Enhanced resistance to early blight in transgenic tomato lines expressing heterologous plant defense genes

Scott C. Schaefer, Ksenija Gasic, Bruno Cammue, Willem Broekaert, Els J.M. Van Damme, Willy J. Peumans, Schuyler S. Korban

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Genes coding for an iris ribosomal-inactivating protein (I-RIP), a maize β-glucanase (M-GLU), and a Mirabilis jalapa antimicrobial peptide (Mj-AMP1) were separately introduced into tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Sweet Chelsea) cotyledons via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Transgenic lines carrying each of the transgenes were confirmed for integration into the tomato genome using Southern blot hybridization. Transcription of I-RIP, M-GLU, and Mj-AMP1 genes in various transgenic lines was determined using Northern blot analysis. Plants of selected transgenic lines were inoculated with a 2-3×104 conidial spores/ml suspension of the fungal pathogen Alternaria solani, the causal agent of tomato early blight. Compared to control (non-transformed) plants, two transgenic lines carrying either a M-GLU or Mj-AMP1 showed enhanced resistance to early blight disease. None of the four lines carrying the I-RIP transgene showed increased resistance to early blight.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)858-866
Number of pages9
JournalPlanta
Volume222
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2005

Keywords

  • Alternaria solani
  • Antimicrobial peptides
  • Disease resistance
  • Lycopersicon esculentum
  • Pathogenesis-related proteins

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Plant Science

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