Variation in resistance to the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita in tomato genotypes bearing the Mi gene

Root-knot nematodes ( Meloidogyne spp.) are among the main pathogens of tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum ) worldwide. Plant resistance is currently the method of choice for controlling these pests and all the commercially available resistant cultivars carry the dominant Mi gene, which confers resistance to the three main species Meloidogyne arenaria , M. incognita and M. javanica . However the emergence of virulent biotypes able to overcome the tomato resistance gene may constitute a severe limitation to such a control strategy. To date, little was known of the possible influence of the homozygous vs heterozygous allelic state of the Mi locus, or the tomato genetic background, on the expression of the resistance. In order to test both these factors, the resistance was evaluated of a large panel of L. esculentum genotypes (selected from the Vilmorin germplasm stock collection) to seven M. incognita lines avirulent or virulent against the Mi gene. Plant resistance was estimated by counting the egg masses on the root systems after inoculation with second-stage juveniles (J₂). Reproduction of the nematodes was similar or, more often, significantly higher on heterozygous tomato genotypes than on homozygous ones, suggesting a possible dosage effect of the Mi gene. Data also indicated that the tomato genetic background had a major effect on the variations observed in nematode reproduction, especially when tomato genotypes were heterozygous for the Mi gene. These results have important consequences in terms of breeding strategies and durability of the resistance conferred by the Mi gene.     

Molecular cloning and virus-induced gene silencing of MiASB in the southern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.), cause serious damage to agricultural production worldwide. In this study, we designed special primers based on the predicted Mitochondrial ATP synthase b subunit gene (ASB) sequence to clone the same gene in M. incognita (MiASB). The identity between the cloned MiASB and the predicted MiASB was as high as 100 %. Using the tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-mediated virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) system, we delivered MiASB RNAi triggers to the M. incognita feeding site on tomato seedlings, resulting in significantly fewer galls on the seedlings. Sixty days after inoculation with M. incognita, the number of root galls induced on the MiASB silence-treated seedlings was reduced by 64.3 % compared to that on the control seedlings, and reduced by 64.1 % compared to that on untreated control seedlings. This study revealed the MiASB silencing had a positive effect on the control of root-knot nematodes, and MiASB may be associated with the formation of galls caused by the nematode.     

中国南方稻田及其周边环境根结线虫种类鉴定

为了解根结线虫在中国南方稻区的分布和种类, 从15个省(直辖市/自治区)采集1 181份土样, 经生物测定发现312份土样中种植的水稻或番茄幼苗根系会产生根结, 阳性总检出率为26.42%。利用线虫特异性引物从171份阳性样品中鉴定出6种根结线虫:拟禾本科根结线虫Meloidogyne graminicola、北方根结线虫M.hapla、花生根结线虫M.arenaria、爪哇根结线虫M.javanica、象耳豆根结线虫M.enterolobii和南方根结线虫M.incognita, 分别占鉴定总样品数的88.89%、41.52%、29.82%、10.53%、4.09%和3.51%。被1、2、3、4、5、6种根结线虫混合侵染的土样比例分别为42.11%、41.52%、12.87%、2.92%、0.58%和0, 其中最常见的为拟禾本科根结线虫单独侵染(34.50%)、拟禾本科根结线虫与北方根结线虫(22.81%)或花生根结线虫(13.45%)混合侵染。本研究结果将为制定相应的传播阻断策略和防控措施提供参考。     

Production of plants of Nicotiana benthamiana and Prunus domestica transgenic for plum pox potyvirus coat protein,and demonstration of PPV resistance in transformed N. benthamiana1

Leaf discs of Nicotiana benthamiana plants were transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens and transgenic plants expressing plum pox potyvirus (PPV) coat protein (CP) were generated. Homozygous R₂ progeny from these plants were inoculated with PPV. Plants were scored for the appearance of symptoms and tested for infection by DAS-ELISA. Various levels of resistance were obtained after an initial stage in which PPV was able to multiply in all the transgenic plants. Within 2–3 weeks after inoculation, the transgenic resistant plants fully recovered from virus infection. Conversely, control and susceptible transgenic lines developed severe symptoms and high virus titres. Prunus domestica (plum) was transformed by inoculating hypocotyl slices with A. tumefaciens containing a binary plasmid which included the NPTII, GUS, and PPV CP genes within its T-DNA region. Transgenic shoots were rooted and established in the glasshouse. Analysis of selected transformants by PCR showed that the engineered foreign genes had been integrated, including that for PPV CP. Histological assays on young leaves of these putative transformants gave a positive reaction. This suggests that all genes transferred are expressed in these transformed plums.     

蛋白激发子PevD1诱导本生烟植保素辣椒醇的产生和积累

诱导抗病性是实现植物病害绿色防控的重要途径,大丽轮枝菌蛋白激发子PevDl能激活植物免疫系统,提高本生烟对烟草花叶病毒(TMV)和烟草野火病病原菌Pseudomonas syringae pv.tabaci、棉花对大丽轮枝菌Verti-cillium dahliae的抗病性,但分子机制不清晰.前期转录组测序(RNA-S...     

酸黄瓜南方根结线虫病抗性的解剖学及其细胞学研究

为探明酸黄瓜南方根结线虫病抗性的内在机理,以抗病材料酸黄瓜与感病材料北京截头为试材,对南方根结线虫侵入与幼虫发育、根的解剖学及线虫侵入诱导形成的取食位点的细胞学结构进行了比较研究。结果表明,抗病材料酸黄瓜根系中线虫侵入率极显著低于感病材料北京截头(P0.01),酸黄瓜能够有效抵抗南方根结线虫的侵入;抗、感材料根系中雌雄虫个体比例分别为1∶12和1∶5(P0.01),抗性反应能够抑制线虫取食和幼虫发育;酸黄瓜根的解剖结构与普通栽培黄瓜相似,酸黄瓜的根不具有结构抗性;抗病反应中细胞发生过敏性坏死,感病反应中无此类现象发生。抗侵入、抑制取食和坏死反应是抗病材料酸黄瓜抗性反应的主要特征。     

Over-expression of the citrus gene CtNH1 confers resistance to bacterial canker disease

Citrus canker is a devastating disease, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac). It is well established that the NPR1 gene plays a pivotal role in systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in Arabidopsis. In this study, we report the isolation and characterization of an NPR1 homolog from citrus, namely Citrus NPR1 homolog 1 (CtNH1). Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis indicate that CtNH1 is closely-related to the Arabidopsis NPR1 gene and its orthologs from rice, grapevine, and cacao. When over-expressed in citrus, CtNH1 confers resistance to Xac and leads to constitutive expression of the pathogenesis-related (PR) gene chitinase 1 (Chi1), suggesting that CtNH1 is orthologous to NPR1.     

Inverse correlation between mRNA levels in GFP-silenced transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana and resistance to Potato virus X engineered to contain GFP sequence

Nicotiana benthamiana was transformed with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene driven by cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. A GFP-silenced line and a nonsilenced line were selected after ultraviolet irradiation. GFP short-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were detected in the silenced line but not in the nonsilenced line. T₁ progeny of the silenced line varied in GFP suppression patterns and were grouped into three types (I, II, III) based on the GFP suppression pattern. With Northern blot analysis, different levels of GFP mRNA accumulated, from a very low level in type I and II to an intermediate level in type III, in contrast to a much higher level in the nonsilenced line. Plants were also inoculated with Potato virus X engineered to contain the GFP sequence to evaluate the levels of virus resistance. None to a few GFP spots were observed on inoculated leaves in types I and II, whereas numerous spots and systemic infection appeared in type III. These results showed that virus resistance was inversely correlated with the levels of mRNA, suggesting that the strength of RNA silencing determines the extent of virus resistance.     

Silencing of host basal defense response-related gene expression increases susceptibility of Nicotiana benthamiana to Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis

Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis is an actinomycete, causing bacterial wilt and canker disease of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). We used virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to identify genes playing a role in host basal defense response to C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis infection using Nicotiana benthamiana as a model plant. A preliminary VIGS screen comprising 160 genes from tomato known to be involved in defense-related signaling identified a set of 14 genes whose suppression led to altered host-pathogen interactions. Expression of each of these genes and three additional targets was then suppressed in larger-scale VIGS experiments and the effect of silencing on development of wilt disease symptoms and bacterial growth during an N. benthamiana-C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis compatible interaction was determined. Disease susceptibility and in planta bacterial population size were enhanced by silencing genes encoding N. benthamiana homologs of ubiquitin activating enzyme, snakin-2, extensin-like protein, divinyl ether synthase, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase 2, and Pto-like kinase. The identification of genes having a role in the host basal defense-response to C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis advances our understanding of the plant responses activated by C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis and raises possibilities for devising novel and effective molecular strategies to control bacterial canker and wilt in tomato.     

Involvement of NbNOA1 in NO production and defense responses in INF1-treated Nicotiana benthamiana

During defense responses, plant cells produce nitric oxide (NO), which may control many physiological processes. In a previous study, we reported that nitrate reductase (NR) is responsible in part for INF1 elicitor-induced NO production in Nicotiana benthamiana, but the possibility remains that other NO-generating system(s) contribute to NO production. In mammalian cells, NO production is catalyzed by NO synthase (NOS). However, NOS-like enzyme(s) have never been identified in plants, and only the gene for Arabidopsis thaliana nitric oxide-associated 1 (AtNOA1) has been identified as a putative regulator of NOS activity in plants. In this study, we cloned NbNOA1, a homolog of AtNOA1, from N. benthamiana and investigated its involvement in NO production induced by INF1. The NbNOA1 gene was silenced by a virus-induced gene-silencing (VIGS) technique. NbNOA1-silenced plants had yellowish leaves. Silencing NbNOA1 partially decreased INF1-induced NO production, while overexpressing NbNOA1 did not affect NO production. Silencing NbNOA1 suppressed INF1-induced PR1a gene expression and increased susceptibility to Colletotrichum lagenarium. These results suggest that NbNOA1 is involved in INF1-mediated NO production and is required for defense responses. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under accession number AB303300.     

SGT1 and HSP90 are essential for age-related non-host resistance of Nicotiana benthamiana against the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans

The oomycete pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, is the causal agent of potato late blight, which is one of the most destructive and economically important plant diseases. We investigated the interaction between P. infestans and Solanaceous model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Mature N. benthamiana plants were resistant to 8 isolates of P. infestans, whereas relatively young plants were susceptible to all isolates. Analysis with virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) indicated that NbSGT1 and NbHSP90, genes essential for the function of R proteins, are required for the resistance of N. benthamiana to P. infestans. NbSGT1 was also required for the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypersensitive cell death and expression of NbEAS, a gene for phytoalexin biosynthesis, induced by INF1, a secretory protein derived from P. infestans. These results suggested that N. benthamiana possibly possesses a broad-spectrum R protein against P. infestans, which requires an SGT1/HSP90-dependent mechanism, for the recognition of a conserved molecular pattern of P. infestans.     

Effects of initial nematode population density and water regime on resistance and tolerance to the rice root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola in African and Asian rice genotypes

The rice root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne graminicola, is an important pathogen affecting rice production in South and Southeast Asia. Efficacy of resistance and tolerance in selected M. graminicola-resistant African rice genotypes TOG5674, TOG5675 and CG14 and -susceptible Asian rice genotypes IR64 and UPLRi-5 were examined under a range of initial population densities (Pi) and water regimes. Resistance to M. graminicola in resistant rice genotypes was not broken with increasing pathogen pressure (Pi = 15,000 to 60,000 J2/plant). Resistant rice genotypes were even tolerant to the damage and yield loss caused by high pathogen pressure. On the other hand, increasing Pi levels caused more damage on susceptible rice genotypes. Final nematode population densities in the root systems of resistant and susceptible rice genotypes were significantly lower under flooded conditions than under upland and drought conditions. TOG5674, TOG5675 and CG14 were more tolerant to M. graminicola infection even when grown under upland and drought conditions while IR64 and UPLRi-5 were highly sensitive.     

SGT1 contributes to maintaining protein levels of MEK2DD to facilitate hypersensitive response-like cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana

Gene silencing revealed that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade in Solanaceae consisted with MEK2-WIPK/SIPK, is required for R protein-induced hypersensitive response (HR) cell death and/or resistance. Overexpression of MEK2^DD results in HR-like cell death. MEK2^DD is a phospho-mimic and constitutive active form harboring mutations at putative phosphorylation sites of upstream MAPKKK. The molecular mechanism that induces HR-like cell death is unknown. Here we report SGT1 is required for the accumulation of MEK2^DD protein, not MEK2^WT. Virus-induced gene silencing of SGT1 resulted in low protein accumulation of MEK2^DD. This result suggests that SGT1 has a positive role in the accumulation of the MEK2 active form protein to facilitate signal transduction.     

Evaluation of bacterial wilt resistance in tomato lines nearly isogenic for the Mi gene for resistance to root-knot

Resistance to bacterial wilt, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum , in tomato lines CRA 66 and Caraïbo is reported to be decreased by root-knot nematode galling and by introduction of the Mi gene for nematode resistance. The Mi gene is located on tomato chromosome 6, which also carries a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) for resistance to bacterial wilt. Bacterial wilt resistance was evaluated in F3-progenies derived from two crosses between near-isogenic lines, Caraïbo × Carmido and CRA 66 × Cranita, differing for small and large introgressions from Lycopersicon peruvianum that carry the Mi gene, respectively. These introgressed regions were mapped using RFLP markers. Plants homozygous Mi⁺/Mi⁺ (susceptible to the nematode) and homozygous Mi/Mi (resistant) for the Mi gene were selected in F2 and used to produce F3 progenies. Parents and F3-lines with Mi/Mi had resistance to bacterial wilt reduced by 30% in Caraïbo × Carmido and by 15% in CRA 66 × Cranita. Caraïbo and Carmido were demonstrated to be isolines and the small introgression from L. peruvianum resulted in loss of the QTL for bacterial wilt resistance, which is probably allelic or linked in repulsion to the Mi gene. In contrast, resistance to bacterial wilt segregated in the F3 lines from the cross CRA 66 × Cranita, giving families varying in resistance between the levels shown by the parents. Consequently, two hypotheses were considered: (i) after only four backcrosses, the parents were not isolines and the genes for resistance to bacterial wilt from CRA 66 were still segregating, and (ii) the parents were isolines and variation in resistance to bacterial wilt in F3 was due to recombination events among the large L. peruvianum introgressed chromosome region from Cranita.     

番茄抗根结线虫病基因的RAPD和SCAR标记

 根结线虫(Meloidogyne spp.)是番茄重要病害之一,随着保护地蔬菜面积的增加,特别是日光温室的大面积推广,导致根结线虫危害日趋严重,目前生产上防治根结线虫的方法虽然很多,但防治效果不理想,不能从根本上解决问题,而培育抗病品种,是经济有效的办法。