Strategies using genes for non-durable disease resistance

Strategies to deploy non-durable `major' or `R' genes for resistance to plant diseases are reviewed. The reasons for continuation of deployment of R genes singly despite its obvious failure are discussed. Alternative deployment strategies are described and the potential impact of plant biotechnology on the deployment of resistance genes is discussed. A strategy focusing on the crop phenotype, taking into account production practices, the nature of the pathogen and alternative control measures to determine the most appropriate deployment of host resistance genes is advocated.