Evaluation of tolerance to Pierce's disease and Botrytis in transgenic plants of Vitis vinifera L. expressing the pear PGIP gene
Open Access
- 1 January 2005
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Molecular Plant Pathology
- Vol. 6 (1), 43-51
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1364-3703.2004.00262.x
Abstract
Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) are plant cell-wall proteins that specifically inhibit fungal endo-polygalacturonases (PGs) that contribute to the aggressive decomposition of susceptible plant tissues. The inhibition of fungal PGs by PGIPs suggests that PGIPs have a role in plant tolerance to fungal infections and this has been observed in transgenic plants expressing PGIPs. Xylella fastidiosa, the causal agent of Pierce's disease (PD) in grapevines, has genes that encode cell-wall-degrading enzymes, including a putative PG. Therefore, we hypothesized that PGIP expression could confer tolerance against this bacterium as well as against the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. To test this hypothesis, Vitis vinifera cvs. ‘Thompson Seedless’ and ‘Chardonnay’ were transformed to express pear fruit PGIP-encoding gene (pPGIP) under the control of the CaMV 35S promoter. Substantial pear PGIP (pPGIP) activity was found in crude extracts from leaves and in xylem exudate of transgenic lines obtained from independent transformation events, but not in untransformed controls. pPGIP activity was detected in xylem exudate of untransformed scions grafted on to transgenic rootstocks expressing pPGIP. Leaves of transgenic plants infected with B. cinerea had reduced rates of lesion expansion. The development of PD was delayed in some transgenic lines with increased pPGIP activity. PD-tolerant transgenic lines had reduced leaf scorching, lower Xylella titres and better re-growth after pruning than the untransformed controls.Keywords
This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- VitisResistance to Pierce's Disease Is Characterized by DifferentialXylella fastidiosaPopulations in Stems and LeavesPhytopathology®, 2005
- Properties of a polygalacturonase‐inhibiting protein isolated from ‘Oroblanco’ grapefruitPhysiologia Plantarum, 2004
- Comparative Analyses of the Complete Genome Sequences of Pierce's Disease and Citrus Variegated Chlorosis Strains of Xylella fastidiosaJournal of Bacteriology, 2003
- Tandemly Duplicated Arabidopsis Genes That Encode Polygalacturonase-Inhibiting Proteins Are Regulated Coordinately by Different Signal Transduction Pathways in Response to Fungal InfectionPlant Cell, 2002
- Transgenic Expression of Pear PGIP in Tomato Limits Fungal ColonizationMolecular Plant-Microbe Interactions®, 2000
- Polygalacturonase-Inhibiting Proteins (PGIPs) with Different Specificities Are Expressed inPhaseolus vulgarisMolecular Plant-Microbe Interactions®, 1997
- Host-Pathogen InteractionsPlant Physiology, 1989
- An Improved Diffusion Assay for Quantifying the Polygalacturonase Content ofErwiniaCulture FiltratesPhytopathology®, 1988
- A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye bindingAnalytical Biochemistry, 1976
- A Revised Medium for Rapid Growth and Bio Assays with Tobacco Tissue CulturesPhysiologia Plantarum, 1962