Mildew resistance gene in kalanchoe

The present invention relates to proteins capable of providing a mildew resistant phenotype, or mildew resistance, to plants belonging to the Kalanchoe genus. The present mildew resistance is preferably a resistance against mildew infections wherein Oidium kalanchoeae is the causative pathogen. The present invention also relates to nucleic acid sequences, or cDNA sequences, and genes encoding the present proteins. The present invention further relates to use of the present proteins, nucleic acid sequences and genes for selecting mildew resistant Kalanchoe plants, such as Oidium kalanchoeae resistant Kalanchoe plants, and to mildew resistant Kalanchoe plants, such as Oidium kalanchoeae resistant Kalanchoe plants, comprising the present proteins, mRNA forms of the present cDNAs or the present genes. Specifically, the present invention relates to proteins comprising one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions in a thioesterase, or thioesterase-like protein, of a Kalanchoe plant as compared the protein of SEQ ID No. 1, or proteins having 80% sequence identity therewith, wherein the one or more amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions provide increased mildew resistance in a Kalanchoe plant as compared to a Kalanchoe plant comprising SEQ ID No. 1, or proteins having 80% sequence identity therewith.