The antifungal Dm‐AMP1 protein from Dahlia merckii expressed in Solanum melongena is released in root exudates and differentially affects pathogenic fungi and mycorrhizal symbiosis

Journal or Publishing Institution: New Phytologist

Study: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01107.x/full

Author(s): Turrini, A., Sbrana, C., Pitto, L., Castiglione, M.R., Giorgetti, L., Briganti, R., Bracci, T., Evangelista, M., Nuti, M.P. and Giovannetti, M.

Article Type: Peer Reviewed Study

Record ID: 2021

Abstract: Transformed aubergine plants constitutively expressing the Dm‐AMP1 antimicrobial defensin (from Dahlia merckii) were generated and characterized. Transgenic plants were selected on kanamycin and screened by polymerase chain reaction analysis. The expression of Dm‐AMP1 in plant tissues and its release in root exudates were detected by Western blot analyses. Dm‐AMP1 localization was performed by immunohistochemical experiments. Dm‐AMP1 expression ranged from 0.2% to 0.48% of total soluble proteins in primary transformants and from 0.16% to 0.66% in F₂ plants. Transformed clones showed resistance to the pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea, whose development on leaves was reduced by 36–100%, with respect to controls. The protein was released in root exudates of the transformed plants and was active in reducing the growth of the co‐cultured pathogenic fungus Verticillium albo‐atrum, whereas it did not interfere with recognition responses and symbiosis establishment by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae. Dm‐AMP1 transformants may represent a useful model to study the interactions between genetically modified plants and pathogenic fungi or beneficial nontarget microorganisms.

Keywords: Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi, Solanum Melongena, Botrytis Cinerea, Defensin, Transformed Plants, Verticillium Albo-Atrum

Citation: Turrini, A., Sbrana, C., Pitto, L., Castiglione, M.R., Giorgetti, L., Briganti, R., Bracci, T., Evangelista, M., Nuti, M.P. and Giovannetti, M., 2004. The antifungal Dm‐AMP1 protein from Dahlia merckii expressed in Solanum melongena is released in root exudates and differentially affects pathogenic fungi and mycorrhizal symbiosis. New Phytologist, 163(2), pp.393-403.