Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Cereal Crops Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #187575
Title: TRANSGENIC BARLEY CO-EXPRESSING ANTIFUNGAL AND ANTITOXIN GENES

Author
item TOBIAS, DENNIS - PLNT SCI NDSU, FARGO ND
item Hillen, Nancy
item Dahleen, Lynn

Submitted to: National Fusarium Head Blight Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2005
Publication Date: 12/1/2005
Citation: Tobias, D.J., Hillen, N.K., Dahleen, L.S. 2005. Transgenic barley co-expressing antifungal and antitoxin genes. National Fusarium Head Blight Forum Proceedings, p. 107.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Overexpression of pathogen response proteins in plants could lead to enhanced resistance against diseases and reduce economic losses. Plants expressing combinations of these genes have shown synergistic action against fungal diseases. We have transformed a commercial malting barley cultivar (Hordeum vulgare cv. Conlon) to co-express antifungal and antitoxin genes by particle bombardment. In the past, we have produced T2 homozygous transgenic barley lines that co-express antifungal genes such as thaumatin-like protein (tlp) or chitinase (chi) genes from rice, and Tri101, an antitoxin gene. Backcross lines with these genes are being tested in the field and greenhouse against Fusarium head blight. More than 250 transformed plants carrying antitoxin and antifungal genes have been developed from 72 transformation events including 11 different gene combinations. PCR analysis of T0 and T1 progenies from 45 of these events indicated the presence of the transgenes while western blot analysis confirmed expression of the proteins. T2 homozygous lines have been selected and are currently being tested against FHB.