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Overexpression of glutamate decarboxylase in transgenic tobacco plants confers resistance to the northern root-knot nematode

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Abstract

Previous research suggests that the endogenous synthesis of gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA), a naturally occurring inhibitory neurotransmitter, serves as a plant defense mechanism against invertebrate pests. Here, we tested the hypothesis that elevated GABA levels in engineered tobacco confer resistance to the northern root nematode (Meloidogyne hapla). This nematode species was chosen because of its sedentary nature and economic importance in Canada. We derived nine phenotypically normal, homozygous lines of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), which contain one or two copies of a full-length, chimeric tobacco glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) cDNA or a mutant version that lacks the autoinhibitory calmodulin-binding domain, under the control of a chimeric octopine synthase/mannopine synthase promoter. Regardless of experimental protocol, uninfected transgenic lines consistently contained higher GABA concentrations than wild-type controls. Growth chamber trials revealed that 9–12 weeks after inoculation of tobacco transplants with the northern root-knot nematode, mature plants of five lines possessed significantly fewer egg masses on the root surface when the data were expressed on both root and root fresh weight bases. Therefore, it can be concluded that constitutive transgenic expression of GAD conferred resistance against the root-knot nematode in phenotypically normal tobacco plants, probably via a GABA-based mechanism.

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Author notes

  1. Michael D. McLean

    Present address: Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1, Canada

  2. Dmytro P. Yevtushenko

    Present address: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8W 3P6, Canada

  3. Owen R. Van Cauwenberghe

    Present address: Lilly Analytical Research Laboratory, Eli Lilly Canada Inc., 3650 Danforth Ave., Toronto, M1N 2E8, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Agriculture, Biotechnology Division, University of Guelph, Bovey Bldg, Guelph, N1G 2W1, Canada

    Michael D. McLean, Dmytro P. Yevtushenko, Alice Deschene, Owen R. Van Cauwenberghe, Amina Makhmoudova & Barry J. Shelp

  2. Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Vineland Station, L0R 2E0, Canada

    John W. Potter

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St Catharines, L2S 3A1, Canada

    Alan W. Bown

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  1. Michael D. McLean
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McLean, M.D., Yevtushenko, D.P., Deschene, A. et al. Overexpression of glutamate decarboxylase in transgenic tobacco plants confers resistance to the northern root-knot nematode. Molecular Breeding 11, 277–285 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023483106582

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