Expression of an elicitor-encoding gene from Magnaporthe grisea enhances resistance against blast disease in transgenic rice.
Elicitors are molecules that stimulate defense responses in plants. Previously, an elicitor-encoding gene, named pemG1, was isolated from Magnaporthe grisea. To assess the function of pemG1 in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare), the gene was cloned under a constitutive maize ubiquitin promoter and introduced into Nipponbare cultivar. The resultant plants showed stable integration and constitutive expression of the pemG1 gene. The expression of defense-related gene for phenylalanine ammonia-lyase was triggered and proline content was also increased in pemG1-expressing plants. The pemG1-expressing plants showed enhanced resistance against rice blast after inoculation with M. grisea spores, suggesting that the pemG1 expression enhances disease resistance in transgenic rice.
Qiu
Dewen
D
The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No.12 Zhongguancun South Street, 100081, Beijing, People's Republic of China. Dewenqiu@hotmail.com
Mao
Jianjun
J
Yang
Xiufen
X
Zeng
Hongmei
H