Late blight, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, remains the most devastating disease affecting potato crops worldwide. Breeding strategies based on the deployment of NLR (Nucleotide-binding Leucine-rich Repeat) genes are critical for sustainable resistance. However, several NLR proteins depend on NRCs (NLR-Required for Cell death), a specialized subclass of NLR immune receptors that act as central signaling hubs. Therefore, understanding the expression profile of plant immunity genes, especially NRCs, under infection conditions is essential to ensure functional resistance. In this study, we characterized the NRC gene family in Solanum tuberosum var. Spunta, a susceptible commercial cultivar, during infection with Argentinean P. infestans isolates. Using phylogenomic analysis, transcript quantification, and structural mapping of amino acid variants, we identified and classified NRC homologues, described their expression dynamics during infection, and mapped potential functional divergence within the NRC clade.
León et al. (Sun,) studied this question.