title: Combinatorially selected defense peptides protect plant roots from pathogen infection.
abstract: Agricultural productivity and sustainability are continually challenged by emerging and indigenous pathogens. Currently, many pathogens can be combatted only with biocides or environmentally dangerous fumigants. Here, we report a rapid and pathogen-specific strategy to reduce infection by organisms that target plant roots. Combinatorially selected defense peptides, previously shown to effect premature encystment of Phytophthora capsici zoospores, were fused to maize cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase as a display scaffold. When expressed in tomato roots, the peptide-scaffold constructs were secreted and accumulated to sufficient concentrations in the rhizosphere to induce zoospore encystment and thereby deter taxis to the root surface. Pathogen infection was significantly inhibited in roots expressing bioactive peptides fused to the maize cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase scaffold. This peptide-delivery technology is broadly applicable for rapid development of plant defense attributes against plant pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plant Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Zhiwei David
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Laskey
authors.forename: Shaoxing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kristin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Bilyeu
authors.forename: Roy O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Francis J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: English
mesh_terms: D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D019151:Peptide Library; D010455:Peptides / Q000502:physiology*; D010838:Phytophthora / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019151:Peptide Library; D010455:Peptides