The cold-induced defensin TAD1 confers resistance against snow mold and Fusarium head blight in transgenic wheat

• Published in: Journal of biotechnology Vol. 228; pp. 3 - 7
• Main Authors: Sasaki, Kentaro, Kuwabara, Chikako, Umeki, Natsuki, Fujioka, Mari, Saburi, Wataru, Matsui, Hirokazu, Abe, Fumitaka, Imai, Ryozo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20-06-2016
• Subjects: Agaricales - drug effects; Blight; Cold acclimation; Defensin; Defensins - genetics; Defensins - metabolism; Defensins - pharmacology; Disease Resistance - genetics; Disease Resistance - physiology; Fungi; Fusarium; Fusarium graminearum; Hordeum vulgare; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Molds; Plant Proteins - genetics; Plant Proteins - metabolism; Plant Proteins - pharmacology; Plants (organisms); Plants, Genetically Modified - genetics; Plants, Genetically Modified - microbiology; Plants, Genetically Modified - physiology; Snow; Snow mold; Transgenic; Transgenic wheat; Triticum - genetics; Triticum - microbiology; Triticum - physiology; Triticum aestivum; Wheat; PBS; FHB; DON; PR; Fusarium graminearum; MeJA; SA; Cold acclimation; PD; Defensin; Snow mold; CA; Transgenic wheat
• ISSN: 0168-1656; 1873-4863
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.04.015

•A cold-induced defensin shows antifungal activity against snow mold fungi in vitro.•Overexpression of TAD1 confers snow mold resistance in wheat.•TAD1-overexpressing wheat plants show resistance against Fusarium graminearum.
TAD1 (Triticum aestivum defensin 1) is induced during cold acclimation in winter wheat and encodes a plant defensin with antimicrobial activity. In this study, we demonstrated that recombinant TAD1 protein inhibits hyphal growth of the snow mold fungus, Typhula ishikariensis in vitro. Transgenic wheat plants overexpressing TAD1 were created and tested for resistance against T. ishikariensis. Leaf inoculation assays revealed that overexpression of TAD1 confers resistance against the snow mold. In addition, the TAD1—overexpressors showed resistance against Fusarium graminearum, which causes Fusarium head blight, a devastating disease in wheat and barley. These results indicate that TAD1 is a candidate gene to improve resistance against multiple fungal diseases in cereal crops.