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Production of transgenic Allium cepa by nanoparticles to resist Aspergillus niger infection

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Abstract

Background

Transgenic plants are becoming a more powerful tool in modern biotechnology. Genetic engineering was used in biotech-derived products to create genetically modified (GM) plants resistant to diseases. The onion (Allium cepa, L.) is a common, important perennial vegetable crop grown in Egypt for food and economic value. Onions are susceptible to a variety of fungal infections and diseases. Aspergillus niger is a common onion phytopathogen that causes diseases such as black mould (or black rot), which is a major issue, particularly when exporting onions. A. niger grows between the bulb's outer (dead, flaky) skin and the first fleshy scales, which become water-soaked. Thionin genes produce thionin proteins, which have antimicrobial properties against a variety of phytopathogens, including A. niger. Chitosan nanoparticles act as a carrier for the thionin gene, which allows A. cepa to resist infection by A. niger.

Methods and results

Thionin gene (Thio-60) was transformed into A. cepa to be resistance to fungal infection. The gene was loaded on chitosan nanoparticles to be transformed into plants. Transgenic A. cepa had a 27% weight inhibition compared to non-transgenic one, which had a 69% inhibition. The expressed thionin protein has a 52% inhibitory effect on A. niger spore germination. All these findings supported thionin protein's antifungal activity as an antimicrobial peptide. Furthermore, the data presented here demonstrated the efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles in gene transformation.

Conclusion

The present study describes the benefits of producing transgenic onion resistance to black rot diseases via expression of thionin proteins.

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Data availability

All data materials are available in manuscript.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank both the Botany and Microbiology Department – Faculty of Science – Helwan University, and Agriculture Center for of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ACGEB) – Faculty of Agriculture – Ain Shams University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt

    Eman Tawfik & Ibtisam Hammad

  2. Genetics Department, Faculty of Agricuture, Ain Shams University, Shoubra, Egypt

    Ashraf Bakry

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  1. Eman Tawfik
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  2. Ibtisam Hammad
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Correspondence to Eman Tawfik.

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Tawfik, E., Hammad, I. & Bakry, A. Production of transgenic Allium cepa by nanoparticles to resist Aspergillus niger infection. Mol Biol Rep 49, 1783–1790 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06988-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-021-06988-5

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