title: An alternative agriculture system is defined by a distinct expression profile of select gene transcripts and proteins.
abstract: Conventional agriculture has relied heavily on chemical inputs that have negatively impacted the environment and increased production costs. Transition to agricultural sustainability is a major challenge and requires that alternative agricultural practices are scientifically analyzed to provide a sufficiently informative knowledge base in favor of alternative farming practices. We show a molecular basis for delayed leaf senescence and tolerance to diseases in tomato plants cultivated in a legume (hairy vetch) mulch-based alternative agricultural system. In the hairy vetch-cultivated plants, expression of specific and select classes of genes is up-regulated compared to those grown on black polyethylene mulch. These include N-responsive genes such as NiR, GS1, rbcL, rbcS, and G6PD; chaperone genes such as hsp70 and BiP; defense genes such as chitinase and osmotin; a cytokinin-responsive gene CKR; and gibberellic acid 20 oxidase. We present a model of how their protein products likely complement one another in a field scenario to effect efficient utilization and mobilization of C and N, promote defense against disease, and enhance longevity.
authors.affiliation: Vegetable Laboratory, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Building 010A, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA.
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Autar K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mattoo
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D008136:Longevity; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010935:Plant Diseases; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010937:Plant Growth Regulators