Open AccessNmDef02 , a novel antimicrobial gene isolated from Nicotiana megalosiphon confers high‐level pathogen resistance under greenhouse and field conditions
Author(s) -
Portieles Roxana,
Ayra Camilo,
Gonzalez Ernesto,
Gallo Araiz,
Rodriguez Raisa,
Chacón Osmany,
López Yunior,
Rodriguez Mayra,
Castillo Juan,
Pujol Merardo,
Enriquez Gil,
Borroto Carlos,
Trujillo Luis,
Thomma Bart P.H.J.,
BorrásHidalgo Orlando
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
plant biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.525
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1467-7652
pISSN - 1467-7644
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2010.00501.x
Subject(s) - biology , pathogen , antimicrobial , greenhouse , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , resistance (ecology) , plant disease resistance , genetics , agronomy
Summary Plant defensins are small cysteine‐rich peptides that inhibit the growth of a broad range of microbes. In this article, we describe NmDef02 , a novel cDNA encoding a putative defensin isolated from Nicotiana megalosiphon upon inoculation with the tobacco blue mould pathogen Peronospora hyoscyami f.sp. tabacina . NmDef02 was heterologously expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris , and the purified recombinant protein was found to display antimicrobial activity in vitro against important plant pathogens. Constitutive expression of NmDef02 gene in transgenic tobacco and potato plants enhanced resistance against various plant microbial pathogens, including the oomycete Phytophthora infestans , causal agent of the economically important potato late blight disease, under greenhouse and field conditions.