Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #254333
Title: The Wheat Puroindoline Genes Confer Fungal Resistance in Transgenic Corn

Author
item ZHANG, JINRUI - Montana State University
item MARTIN, JOHN - Montana State University
item Balint-Kurti, Peter
item HUANG, LI - Montana State University
item GIROUX, MICHAEL - Montana State University

Submitted to: Journal of Phytopathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/9/2010
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: We show that the expression of two genes from wheat, Pina and Pinb, in maizeconfer a level of disease resistance to the maize disease southern leaf blight.

Technical Abstract: Puroindoline a and b (Pina and Pinb), together make up the functional components of the wheat grain hardness locus (Ha) and have antimicrobial properties. The antifungal activity of puroindoline proteins, PINA and PINB, has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. In this study Pina and Pinb were introduced into corn under the control of a corn Ubiquitin promoter. Two Pina/Pinb expression positive transgenic events were evaluated for resistance to Cochliobolus heterostrophus, the corn southern leaf blight (SLB) pathogen. Transgenic corn expressing Pins showed significantly increased tolerance to C. heterostrophus, averaging 42.1% reduction in symptoms. Pins are effective in vivo as antifungal proteins and could be valuable tools in the control corn SLB.