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Transgenic banana plants expressing a Stellaria media defensin gene (Sm-AMP-D1) demonstrate improved resistance to Fusarium oxysporum



  • Authors : Ghag, S.B.; Singh Shekhawat, U.K.; Ganapathi, T.R.

  • Document type : Journal article

  • Year of publication : 2014

  • Journal title : Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC)

  • Volume (number) : 119 (2)


  • Pages : 247-255

  • Peer-reviewed : Yes

  • ISSN : 1573-5044

  • Language(s) : English

  • Abstract : Plant defensins are group of small, cysteine stabilized antimicrobial peptides rich in basic amino acids which inhibit growth of a multitude of phytopathogens. These defensins have been explored widely to generate transgenic crop plants resistant to varied fungal and bacterial diseases. In the present study, gene sequence coding for a seed defensin (Sm-AMP-D1) of common chickweed Stellaria media was synthesized artificially and cloned downstream of a strong constitutive promoter in pCAMBIA-1301 plant expression vector. Transgenic banana plants expressing the Sm-AMP-D1 gene were subsequently generated via Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Transgenic nature of the regenerated banana plants was confirmed by genomic DNA PCR and Southern blotting analysis. Northern blots demonstrated efficient expression of Sm-AMP-D1 mRNA in transgenic banana plants. Further, two selected transgenic lines challenged with a pathogenic isolate of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense race 1 showed improved resistance as compared to untransformed control banana plants. These transgenic lines continued to show resistance against Foc race 1 6 months post-infection. This study demonstrates that overexpression of potent plant defensins such as Sm-AMP-D1 in important food crops like banana can lead to development of durable resistance against fungal pathogens.

  • Keywords : DISEASE RESISTANCE; FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM F. SP. CUBENSE; RNA; GM BANANA; DEFENCE MECHANISMS; GENOMICS

  • Open access : No

  • Document on publisher's site : close View article on publisher's site

  • Musalit document ID : IN140370

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