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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
Author(s) -
Turrini A.,
Sbrana C.,
Pitto L.,
Ruffini Castiglione M.,
Giorgetti L.,
Briganti R.,
Bracci T.,
Evangelista M.,
Nuti M. P.,
Giovannetti M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01107.x
Subject(s) - biology , pathogenic fungus , symbiosis , transformation (genetics) , glomus , fungus , botany , genetically modified crops , microbiology and biotechnology , burkholderia , verticillium , bacteria , transgene , spore , gene , biochemistry , genetics
Summary• 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 F 2 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.