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Expression of the grapevine stilbene synthase gene VST1 in papaya provides increased resistance against diseases caused by Phytophthora palmivora

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Abstract

The phytoalexin resveratrol (trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxy-stilbene), a natural component of resistance to fungal diseases in many plants, is synthesized by the enzyme trihydroxystilbene synthase (stilbene synthase, EC 2.3.1.95), which appears to be deficient or lacking in susceptible plants. Earlier workers isolated a stilbene synthase gene (Vst1) from grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), which has subsequently been introduced as a transgene into a range of species to increase resistance of hosts to pathogens to which they were originally susceptible. Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is susceptible to a variety of fungal diseases, including root, stem, and fruit rot caused by the pathogen Phytophthora palmivora. Since resveratrol at 1.0 mM inhibited mycelium growth of P. palmivora in vitro, we hypothesized that papaya resistance to this pathogen might be increased by transformation with the grapevine stilbene synthase construct pVst1, containing the Vst1 gene and its pathogen-inducible promoter. Multiple transformed lines were produced, clonally propagated, and evaluated with a leaf disk bioassay and whole plant response to inoculation with P. palmivora. RNA transcripts of stilbene synthase and resveratrol glycoside were induced in plant lines transformed with the grapevine pVst1 construct shortly after pathogen inoculation, and the transformed papaya lines exhibited increased resistance to P. palmivora. The immature transformed plants appear normal and will be advanced to field trials to evaluate their utility.

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Abbreviations

BA :

Benzyladenine

2,4-D :

2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

IBA :

Indolebutyric acid

MS :

Murashige and Skoog plant culture medium

NAA :

Naphthaleneacetic acid

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. R. Hain from Bayer AG for providing the grapevine stilbene synthase construct; Dr. M. Fitch, ARS/USDA, for advice on papaya transformation and clonal propagation; and Dr. S. Schenck, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, for providing fungal cultures and advice on pathogen studies. This work was partially supported by a cooperative agreement (No. CA 58-5320-3-460) between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, and the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and by a special USDA ARS grant to the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources of the University of Hawaii for minor crop pest control.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, 99–193 Aiea Heights Drive, Aiea, Hawaii, HI 96701, USA

    Yun J. Zhu, Ricelle Agbayani & Mel C. Jackson

  2. Molecular Biosciences & Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii, HI 96822, USA

    C. S. Tang

  3. Agriculture Research Service, Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Aiea, Hawaii, HI 96701 , USA

    Paul H. Moore

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  1. Yun J. Zhu
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  2. Ricelle Agbayani
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Correspondence to Yun J. Zhu.

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Zhu, Y.J., Agbayani, R., Jackson, M.C. et al. Expression of the grapevine stilbene synthase gene VST1 in papaya provides increased resistance against diseases caused by Phytophthora palmivora. Planta 220, 241–250 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-004-1343-1

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