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An attack of the plant parasite Cuscuta reflexa induces the expression of attAGP , an attachment protein of the host tomato
Author(s) -
Albert Markus,
BelasteguiMacadam Xana,
Kaldenhoff Ralf
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the plant journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.058
H-Index - 269
eISSN - 1365-313X
pISSN - 0960-7412
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2006.02897.x
Subject(s) - biology , host (biology) , cuscuta , parasite hosting , haustorium , rna interference , gene silencing , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , gene , genetics , rna , world wide web , computer science
Summary Dodder or Cuscutaceae are holoparasitic plants subsisting on other dicotyledonous plants. The infection process is initiated by adherence of Cuscuta prehaustoria to the host surface, followed by penetration attempts by hyphae. In the case of a successful infection, these organs connect the parasite's vascular tissue to that of the host. Here we show that contact of Cuscuta reflexa prehaustoria to tomato induces the expression of a new arabinogalactan protein (AGP), attAGP , in the tomato precisely at the site of dodder attack. We show that attAGP is a plasma membrane‐bound cell wall‐localized protein. Using the RNAi technique and attAGP ‐targeted virus‐induced gene silencing, we observed a correlation between attAGP expression level and force of attachment of the parasite to host tomatoes. If the expression level of attAGP was reduced, the C. reflexa attachment capability was significantly reduced, too. We conclude that C. reflexa infection induced a signal in the host leading to expression of tomato attAGP , which promotes the parasite's adherence.