Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing chitinases of fungal origin show enhanced resistance to biotic and abiotic stress agents.
Genes encoding defense-related proteins have been used to alter the resistance of plants to pathogens and other environmental challenges, but no single fungal gene overexpression has produced broad-spectrum stress resistance in transgenic lines. We have generated transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) lines that overexpress the endochitinases CHIT33 and CHIT42 from the mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma harzianum and have evaluated their tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. Both CHIT33 and CHIT42, individually, conferred broad resistance to fungal and bacterial pathogens, salinity, and heavy metals. Such broad-range protective effects came off with no obvious detrimental effect on the growth of tobacco plants.
de las Mercedes Dana
María
M
Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 41012-Seville, Spain.
Pintor-Toro
José A
JA
Cubero
Beatriz
B
D002688:Chitinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D012232:Rhizoctonia; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics
D012965:Sodium Chloride; D010544:Peroxidases; D002688:Chitinases