title: Enhanced resistance to early blight in transgenic tomato lines expressing heterologous plant defense genes.
abstract: Genes coding for an iris ribosomal-inactivating protein (I-RIP), a maize beta-glucanase (M-GLU), and a Mirabilis jalapa antimicrobial peptide (Mj-AMP1) were separately introduced into tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Sweet Chelsea) cotyledons via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Transgenic lines carrying each of the transgenes were confirmed for integration into the tomato genome using Southern blot hybridization. Transcription of I-RIP, M-GLU, and Mj-AMP1 genes in various transgenic lines was determined using Northern blot analysis. Plants of selected transgenic lines were inoculated with a 2-3x10(4) conidial spores/ml suspension of the fungal pathogen Alternaria solani, the causal agent of tomato early blight. Compared to control (non-transformed) plants, two transgenic lines carrying either a M-GLU or Mj-AMP1 showed enhanced resistance to early blight disease. None of the four lines carrying the I-RIP transgene showed increased resistance to early blight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, 310 ERML, University of Illinois, 1201 W. Gregory, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Ksenija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gasic
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cammue
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Broekaert
authors.forename: Els J M
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: van Damme
authors.forename: Willy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Peumans
authors.forename: Schuyler S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Korban
mesh_terms: D016960:Agrobacterium tumefaciens / Q000235:genetics; D000528:Alternaria / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015870:Gene Expression; D017343:Genes, Plant; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics; D031323:Iris Plant / Q000235:genetics; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D039282:Mirabilis / Q000235:genetics; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D003313:Zea mays / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1; D006026:Glycoside Hydrolases; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases; C059351:MAP protein, Mirabilis jalapa