title: Pyramiding PvPGIP2 and TAXI-III But Not PvPGIP2 and PMEI Enhances Resistance Against Fusarium graminearum.
abstract: Plant protein inhibitors counteract the activity of cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs) secreted by pathogens to breach the plant cell-wall barrier. Transgenic plants expressing a single protein inhibitor restrict pathogen infections. However, since pathogens secrete a number of CWDEs at the onset of infection, we combined more inhibitors in a single wheat genotype to reinforce further the cell-wall barrier. We combined polygalacturonase (PG) inhibiting protein (PGIP) and pectin methyl esterase inhibitor (PMEI), both controlling the activity of PG, one of the first CWDEs secreted during infection. We also pyramided PGIP and TAXI-III, a xylanase inhibitor that controls the activity of xylanases, key factors for the degradation of xylan, a main component of cereal cell wall. We demonstrated that the pyramiding of PGIP and PMEI did not contribute to any further improvement of disease resistance. However, the presence of both pectinase inhibitors ensured a broader spectrum of disease resistance. Conversely, the PGIP and TAXI-III combination contributed to further improvement of Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance, probably because these inhibitors target the activity of different types of CWDEs, i.e., PGs and xylanases. Worth mentioning, the reduction of FHB symptoms is accompanied by a reduction of deoxynivalenol accumulation with a foreseen great benefit to human and animal health.
authors.affiliation: 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (DAFNE) Università della Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo;
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tundo
authors.affiliation: 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (DAFNE) Università della Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo;
authors.forename: Raviraj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalunke
authors.affiliation: 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (DAFNE) Università della Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo;
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janni
authors.affiliation: 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (DAFNE) Università della Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo;
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Volpi
authors.affiliation: 2 Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Roma, Italy; and.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lionetti
authors.affiliation: 2 Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Roma, Italy; and.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bellincampi
authors.affiliation: 3 Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali (TeSAF), Research group in Plant Pathology, Università di Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Favaron
authors.affiliation: 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (DAFNE) Università della Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo;
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Ovidio
mesh_terms: D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D060467:Disease Resistance; D005670:Fusarium / Q000502:physiology*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D011096:Polygalacturonase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000378:metabolism; D014908:Triticum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: C081479:PGIP protein, plant; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014255:Trichothecenes; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C022323:pectinesterase; D011096:Polygalacturonase; C007262:deoxynivalenol