Overexpression of the wasabi defensin gene confers enhanced resistance to blast fungus (Magnaporthe grisea) in transgenic rice

• Published in: Theoretical and applied genetics Vol. 105; no. 6-7; pp. 809 - 814
• Main Authors: KANZAKI, H, NIRASAWA, S, SAITOH, H, ITO, M, NISHIHARA, M, TERAUCHI, R, NAKAMURA, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.11.2002; Berlin Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Antimicrobial agents; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases and pests; Flowers & plants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Fungi, Pathogenic; Gene expression; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genetic engineering; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Health aspects; Host-parasite relationships; Leaves; Pathogens; Peptides; Pest resistance; Physiological aspects; Plant defenses; Plant genetics; Plant pathogens; Proteins; Seeds; Transgenic plants; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; Wasabi; Japan; Monocotyledones; Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Gene overexpression; Cereal crop; Fungus resistance; Fungi; Oryza sativa; Magnaporthe grisea; Gene; Gramineae; Rice Defensin; Angiospermae; Bacteria; Ascomycetes; Spermatophyta; Transgenic plant; Rhizobiaceae; Molecular biology; Defensin; Rice blast fungus; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0040-5752; 1432-2242
• DOI: 10.1007/s00122-001-0817-9

Transgenic rice ( Oryza sativa cv. Sasanishiki) overexpressing the wasabi defensin gene, a plant defensin effective against the rice blast fungus, was generated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Twenty-two T2 homozygous lines harboring the wasabi defensin gene were challenged by the blast fungus. Transformants exhibited resistance to rice blast at various levels. The inheritance of the resistance over generations was investigated. T3 plants derived from two highly blast-resistant T2 lines (WT14-5 and WT43-5) were challenged with the blast fungus using the press-injured spots method. The average size of disease lesions of the transgenic line WT43-5 was reduced to about half of that of non-transgenic plants. The 5-kDa peptide, corresponding to the processed form of the wasabi defensin, was detected in the total protein fraction extracted from the T3 progeny. Transgenic rice plants overproducing wasabi defensin are expected to possess a durable and wide-spectrum resistance (i.e. field resistance) against various rice blast races.