Genetically pyramiding protease-inhibitor genes for dual broad-spectrum resistance against insect and phytopathogens in transgenic tobacco.
Protease inhibitors provide a promising means of engineering plant resistance against attack by insects and pathogens. Sporamin (trypsin inhibitor) from sweet potato and CeCPI (phytocystatin) from taro were stacked in a binary vector, using pMSPOA (a modified sporamin promoter) to drive both genes. Transgenic tobacco lines of T0 and T1 generation with varied inhibitory activity against trypsin and papain showed resistance to both insects and phytopathogens. Larvae of Helicoverpa armigera that ingested tobacco leaves either died or showed delayed growth and development relative to control larvae. Transgenic tobacco-overexpressing the stacked genes also exhibited strong resistance against bacterial soft rot disease caused by Erwinia carotovora and damping-off disease caused by Pythium aphanidermatum. Thus, stacking protease-inhibitor genes, driven by the wound and pathogen responsive pMSPOA promoter, is an effective strategy for engineering crops to resistance against insects and phytopathogens.
Senthilkumar
Rajendran
R
Institute of Plant Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Cheng
Chiu-Ping
CP
Yeh
Kai-Wun
KW
D000818:Animals; D031060:Colocasia / Q000235:genetics; D015891:Cystatins / Q000235:genetics*; D004885:Erwinia; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D027723:Ipomoea batatas / Q000235:genetics; D009036:Moths; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D011775:Pythium; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics*; D019076:Transgenes
D015891:Cystatins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; C067142:sporamin protein, Ipomoea batatas