a parent line used for the production of a commercial hybrid.

As used herein, a hybrid plant is a plant which is the result of a cross between two different plants having different genotypes. More in particular, a hybrid plant is the result of a cross between plants of two different inbred lines, such a hybrid plant may e.g. be a plant of a commercial Fi hybrid variety.

In one embodiment the plant comprising the plO locus is an F[ hybrid variety.

Furthermore, the invention relates to hybrid seed that may be grown into a spinach plant comprising the pl O locus and to a method for producing such hybrid seed comprising crossing a first parent spinach plant with a second parent spinach plant and harvesting the resultant hybrid seed, wherein the first parent plant and/or the second parent plant comprises the pi 0 locus homozygously, and growing said hybrid seeds into hybrid spinach plants comprising the plO locus either heterozygously or homozygously.

According to a further aspect thereof, the invention relates to propagation material comprising the p 10 locus. In one embodiment, the propagation material is suitable for sexual reproduction. Such propagation material comprises for example a microspore, pollen, an ovary, an ovule, an embryo sac and/or an egg cell. In another embodiment, the propagation material is suitable for vegetative reproduction. Such propagation material comprises for example a cutting, a root, a stem, a cell, a protoplast, and/or a tissue culture of regenerable cells. A part of the plant that is suitable for preparing a tissue culture is in particular a leaf, pollen, an embryo, a cotyledon, a hypbcotyl, a meristematic cell, a root tip, an anther, a flower, a seed or a stem.

In one embodiment, such propagation material is formed by a seed of a spinach plant of the invention, wherein the plant that may be grown from the seed is carrying the p l O locus of invention. In a further embodiment, such propagation material is formed by a seed of a spinach plant of the invention, wherein the plant that may be grown from the seed comprises the pi 0 locus of the invention in a homozygous state.

The invention further relates to a cell of a spinach plant of the invention, which cell comprises the pi 0 locus of the invention, wherein said locus is as found in a spinach plant, representative seeds of which were deposited under NCIMB accession number 42554. The said cell thus comprises the genetic information encoding the broad spectrum resistance, in particular it comprises genetic information which is substantially identical, preferably completely identical to the genetic information encoding the said broad spectrum resistance trait of the spinach plant, representative seeds of which were deposited under NCIMB accession number 42554. Preferably, the cell of the invention is part of a plant or. plant part, but the cell may also be in isolated form.

The invention also relates to the use of seeds that were deposited under NCIMB accession number 42554 for transferring at least intermediate resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: l, Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: 1 1 , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 5 ^~ and Pfs: 16 into an agronomically valuable spinach. plant by crossing a plant grown from said deposited seed with another plant Which comprises other agronomically desirable traits.

The invention also relates to progeny of the plants, cells, tissues and seeds of the invention. Such progeny can in itself be plants, cells, tissues or seeds. As used herein the word "progeny" is intended to mean the first and all further descendants from a cross with a plant of the invention that comprises the pi 0 locus. "Progeny" encompasses all plants that carry the pi 0 locus in a heterozygous or homozygous state and are obtained from other plants or progeny of plants of the invention by vegetative propagation or multiplication. In case the progeny plant comprises the plO locus in a homozygous form the plant exhibits at least an intermediate resistance against

Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: 1, Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: 11 , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16.

The said progeny plants comprise an introgression fragment that comprises the pi 0 locus, wherein the said introgression fragment is obtainable from a spinach plant of which representative seed is deposited with the NCIMB under NCIMB accession number 42554. The resistance trait thus has a genetic basis in the genome of a spinach plant, and using the disease resistance assay as described herein, spinach plants may be identified as being plants of the invention. It is understood that a parent plant that provides the trait of the invention is not necessarily a plant grown directly from the deposited seeds. The parent may also be a progeny plant from the seed, or a progeny plant from seeds that are identified to have (or to have acquired) the trait of the invention by other means. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a spinach plant that carries the trait of the invention and that has acquired the said trait by introduction of the genetic information that is responsible for the trait from a suitable source, either by conventional breeding, or genetic modification, in particular by cis-genesis or trans-genesis. Cis-genesis is genetic modification of plants with a natural gene, encoding an (agricultural) trait from the crop plant itself or from a sexually compatible donor plant. Trans-genesis is genetic modification of a plant with a gene from a non-crossable species or with a synthetic gene.

In one embodiment, the source from which the genetic information is acquired is formed by plants grown from the deposited seeds, or by sexual or vegetative descendants thereof.

The invention also relates to the germplasm of plants of the invention. The germplasm is constituted by all inherited characteristics of an organism and according to the invention encompasses at least the plO locus of the invention. The germplasm can be used in a breeding program for the development of downy mildew resistant spinach plants.

In one aspect the invention relates to a method for the production of a spinach plant comprising a broad spectrum resistance against downy mildew {Peronospora farinosa f. sp.

spinaciae) races Pfs: l , Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs- 10, Pfs: l 1 , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16 caused by the pl O locus, comprising: (a) crossing a plant comprising the pi 0 locus of the invention with another plant; (b) selfing the resulting Fl for obtaining F2 plants; (c) selecting in the F2 for plants which are at least intermediately resistant to downy mildew {Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae) races Pfs: 1 , Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10,;Pfs: l 1 , Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16; (d) optionally performing one or more additional rounds of selfing or crossing, and subsequently selecting, for a plant comprising said broad spectrum resistance against Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae. The invention also includes a spinach plant produced by this method.

More particularly, the invention relates to a method for introgressing the plO locus into an agronomically elite spinach plant by means of backcrossing, which comprises: (a) crossing a spinach plant which comprises the plO locus with an agronomically elite spinach plant not comprising said locus in its genome to produce Fl progeny; (b) selecting in the Fl and/or F2 for a progeny plant which comprises the p 10 locus; (c) crossing the progeny plant which comprises the plO locus with the said agronomically elite spinach plant to produce backcross progeny; and (d) selecting backcross progeny which comprises the pi 0 locus; and (e) optionally, repeating steps (c) and (d) one or more times. In particular step (e) can be repeated from 1 up to 10 times. The invention also includes a spinach plant produced by this method.

More in particular, the invention provides a method of introducing a desired trait into an agronomically elite spinach plant which is carrying the plO broad spectrum resistance locus, which comprises: (a) crossing said agronomically elite spinach plant with a second spinach plant that comprises a desired trait to produce F 1 progeny; (b) selecting in the F 1 and/or F2 for a progeny plant which comprises said plO locus and the desired trait; (c) crossing the selected progeny plant with the agronomically elite parent carrying the plO locus, to produce backcross progeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny which comprises the desired trait and the broad spectrum resistance as conferred by the plO locus; and (e) optionally repeating steps (c) and (d) one or more times in succession to produce subsequent generations of backcross progeny that comprises the desired trait and the broad spectrum resistance as conferred by the plO locus. The invention also includes a spinach plant produced by this method.

It is clear that the parent that provides the trait of the invention is not necessarily a plant grown directly from the deposited seeds. The parent can e.g. also be a progeny plant from the seed or a progeny plant from seeds that are identified to have the trait of the invention by other means.

The invention also relates to harvested leaves of spinach plants of the invention, and to a food product which comprises harvested leaves of spinach plants of the invention, either in natural or in processed form.

Spinach leaves are for example sold in packaged form, such as pre-packaged spinach leaves, or as a processed product in a salad which comprises spinach leaves. Mention of such a package is e.g. made in US Patent No. 5,523,136, which provides packaging film, and packages from such packaging film, including such packaging containing leafy produce, and methods for making and using such packaging film and packages, which are suitable for use with the spinach leaves of the invention. Thus, the invention also provides the use of and methods for making and using the leaves of the spinach plant of the invention, as well as leaves of spinach plants derived from the invention. The invention further relates to a container which comprises one or more plants of the invention, or one or more spinach plants derived from a plant of the invention, in a growth substrate for harvest of leaves from the plant, in a domestic environment. This way the consumer may pick very fresh leaves for use in salads, when the plant is in a ready-to-harvest condition. Spinach can also be sold as a food product that is already cooked or sauteed and optionally frozen.

The invention further involves a method of determining the genotype of a plant of the invention, representative seed of which has been deposited under NGIMB Accession No. 42554, or a first generation progeny plant thereof, which comprises obtaining a sample of nucleic acids from said plant and a reference plant not comprising the genetic determinant of the invention and detecting in the nucleic acids of said samples a plurality of polymorphisms. This method may additionally comprise the step of storing the results of detecting the plurality of polymorphisms on a computer readable medium. The plurality of polymorphisms are indicative of and/or give rise to the presence of the pi 0 locus. There are various ways of obtaining genotypic data from a nucleic acid sample. Genotypic data may be gathered which is specific for certain phenotypic traits (e.g. gene sequences), but also patterns of random genetic variation may be obtained to construct a so-called DNA fingerprint. Depending on the technique used a fingerprint may be obtained that is unique for a spinach plant carrying the resistance allele of the invention. Obtaining a unique DNA fingerprint depends on the genetic variation present in a variety and the sensitivity of the fingerprinting technique. A technique known in the art to provide a good fingerprint profile is called AFLP fingerprinting technique (See generally U.S. Pat No5,874,215), but there are many other marker based techniques, such as RFLP (or Restriction fragment length polymorphism), SSLP (or Simple sequence length polymorphism), RAPD (or Random amplification of polymorphic DNA) VNTR (or Variable number tandem repeat), Microsatellite polymorphism, SSR (or Simple sequence repeat), STR (or Short tandem repeat), SFP (or Single feature polymorphism) DarT (or Diversity Arrays Technology), RAD markers (or Restriction site associated DNA markers) (e.g. Baird et al. PloS One Vol. 3 e3376, 2008; Semagn et al. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 number 25 pp. 2540-2568, 29 December, 2006). Nowadays, sequence-based methods are utilizing Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) that are randomly distributed across genomes, as a common tool for genotyping (e.g. Elshire et al. PloS One Vol. 6: el 9379, 201 1; Poland et al. PloS One Vol. 7: e32253; Truong et al. PloS One Vol. 7 number 5: e37565, 2012).

With any of the aforementioned genotyping techniques, polymorphisms may be detected when the genotype and/or sequence of the plant of interest is compared to the genotype and/or sequence of one or more reference plants. As used herein, the genotype and/or sequence of a reference plant may be derived from, but is not limited to, any one of the following: parental lines, closely related plant varieties or species, complete genome sequence of a related plant variety or species, or the de novo assembled genome sequence of one or more related plant varieties or species. For example, it is possible to detect polymorphisms for the presence or absence of the plO locus by comparing the genotype and/or the sequence of a spinach plant carrying the resistance conferring allele, representative seed of which has been deposited under NCIMB Accession No. 42554, with the genotype and/or the sequence of one or more reference plants. The reference plant(s) used for comparison in this example may for example be, but is not limited to, any of the spinach varieties mentioned in Table 2 and/or parent lines, ancestor, or progeny plants thereof as.

The polymorphism or polymorphisms revealed by these techniques may be used to establish links between genotype and phenotype. The polymorphisms may thus be used to predict or identify certain phenotypic characteristics, e.g. the resistance provided by the plO locus, individuals, or even species. The polymorphisms are generally called markers. It is common practice for the skilled artisan to apply molecular DNA techniques for generating polymorphisms and creating markers. The polymorphisms of this invention may be provided in a variety of mediums to facilitate use, e.g. a database or computer readable medium, which may also contain descriptive annotations in a form that allows a skilled artisan to examine or query the polymorphisms and obtain useful information.

As used herein "database" refers to any representation of retrievable collected data including computer files such as text files, database files, spreadsheet files and image files, printed tabulations and graphical representations and combinations of digital and image data collections. In a preferred aspect of the invention, "database" refers to a memory system that may store computer searchable information.

As used herein, "computer readable media" refers to any medium that may be read and accessed directly by a computer. Such media include, but are not limited to: magnetic storage media, such as floppy discs, hard disc, storage medium and magnetic tape; optical storage media such as CD-ROM; electrical storage media such as RAM, DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, ROM; and PROMs (EPROM, EEPROM, Flash EPROM), and hybrids of these categories such as magnetic/optical storage media. A skilled artisan may readily appreciate how any of the presently known computer readable mediums may be used to create a manufacture which comprises computer readable medium having recorded thereon a polymorphism of the present invention.

As used herein, "recorded" refers to the result of a process for storing information in a retrievable database or computer readable medium. For instance, a skilled artisan may readily adopt any of the presently known methods for recording information on computer readable medium to generate media which comprise the polymorphisms of the present invention. A variety of data storage structures are available to a skilled artisan for creating a computer readable medium where the choice of the data storage structure will generally be based on the means chosen to access the stored information. In addition, a variety of data processor programs and formats may be used to store the polymorphisms of the present invention on computer readable medium.

The present invention further provides systems, particularly computer-based.systerris, which contain the polymorphisms described herein. Such systems are designed to identify the polymorphisms of this invention. As used herein, "a computer-based system" refers to the hardware, software and memory used to analyze the polymorphisms. A skilled artisan may readily appreciate that any one of the currently available computer-based system are suitable for use in the present invention.

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

The Deposit with NCIMB Ltd, Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9YA, UK, on the 24 ^th of February 2016, under deposit accession number 42554 was made pursuant to the terms of the Budapest Treaty. MARKER INFORMATION

SEQ ID No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 3 represent the alleles of markers SO00696 and SO00305 that in the genome of seeds of the deposit NCIMB 42554 are linked to the pi 0 locus of the invention. Therefore, the homo2ygous presence of SEQ ID No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 3 in the genome of seeds of the deposit NCIMB 42554 is linked to the resistance conferred by the plO locus, which is ah at least intermediate resistance to Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae races Pfs: l , Pfs:2, Pfs:3, Pfs:4, Pfs:5, Pfs:6, Pfs:7, Pfs:8, Pfs:9, Pfs: 10, Pfs: l l, Pfs: 12, Pfs: 13, Pfs: 14, Pfs: 15 and Pfs: 16.

The sequences of SEQ ID No. 2 and SEQ ID No. 4 represent the wildtype alleles for markers SO00696 and SO00305 as present in the fully susceptible variety Viroflay, respectively.

For markers SO00696 and SO00305 the nucleotides that are different between the marker allele linked to the plO allele and the marker allele linked to the susceptible allele in a plant of variety Viroflay are underlined and in bold in Table 1. For SO00696 this difference is a SNP on position 26, wherein SEQ ID No. 1 on position 26 has a G and SEQ ID No. 2 on position 26 has an A. For SO00305 this difference is a SNP on position 33, wherein SEQ ID No. 3 on position 33 has a T.and SEQ ID No. 4 on position 33 has an A.

The SNPs indicated in these sequences (the nucleotides in bold and underlined) may be used as molecular markers for detecting the presence of the pi 0 locus in the progeny of a cross between a plant of reference variety Viroflay and a plant comprising the plO locus, which plant may be a plant grown from seeds of which a representative sample was deposited with ^' the NCIMB under NCIMB accession number 42554.

The nucleotides that are different between the two marker alleles of markers SO01770, and SO00979 are underlined and in bold in Table 1. In the case of marker SO01770 the marker allele (SEQ ID No. 6) has a single nucleotide deletion at the position where marker allele (SEQ ID No. 5) has a C that is underlined and in bold (position 58 of SEQ ID No. 5). For SO00979 this is a SNP on position 24, wherein SEQ ID No. 7 on position 24 has a T and SEQ ID No. 8 on position 24 has a C.

Table 1. Marker information

Marker name Seq ID No. Sequence marker

SO00696 SEQ ID No. 1 CCTAATGGCTCTAAGGTTTCATCAAGACCTAAGAAA

GCAGAAAAAATGCAGAAGCCCA

SEQ ID No. 2 CCTAATGGCTCTAAGGTTTCATCAAAACCTAAGAAA GCAGAAAAAATGCAGAAGCCCA

SO00305 SEQ ID No. 3 ATTGTACAAATTTCAGAAACAGTTATAACCAATTTCA

GATAATAAACAGATTTCCACTTCACATATTTCTTACG

TCAARC

SEQ ID No. 4 ATTGTACAAATTTCAGAAACAGTTATAACCAAATTCA

GATAATAAACAGATTTCCACTTCACATATTTCTTACC

TCAARC

SO01770 SEQ ID No. 5 CATAAACATTCCGTATGAGTAGTACTCTATTTGTCTC

AAAAAGAAAATTGAAAATTGCCCTAGTCGAAATTTT ATCTGCACTA

SEQ ID No. 6 CATAAACATTCCGTATGAGTAGTACTCTATTTGTCTC

AAAAAGAAAATTGAAAATTGCCTAGTCGAAATTTTA TCTGCACTA

SO00979 SEQ ID No. 7 GATGCTCAGCCGCTCACCAGTATTTGGTTTTCATGAG

CCAAAAACTGGA

SEQ ID No. 8 GATGCTCAGCCGCTCACCAGTATCTGGTTTTCATGAG

CCAAAAACTGGA

The invention will be further illustrated in the following Examples.

EXAMPLES EXAMPLE 1

Testing for the pi 0 locus in spinach plants

The resistance to downy mildew infection was assayed as described by Irish et al. (2008; Phytopathol. 98: 894-900), using a differential set. Spinach plants of the invention comprising the plO-locus homozygously were planted along with spinach plants from different other genotypes (see Table 2) in trays containing Scotts Redi-Earth medium, and fertilized twice a week after seedling emergence with Osmocote Peter's (13-13-13) fertilizer (Scotts). Plants were inoculated with a sporangial suspension (2.5 ^χ l OVml) of a pathogenic race of Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae at the first true leaf stage. In this manner, 16 pathogenic races were tested (as shown in Table 2).

The inoculated plants were placed in a dew chamber at 18°C with 100% relative humidity for a 24 h period, and then moved to a growth chamber at 1 8°C with a 12 h photoperiod for 6 days. After 6 days, the plants were returned to the dew chamber for 24 h to induce sporulation, and they were scored for disease reaction. Plants were scored as resistant, intermediately resistant, or susceptible based on symptoms of chlorosis and signs of pathogen sporulation on the cotyledons and true leaves, as described by Irish et al. (2007; Plant Dis. 91 : 1392-1396). Plants exhibiting neither sporulation nor chlorosis were considered resistant, plants exhibiting only chlorosis, or sporulation occurring only on the tips of the cotyledons were considered intermediately resistant, and plants exhibiting sporulation covering a substantive part of the cotelydon were considered susceptible.

Table 2 shows the differential set of spinach downy mildew races and the resistance of various spinach varieties (hybrids) to each one of these pathogenic races. A susceptible reaction is scored as "+" (indicating a successful infection by the fungus, with sporulation occurring on the entire cotyledon), and resistance is depicted as "-" (absence of sporulation on the cotyledons). A weak resistance response is indicated as "(-)", which in practice means a reduced level of infection (plants exhibiting only chlorosis, or sporulation occurring only on the tips of the cotyledons in the differential seedling test). The plO line in Table 2 is a line exhibiting the broad spectrum resistance of the present invention.

Table 2 _{lk P} oa

Pfs: 14 + ^■ + . - + + ^■ + - _. + (-) - + - - (-)

Pfs: 15 + ^: + + · +, ^• + - + - (-)

Pfs: 16 + - + ^■ - - - + - - +. - + ^■ (-)

EXAMPLE 2

Introduction of the plO resistance locus into other spinach plants

A plant of the invention was crossed (as a father) with a plant of variety Viroflay, to obtain an Fl . Thirty plants of the Fl population were tested for resistance to Peronospora race 13, as described in example 1. None of the 30 plants showed the resistance pattern of the invention, i.e. all plants were susceptible to Pfs: 13.

Five Fl plants were selfed and from each plant 40 seeds were sown and an F2 population of 196 plants was obtained. The F2 plants were tested for resistance to Peronospora race 13 as described in example 1. It was observed that 42 plants showed resistance or intermediate resistance against pfs: 13. The remaining 154 plants were all susceptible for Pfs: 13. A Chi-square tests confirmed that the observed segregation in the F2 populations was consistent with a 1 :3 segregation of the pi 0 locus, as assayed here with resistance to Peronospora race 13. In other words the pi 0 locus is inherited in a pattern that fits a monogenic recessive inheritance.

Table 3

Population # strain R IR S

Population 1 Pfs: l 30 0 0

Population 2 Pfs:2 29 1 0

Population 3 Pfs:3 26 0 0

Population 4 Pfs:4 30 0 0

Population 5 Pfs:5 30 0 0

Population 6 Pfs:6 30 0 0

Population 7 Pfs:7 30 0 0

Population 8 Pfs:8 25 4 1

Population 9 Pfs:9 21 1 3

Population 10 Pfs: 10 28 2 0

Population 11 Pfs: 1 1 29 1 0

Population 12 Pfs: 12 30 0 0

Population 13 Pfs: 13 30 0 0

Population 14 Pfs: 14 29 1 0 Population 15 Pfs: 15 25 4 1

Population 16 Pfs: 16 28 2 0

The best scoring plant of the F2 population was selfed to produce an F3 population. 16 x 30 seeds of the F3 seedlot were germinated for testing against the 16 recognized Peronospora races (see Table 3). These results show that the resistance conferred by the plO locus is indeed a broad spectrum resistance against at least Pfs: 1 -16.

EXAMPLE 3

Marker assisted introduction of the plO resistance locus into other spinach plants

A plant of the invention was crossed (as a father) with a plant of variety Viroflay, to obtain an Fl .

Four Fi plants were selfed and from each plant 24 seeds were sown to form four F2 populations of in total 96 plants.

From these plants DNA was extracted and purified using standard available protocols.

On these samples, together with DNA samples of both parents (as negative and positive control), a ASPar assay (Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR; see e.g. Semagn et al., 2014. Molecular Breeding 33 (1): 1-14) was run for two markers SO00696 and SO00305.

For the positive control the scoring of these markers was in accordance with the SNPs as present in SEQ ID No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 3 (as indicated in Table 1). For Viroflay (negative control) the scoring of these markers was in accordance with the SNPs as present in SEQ ID No. 2 and SEQ ID No. 4 (as indicated in Table 1).

From the total of 96 plants that formed the F2 population, 23 plants had a scoring conform the positive control plant. The remaining 73 plants showed the marker score as found in the negative control plant.

Subsequently the 23 plants for which the markers scored in accordance with the SNPs as present in SEQ ID No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 3 were selfed to form 23 F3 populations containing 120 plants each. Each F3 population was subjected to a seedling test (as described in example 1). In the seedling test the plants were tested for resistance against races Pfs:3, Pfs:6, Pfs: 10 and Pfs: 14. All these plants were scored as at least intermediately resistant for these four Peronospora races.