RNAi of the sesquiterpene cyclase gene for phytoalexin production impairs pre- and post-invasive resistance to potato blight pathogens.

ABSTRACT: Potato antimicrobial sesquiterpenoid phytoalexins lubimin and rishitin have been implicated in resistance to the late blight pathogen, Phytophthora infestans and early blight pathogen, Alternaria solani. We generated transgenic potato plants in which sesquiterpene cyclase, a key enzyme for production of lubimin and rishitin, is compromised by RNAi to investigate the role of phytoalexins in potato defence. The transgenic tubers were deficient in phytoalexins and exhibited reduced post-invasive resistance to an avirulent isolate of P. infestans, resulting in successful infection of the first attacked cells without induction of cell death. However, cell death was observed in the subsequently penetrated cells. Although we failed to detect phytoalexins and antifungal activity in the extract fro

SUBMITTER: Yoshioka M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6589726 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature