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Constitutive over-expression of two wheat pathogenesis-related genes enhances resistance of tobacco plants to Phytophthora nicotianae

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Abstract

The potential role in plant defence of the two wheat pathogenesis-related proteins of class 4 Wheatwin1 and Wheatwin2, possessing high in vitro antimicrobial activity against several pathogens, was investigated through over-expression of their encoding genes wPR4a and wPR4b in transgenic tobacco plants. Several independent transformants were obtained, expressing high levels of either transgene when analysed by northern and western blotting. Accumulation of the wPR4b-encoded protein Wheatwin2 in the apoplast of transgenic plants was also demonstrated. When homozygous transgenic lines in the T4 generation were tested for increased tolerance to Phytophthora nicotianae, they were found to be significantly more resistant than both the wild type and their isogenic, non-wPR4 transgenic lines. These results suggest that both Wheatwins might have in vivo antimicrobial activity, confirming earlier indications from in vitro assays.

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Acknowledgements

This research was partly supported by the Ministero dell’Istruzione, Università e Ricerca Scientifica (MIUR), project MIUR-FIRB (RBNE01KZE7) and by a grant from Consorzio Interuniversitario Biotecnologie (CIB). This is journal paper 101 of the CNR – Institute of Plant Genetics, Portici, Italy.

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  1. Floriana Fiocchetti

    Present address: ENEA C.R. Casaccia, Department of Biotechnologies, Agroindustry and Health Protection, Via Anguillarese 301, Rome, 00123, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Production, University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo De Lellis, Viterbo, 01100, Italy

    Floriana Fiocchetti & Francesco Saccardo

  2. CNR – Institute of Plant Genetics, Via Università 133, Portici, 80055, Italy

    Rosalinda D’Amore, Monica De Palma & Marina Tucci

  3. Department of Agrobiology and Agrochemistry, University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo De Lellis, Viterbo, 01100, Italy

    Laura Bertini, Carla Caruso & Carlo Caporale

  4. Department of Ar.Bo.Pa.Ve. - Plant Pathology, University of Naples, Via Università 100, Portici, 80055, Italy

    Antonino Testa & Gennaro Cristinzio

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  1. Floriana Fiocchetti
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Correspondence to Marina Tucci.

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Fiocchetti, F., D’Amore, R., De Palma, M. et al. Constitutive over-expression of two wheat pathogenesis-related genes enhances resistance of tobacco plants to Phytophthora nicotianae . Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 92, 73–84 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-007-9306-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-007-9306-4

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