Local and systemic resistance to fungal pathogens triggered by an AVR9-mediated hypersensitive response in tomato and oilseed rape carrying the Cf-9 resistance gene

Tomato and transgenic oilseed rape plants expressing the Cf-9 resistance gene develop a hypersensitive response (HR) after injection of the corresponding Avr9 gene product. It was investigated whether induction of a HR conferred resistance to different fungal pathogens in tomato and oilseed rape. Induction of an AVR9 mediated HR at the pathogen infection site delayed the development of the biotrophs Oidium lycopersicum in tomato and Erysiphe polygoni in oilseed rape, but enhanced the development of the necrotrophs Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria solani in tomato and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in oilseed rape. Interestingly, delayed fungal disease development was observed in plant tissues surrounding the HR lesion regardless of whether a necrotrophic or biotrophic pathogen was used. In tomato, AVR9 injection induced systemic expression of PR1, PR2 and PR3 defence genes but did not induce systemic resistance to O. lycopersicum, B. cinerea or A. solani. In oilseed rape, AVR9 injection temporarily induced systemic resistance to Leptosphaeria maculans and E. polygoni, but did not induce detectable systemic expression of PR1, PR2 or Cxc750. These results give new insights into the potential uses of an induced HR to engineer disease resistance.     

Soybean plants expressing an active oligomeric oxalate oxidase from the wheat gf-2.8 (germin) gene are resistant to the oxalate-secreting pathogen Sclerotina sclerotiorum

Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) De Bary is a serious fungal disease of soybean. Senescing petals provide a starting nutrient source for the invasion of healthy tissue by the advancing oxalic acid secreting fungal hyphae. Since oxalic acid is a major pathogenicity factor of SSR, transgenic soybean capable of degrading oxalic acid may be resistant to the pathogen. Transgenic soybean plants were produced byAgrobacterium -mediated transformation with the wheat germin gene (gf-2.8) encoding an oligomeric protein, oxalate oxidase (OxO), which oxidizes oxalic acid to carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Transgenic soybean homozygous for 35S- gf-2.8 produced an approx. 130 kDa protein indistinguishable from wheat germin, and with OxO activity. OxO activity was prominent in cell walls proximal to the site of pathogen attack. The transgenics had greatly reduced disease progression and lesion length following cotyledon and stem inoculation with S. sclerotiorum indicating that the germin gene product conferred resistance to SSR. This is the first report of plant resistance to the fungal pathogen S. sclerotiorum in transgenic plants expressing OxO.     

酵母pac1基因介导对葡萄B病毒的抗性

为明确广谱性抗病毒基因—酵母pac1基因对葡萄B病毒(Grapevine virus B,GVB)的抗性效果,通过农杆菌介导的遗传转化,将pac1基因导入西方烟37B,对转基因植株进行PCR鉴定及Southern blot分析,通过病毒摩擦接种观察症状以及实时荧光定量RT-PCR检测植株体内病毒含量,并对转基因植株抗病性进行初步鉴定。结果表明,目的基因pac1成功导入并整合至西方烟37B基因组,共获得10个转基因株系。不同株系的T1代烟草中阳性植株比例为16.7%~72.7%,表明目的基因可成功遗传到子代。接种病毒后转基因植株普遍延迟发病,但后期症状与非转基因对照相似,其中仅1个转基因株系B6具有不表现典型症状等抗性反应。接种植株病毒含量检测中,所有转基因植株均检测到病毒存在,但表现为抗病的B6株系中病毒含量显著低于非转基因对照,表明该转基因植株虽不能完全抵抗GVB侵染,但对GVB具有耐病性。     

Comparative resistance to foliar fungal pathogens in transgenic carrot plants expressing genes encoding for chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase and peroxidise

Genes encoding an acidic wheat class IV chitinase (383), an acidic wheat β 1,3-glucanase (638) and a rice cationic peroxidase (POC1) were introduced into ‘Nantes Coreless’ carrot (Daucus carota) by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The genes were introduced singly or in various combinations followed by selection imposed by the herbicide phosphinothricin. Regenerated plantlets were screened for presence and expression of the three transgenes using PCR, Southern and Northern hybridisations. Eighteen transgenic lines expressing a single transgene and 2 lines each co-expressing 638/383 and 383/POC1 were assessed for resistance to the necrotrophic fungal pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Percentage leaf area diseased was measured 4 and 7 days after inoculation (dai) and compared to non-transformed control plants. Six lines expressing β-1,3-glucanase 638 alone had no enhanced resistance to B. cinerea at 4 dai and only slight resistance to S. sclerotiorum; there was no effect at 7 dai. Two out of the six lines expressing 383 alone had enhanced tolerance to both pathogens with a 20–50% reduction in disease development at 7 dai. Two lines co-expressing 638/383 had slight reductions in disease by (10–20%) similar to that of the lines expressing chitinase 383 alone. Highest levels of disease resistance were seen in transgenic lines expressing POC1, alone or in combination with chitinase 383. Disease symptoms were slower to develop and symptoms were reduced by up to 90% for B. cinerea and 70% for S. sclerotiorum. The 383/POC1 co-expressing plants developed disease at levels similar to that of POC1 alone. Petioles of plants over-expressing POC1 had higher levels of lignin accumulation constitutively compared to control plants, which was greatly enhanced following inoculation with S. sclerotiorum. These results indicate that peroxidase over-expression can lead to significant disease reduction against necrotrophic pathogens in transgenic carrot plants.     

Bioluminescence reporter assay system to monitor Arabidopsis MPK3 gene expression in response to infection by Botrytis cinerea

The Arabidopsis MPK3 gene product participates in disease resistance mediated by the MAP kinase cascade. The expression of the MPK3 gene is induced by pathogen inoculation and treatment with chemicals such as salicylic acid (SA) and methyl jasmonate (JA), but the detailed expression pattern of the MPK3 gene has been largely unknown. To investigate MPK3 gene expression in response to disease stress, we fused the MPK3 promoter to the firefly luciferase gene to create a real-time monitoring system for regulated gene expression in planta. The results of an in vivo reporter assay using transgenic Arabidopsis plants harboring MPK3::Fluc showed that the MPK3 promoter activity was induced by treatment with chemicals such as SA and benzo(1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (BTH), that induce defense gene expression. Inoculation with the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea resulted in systemic induction of MPK3::Fluc.     

The influence of carotenoid biosynthesis modification on the Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium oxysporum resistance in flax

Flax engineering to yield increased resistance to pathogens is the goal of this study. Since carotenoids act as antioxidants it is thus postulated that the accumulation of a higher quantity of these compounds in the transgenic plants might improve their resistance to pathogen infection.Our approach was based on the generation of transgenic flax overproducing carotene and analysis of its susceptibility to Fusarium infection. For transformation bacterial gene – crtB was used. As expected, transgenic plants showed increased resistance against pathogen infection.The impact of carotenoids on plant resistance to infection was verified by generation and analysis of transgenic flax with decreased content of carotene. The transgenic plants were obtained by suppression of endogenous flax gene coding for lycopene β-cyclase. Plant analysis revealed decrease in carotene content, however, an unexpected increase in resistance against Fusarium infection was detected. Further analysis of metabolites in the plants revealed that an increase in accumulation of other terpenoids and tocopherols, squalene and menthol were among them. Thus, it is suggested that repression of carotene synthesis results in the redirecting of substrates to other branches of isoprenoids synthesis.We conclude that a general level of antioxidants rather than the presence of any particular compound is the most important factor in resistance of the flax plant to pathogen infection.     

转cry1Ab基因粳稻对稻纵卷叶螟成虫产卵行为的影响

为评价转cry1Ab基因粳稻(KMD1和KMD2)对稻纵卷叶螟Cnaphalocrocis medinalis(Guenée)成虫产卵行为的影响,采用"Y"型嗅觉仪和笼罩以及田间试验等方法对稻纵卷叶螟成虫对转基因水稻的趋性以及其产卵选择性进行了研究,并利用固相微萃取和GC-MS技术测定了这2种Bt水稻及其对照亲本秀水11挥发物的组成及其相对含量。结果表明,稻纵卷叶螟成虫在"Y"型嗅觉仪和小型笼罩内对Bt水稻和对照亲本的选择性差异不显著,而在大型笼罩和田间条件下均显著趋向于在非转基因水稻上产卵,其中大田中稻纵卷叶螟在KMD1、KMD2和对照中的百叶卵量分别为2.20±1.28、1.00±0.77和5.60±2.16粒。水稻挥发物的组成及其相对含量在Bt水稻及其对照亲本之间差异不显著。表明相对于Bt水稻,在田间条件下稻纵卷叶螟成虫趋向于在非转基因水稻产卵,而水稻挥发物可能不是引起这种行为趋性的直接原因。     

Prior Inoculation with Non-pathogenic Fungi Induces Systemic Resistance to Powdery Mildew On Cucumber Plants

A spray inoculation of the first leaf of 2-leaf stage cucumber plants with a non-pathogenic isolate of Alternaria cucumarina or Cladosporium fulvum before a challenge inoculation with the pathogen Sphaerotheca fuliginea induced systemic resistance to powdery mildew on leaves 2–5. Systemic resistance was expressed by a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the number of powdery mildew colonies produced on each leaf of the induced plants, as compared with water-sprayed plants. Systemic resistance was evident when a prior inoculation with each of the inducing fungi was administered 1, 3 or 6 days before the challenge inoculation with S. fuliginea. Increasing the inoculum concentration of A. cucumarina or C. fulvum enhanced the systemic protection and provided up to 71.6% or 80.0% reduction, respectively, in the number of colonies produced on upper leaves, relative to controls. Increasing the inoculum concentration of S. fuliginea used for challenge inoculation, increased the number of powdery mildew colonies produced on both induced and non-induced plants. Pre-treated plants, however, were still better protected than controls, indicating that the level of systemic protection was related to the S. fuliginea inoculum concentration. The induction of systemic resistance against powdery mildew by biotic agents, facilitates the development of a wide range of disease management tools.     

Fusarium head blight evaluation in wheat transgenic plants expressing the maize <Emphasis Type="Italic">b-32</Emphasis> antifungal gene

The maize gene b-32, normally expressed in the maize (Zea mays) endosperm, encodes for a RIP (Ribosome Inactivating Protein) characterised by antifungal activity. Transgenic wheat plants were obtained via biolistic transformation, in which the b-32 gene is driven by the 35SCaMV promoter in association with the bar gene as a selectable marker. Plants were brought to homozygosity through genetic analysis of progeny and pathogenicity tests were performed on the fourth generation. Six homozygous b-32 wheat lines were characterised. All plants had a normal phenotype, not distinguishable from the control cv. Veery except for slightly smaller size, flowered and set seeds. Western blot analyses confirmed b-32 expression during the plant life cycle in the various tissues. Each line differed in the b-32 content in leaf protein extracts and the transgenic protein expression level was maintained at least up to 10 days after anthesis. Pathogenicity tests for Fusarium head blight (FHB) were performed on the b-32 transgenic wheat lines in comparison to the parental cv. Veery. Resistance to FHB was evaluated by the single floret injection inoculation method on immature spikes with spores of Fusarium culmorum. In all the transgenic lines, a similar reduction in FHB symptoms, not dependent on the level of b-32 protein, has been observed (20% and 30% relative to the control, respectively 7 and 14 days after inoculation). Percentage of tombstone kernels at maturity was also recorded; in all transgenic lines disease control for this parameter was around 25%. The data obtained indicate that maize b-32 was effective as in vivo antifungal protein reducing FHB symptoms in wheat lines expressing the maize RIP protein.     

Complementation of CMV Subgroup IA Strains in Replicase-mediated Resistant Tobacco Plants after Co-inoculation with Different Cucumoviruses

Replicase-mediated tobacco plants are highly resistant to the Fny strain of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and closely related subgroup IA strains. Two of these subgroup IA strains, Fny- and M-CMV, were co-inoculated with different resistance breaking cucumoviruses to nontransformed and transformed tobacco plants. RT-PCR analyses of single CMV RNAs were performed to study potential complementation of the subgroup IA strains by the resistance breaking cucumoviruses. After co-inoculation of M-CMV with PII-CMV, RNAs 1, 2 and 3 from M-CMV were detected in systemically infected leaves of control plants, whereas in noninoculated parts of replicase-mediated resistant plants only M-CMV RNAs 1 and 3 were found. Western blot studies confirmed the expression of M-CMV coat protein after co-inoculation with PII-CMV in leaves of transgenic plants. These plants also exhibited M-CMV typical yellow spots. M-CMV/TAV co-inoculated transgenic plants contained only M-CMV RNA 3, but no M-CMV RNAs 1 and 2. No M-CMV typical yellow spots were observed in these plants. Our data suggest different types of complementation of M-CMV in replicase-mediated resistant plants by PII-CMV and TAV in trans potentially leading to new RNA combinations in transformed plants compared to nontransformed plants.     

转cry1Ab/cry2Aj、cry1Ab/vip3DA玉米对棉铃虫、甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾的抗虫性评价

为评估转cry1Ab/cry2Aj、cry1Ab/vip3DA玉米对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera(Hübner)、甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua(Hübner)和斜纹夜蛾Prodenia litura(Fabricius)的抗虫性,在室内测定了3个转cry1Ab/cry2Aj玉米品系和1个转cry1Ab/vip3DA玉米品系对3种害虫幼虫存活和生长发育的影响,研究了该系列Bt玉米不同组织器官对害虫的杀虫活性和控制效果。结果显示,棉铃虫初孵幼虫取食各品系Bt玉米叶片96h后死亡率为87.50%~90.00%,取食花丝和雌穗的幼虫96h后几乎全部死亡;甜菜夜蛾初孵幼虫取食各品系Bt玉米叶片、花丝和雌穗168h后死亡率为22.50%~68.33%,幼虫的生长发育受到明显抑制,体重抑制率达85.00%~95.00%;斜纹夜蛾初孵幼虫取食各品系Bt玉米叶片、花丝和雌穗96 h后死亡率显著高于非转基因亲本对照,168h后幼虫死亡率达90.00%以上。研究表明,转cry1Ab/cry2Aj和cry1Ab/vip3DA玉米品系对棉铃虫和斜纹夜蛾的初孵幼虫表现出较好的抗性,可以作为转多基因抗虫玉米育种的备选材料。     

我国棉铃虫对Bt蛋白Cry1Ac抗性现状及分子机制研究进展

棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera是一种全球性的重要农业害虫,主要为害棉花、玉米和大豆等作物。长期种植单价Bt棉花（表达Cry1Ac蛋白）会使棉铃虫田间种群承受单一、持续的选择压力,必然会导致棉铃虫对Cry1Ac的抗性发生演化。该文概述我国棉铃虫田间种群对Cry1Ac的抗性现状、自然庇护所对棉铃虫Cry1Ac抗性演化的延缓作用以及棉铃虫对Cry1Ac抗性的遗传多样性,并对今后我国关于棉铃虫Bt抗性的治理对策进行了展望。     

转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花对棉铃虫的控制效果及对甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾生长发育的影响

为评估转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera的抗性及对非靶标害虫甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua和斜纹夜蛾S.litura生长发育的影响,采用室内生测法测定其对棉铃虫的抗性及对甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾不同龄期幼虫存活率、营养代谢及中肠酶活性的影响。结果表明,转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花对棉铃虫第2代幼虫的抗性程度最高,幼虫校正死亡率达91.33%,但对甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾的抗性程度较低,幼虫校正死亡率分别为15.33%和13.33%。甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾各龄期幼虫取食转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花后,其存活率与取食常规棉花对照无显著差异;甜菜夜蛾对转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花叶片的相对取食量、近似消化率分别为16.68和93.12%,均高于取食常规棉花对照的10.72和92.00%,但差异不显著,而斜纹夜蛾取食转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花后的各项营养指标均低于取食常规棉花对照,差异也不显著。取食转Cry1Ac/1Ab基因棉花后,甜菜夜蛾的过氧化物酶活性为0.02 U/mg prot,显著低于取食常规棉花的0.05 U/mg prot;斜纹夜蛾的酸性磷酸酶活性为0.15 U/mg prot,高于取食常规棉花的0.10 U/mg prot,但差异不显著,其它中肠酶活性均低于对照,亦无显著差异。     

Some coat protein constituents from strawberry latent ringspot virus expressed in transgenic tobacco protect plants against systematic invasion following root inoculation by nematode vectors

The coding sequences in RNA2 for the coat proteins (CP) of strawberry latent ringspot virus (SLRSV) were modified and amplified using polymerase chain amplification reactions (PCR) to facilitate their expression inAgrobacterium tumefaciens-transformedNicotiana tabacum Xanthi-nc. The coding sequences for the smaller capsid protein (S, 29kDa) and that for the theoretical precursor of L and S (P, 73kDa) had ATG initiation codon sequences added at the 5-proximal Ser/Gly (S/G) cleavage site in the unmodified sequence. The sequence coding for the larger of the two proteins of mature SLRSV capsids (L, 44kDa) had an ATG codon added at its 5 S/G site and a TAG stop codon sequence added at the 3-proximal S/G site. The P, L and S proteins were expressedin planta to a maximum concentration of 0.01 % of total extractable proteins but did not assemble into virus-like particles. When challenged by mechanical inoculation with virus particles or viral RNA, and compared with control plants, tobacco plants (primary transgenic clones or S1 and S2, kanamycin-resistant seedlings) expressing the virus capsid subunits separately, or their precursor, decreased the accumulation of SLRSV particles in inoculated leaves and fewer plants became invaded systemically. In experiments in which the roots of seedlings were exposed to SLRSV-carrying vector nematodes (Xiphinema diversicaudatum), SLRSV was detected in the roots of non-transformed control tobacco plants (6/20) and in transgenic tobacco expressing the L protein (7/40), but not in any of 25 tobacco plants expressing the S protein or in 35 expressing the P protein. This is the second example of CP-mediated resistance to virus inoculation by nematode vectors.     

转cry2Ah-vp基因玉米的抗虫性鉴定

为获得新型抗虫转基因玉米,将通过群体筛选获得的具有抗虫性的转cry2Ah-vp基因玉米VP1-5采用PCR、Southern blot、实时荧光定量PCR(qPCR)、酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)等方法进行阳性植株鉴定、拷贝数分析、转录水平和翻译水平分析,同时通过室内和田间生物活性测定鉴定转基因玉米VP1-5对东方黏虫Mythimna separata和亚洲玉米螟Ostrinia furnacalis的抗性。结果表明,在转基因玉米VP1-5中cry2Ah-vp基因已整合到玉米基因组,以单拷贝的形式插入;cry2Ah-vp基因在转基因玉米VP1-5不同部位组织中均可以正常转录,在灌浆期叶片中的mRNA表达量最高,相对表达量为32.67,在灌浆期穗轴中的mRNA表达量最低,相对表达量为3.74;Cry2Ah-vp蛋白在转基因玉米VP1-5的6叶期各组织中表达量均较高,其中在叶片中的表达量达到2 155.18 ng/g FW,在抽雄期花丝中的表达量最高,达到2 165.86 ng/g FW;且转基因玉米VP1-5对东方黏虫有很高的杀虫活性,接虫3 d后幼虫死亡率达到100.00%;对亚洲玉米螟幼虫也有明显的生长抑制作用。表明转基因玉米VP1-5可作为玉米抗虫育种和害虫防治的种质资源。     

马铃薯转GhABF2转录因子苗耐盐性研究

以转GhABF2转录因子马铃薯试管苗为材料,进行苗期耐盐性研究,以期了解该作物对逆境的适应性。实验结果表明:在不同浓度NaCl胁迫条件下,转GhABF2基因株系材料(T1、T2)与对照未转基因材料(WT)植株的干鲜重、生理生化指标的变化趋势基本一致,就各性状值的变化来看,转基因植株表现出了明显的抗逆性。随着NaCl胁迫浓度的增加,与对照非转基因植物WT相比,转GhABF2基因材料T1、T2的生物量显著增加;WT、T1、T2的叶绿素含量均随着盐浓度的增加而降低;可溶性糖、丙二醛、脯氨酸,SOD酶活性、POD酶活性均随着盐胁迫浓度的增加而升高;可溶性蛋白含量随着胁迫程度的加重略有下降,但变化趋势不显著。从植株的生长状态、生理生化等性状指标方面来看,转基因植株比对照非转基因植株表现出了更强的抗逆性。     

A PAL1 Gene Promoter–Green Fluorescent Protein Reporter System to Analyse Defence Responses in Live Cells of Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Columbia-0 was transformed with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene under control of a phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) promoter. PAL is a key enzyme of the phenylpropanoid pathway and is induced to high levels during plant stress. Constitutive expression of PAL1 promoter-controlled GFP occurred in vascular tissues within stems, leaves and roots and in developing flowers. PAL1 promoter–GFP expression was examined in leaves of transgenic plants subjected to an abiotic elicitor, mechanical wounding or to inoculation with the pathogens Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato or Peronospora parasitica. Wounding of leaves and treatment with an abiotic elicitor and compatible interactions produced low to moderate levels of GFP. However, in incompatible interactions there were high levels of GFP produced. In incompatible interactions, the intensity of GFP fluorescence was similar to that produced in transgenic plants expressing GFP driven by the CaMV promoter. The bright green fluorescence produced in live cells and tissues was readily visualised using conventional fluorescence microscopy and was quantified using spectroflourometry. This is the first report of the use of GFP as a reporter of defence gene activation against pathogens. It has several advantages over other reporter genes including real time analysis of gene expression and visualisation of defence gene activation in a non-invasive manner.     

钙粘蛋白氨基酸点突变介导红铃虫对Cry1Ac的抗性

为明确室内筛选的红铃虫Pectinophora gossypiella抗性品系AQ-R对Cry1Ac的抗性机制,采用室内生物测定法明确该品系对Cry1Ac和Cry2Ab的敏感性,通过遗传杂交和基因克隆分析抗性基因的显隐性及突变位点,并进行细胞学试验分析突变蛋白的亚细胞定位。结果显示：红铃虫AQ-R抗性品系对Cry1Ac的抗性倍数为181.67倍,对Cry2Ab没有交互抗性;该品系携带了一种新型的隐性钙粘蛋白抗性等位基因PgCad1,其编码蛋白的钙粘蛋白重复区、前蛋白区和近膜区共发生了17个氨基酸替换。表达野生型PgCad1-s基因的Hi5细胞对Cry1Ac敏感,且钙粘蛋白定位于细胞膜;而表达抗性PgCad1-r基因的Hi5细胞则对Cry1Ac不敏感,且钙粘蛋白错误定位到内质网。表明钙粘蛋白氨基酸点突变能导致其定位错误,从而促成红铃虫AQ-R品系对Cry1Ac产生抗性。     

Induced resistance in tomato plants to the toxin-dependent necrotrophic pathogen Alternaria alternata

A necrotrophic pathogen, the tomato pathotype of Alternaria alternata (Aa) causes Alternaria stem canker on tomato. Its pathogenicity depends on the production of host-specific AAL-toxin. Pre-inoculation with nonpathogenic Aa or pretreatment an elicitor prepared from Aa reduced disease symptoms by the pathogen. Salicylic acid (SA)- and jasmonic acid (JA)-dependent defense responses in tomato are not involved in the resistance to the pathogen induced by nonpathogenic Aa. The results suggest that an alternative and unknown signaling pathway independent of SA- and JA-signaling might modulate the induced resistance by activating the expression of the multiple defense genes.