title: Transgenic apple plants overexpressing the Lc gene of maize show an altered growth habit and increased resistance to apple scab and fire blight.
abstract: Transgenic apple plants (Malus x domestica cv. 'Holsteiner Cox') overexpressing the Leaf Colour (Lc) gene from maize (Zea mays) exhibit strongly increased production of anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols (catechins, proanthocyanidins). Greenhouse plants investigated in this study exhibit altered phenotypes with regard to growth habit and resistance traits. Lc-transgenic plants show reduced size, transversal gravitropism of lateral shoots, reduced trichome development, and frequently reduced shoot diameter and abnormal leaf development with fused leaves. Such phenotypes seem to be in accordance with a direct or an indirect effect on polar-auxin-transport in the transgenic plants. Furthermore, leaves often develop necrotic lesions resembling hypersensitive response lesions. In tests, higher resistance against fire blight (caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora) and against scab (caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis) is observed. These phenotypes are discussed with respect to the underlying altered physiology of the Lc-transgenic plants. The results are expected to be considered in apple breeding strategies.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Breeding Research on Horticultural and Fruit Crops, Julius Kühn-Institut, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Pillnitzer Platz 3a, 01326 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flachowsky
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Szankowski
authors.forename: Thilo C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peil
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Höfer
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dörschel
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmoock
authors.forename: Achim E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Gau
authors.forename: Heidrun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Halbwirth
authors.forename: Magda-Viola
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Hanke
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota; D044084:Erwinia amylovora; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D027845:Malus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D010641:Phenotype; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology; D011003:Ploidies; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C083017:R-S protein, Zea mays