Open AccessExpression of the Bs2 pepper gene confers resistance to bacterial spot disease in tomato
Author(s) -
Thomas H. Tai,
Douglas Dahlbeck,
Eszter T. Clark,
Paresh Gajiwala,
Romela Pasion,
Maureen C. Whalen,
Robert E. Stall,
Brian J. Staskawicz
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.96.24.14153
Subject(s) - xanthomonas campestris , biology , gene , nicotiana benthamiana , pepper , genetics , r gene , agrobacterium , plant disease resistance , hypersensitive response , xanthomonas , locus (genetics) , gene expression , transgene , horticulture
TheBs2 resistance gene of pepper specifically recognizes and confers resistance to strains ofXanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria that contain the corresponding bacterial avirulence gene,avrBs2 . The involvement ofavrBs2 in pathogen fitness and its prevalence in manyX. campestris pathovars suggests that theBs2 gene may be durable in the field and provide resistance when introduced into other plant species. Employing a positional cloning strategy, theBs2 locus was isolated and the gene was identified by coexpression withavrBs2 in anAgrobacterium -mediated transient assay. A single candidate gene, predicted to encode motifs characteristic of the nucleotide binding site–leucine-rich repeat class of resistance genes, was identified. This gene specifically controlled the hypersensitive response when transiently expressed in susceptible pepper and tomato lines and in a nonhost species,Nicotiana benthamiana , and was designated asBs2 . Functional expression ofBs2 in stable transgenic tomatoes supports its use as a source of resistance in other Solanaceous plant species.