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A comparison of individual and combined l-phenylalanine ammonia lyase and cationic peroxidase transgenes for engineering resistance in tobacco to necrotrophic pathogens

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Abstract

This study tested the relative and combined efficacy of ShPx2 and ShPAL transgenes by comparing Nicotiana tabacum hybrids with enhanced levels of l-phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity and cationic peroxidase (Prx) activity with transgenic parental lines that overexpress either transgene. The PAL/Prx hybrids expressed both transgenes driven by the 35S CaMV promoter, and leaf PAL and Prx enzyme activities were similar to those of the relevant transgenic parent and seven- to tenfold higher than nontransgenic controls. Lignin levels in the PAL/Prx hybrids were higher than the PAL parent and nontransgenic controls, but not significantly higher than the Prx parent. All transgenic plants showed increased resistance to the necrotrophs Phytophthora parasitica pv. nicotianae and Cercospora nicotianae compared to nontransgenic controls, with a preponderance of smaller lesion categories produced in Prx-expressing lines. However, the PAL/Prx hybrids showed no significant increase in resistance to either pathogen relative to the Prx parental line. These data indicate that, in tobacco, the PAL and Prx transgenes do not act additively in disease resistance. Stacking with Prx did not prevent a visible growth inhibition from PAL overexpression. Practical use of ShPAL will likely require more sophisticated developmental control, and we conclude that ShPx2 is a preferred candidate for development as a resistance transgene.

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Acknowledgments

HW acknowledges support from the Grains and Development Corporation and the Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Plant Pathology. The expert advice and assistance of Drs. Kemal Kazan and Ken Goulter are gratefully acknowledged. Dr. J. Hendrickz of the University of Queensland provided essential advice on statistical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Plant Pathology, Brisbane, Australia

    Heather M. Way & John M. Manners

  2. Department of Botany, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia

    Heather M. Way & Robert G. Birch

  3. CSIRO Plant Industry, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St. Lucia, Brisbane, 4067, Australia

    Heather M. Way & John M. Manners

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  1. Heather M. Way
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  2. Robert G. Birch
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  3. John M. Manners
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Correspondence to John M. Manners.

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Way, H.M., Birch, R.G. & Manners, J.M. A comparison of individual and combined l-phenylalanine ammonia lyase and cationic peroxidase transgenes for engineering resistance in tobacco to necrotrophic pathogens. Plant Biotechnol Rep 5, 301–308 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11816-011-0183-2

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