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Genes from mycoparasitic fungi as a source for improving plant resistance to fungal pathogens

Disease resistance in transgenic plants has been improved, for the first time, by the insertion of a gene from a biocontrol fungus. The gene encoding a strongly antifungal endochitinase from the mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma harziantum was transferred to tobacco and potato. High expression levels...

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Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1998-07, Vol.95 (14), p.7860-7865
Main Authors: Lorito, M. (Universita di Napoli, Portici, Italy.), Woo, S.L, Garcia Fernandez, I, Colucci, G, Harman, G.E, Pintor-Toro, J.A, Filippone, E, Muccifora, S, Lawrence, C.B, Zoina, A
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Language:English
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Summary:Disease resistance in transgenic plants has been improved, for the first time, by the insertion of a gene from a biocontrol fungus. The gene encoding a strongly antifungal endochitinase from the mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma harziantum was transferred to tobacco and potato. High expression levels of the fungal gene were obtained in different plant tissues, which had no visible effect on plant growth and development. Substantial differences in endochitinase activity were detected among transformants. Selected transgenic lines were highly tolerant or completely resistant to the foliar pathogens Alternaria alternata, A. solani, Botrytis cinerea, and the soilborne pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. The high level and the broad spectrum of resistance obtained with a single chitinase gene from Trichoderma overcome the limited efficacy of transgenic expression in plants of chitinase genes from plants and bacteria. These results demonstrate a rich source of genes from biocontrol fungi that can be used to control diseases in plants
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.95.14.7860