ARS | Publication request: A TRANSIENT EXPRESSION ASSAY TO EVALUATE THE ABILITY OF INTRODUCED HOST RESPONSE GENES TO CONFER DISEASE RESISTANCE IN CEREALS

Submitted to: Oat International Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: July 30, 1996
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Host response genes cloned from diseased plants often code for products that have antifungal activity or are involved in synthesis of antifungal compounds. Consequently, host response genes are candidates for introduction into transgenic cereals as a way to confer disease resistance. However, the generation of stably transformed cereals, to test effectiveness of introduced response genes, is a lengthy and costly process with the techniques currently available. To evaluate host response genes rapidly, we have developed a transient expression assay using barley coleoptile epidermis inoculated with Blumeria (Erysiphe) graminis f. sp. hordei. Individual response genes in combination with genes for anthocyanin are shot into the epidermis using microparticle bombardment. Red cells expressing the anthocyanin genes are then inoculated with spores of B. graminis to determine if the introduced response gene confers resistance to the pathogen. The method assumes that the introduced response gene has a high probability of being co-expressed with the anthocyanin genes. Presented here are positive results obtained in the assay for three host response genes: chitinase, Beta-1,3-glucanase and thaumatin-like protein (tlp1).