RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Transgenic Tobacco Plants Overexpressing Chitinases of Fungal Origin Show Enhanced Resistance to Biotic and Abiotic Stress Agents
JF Plant Physiology
JO Plant Physiol.
FD American Society of Plant Biologists
SP 722
OP 730
DO 10.1104/pp.106.086140
VO 142
IS 2
A1 Dana, María de las Mercedes
A1 Pintor-Toro, José A.
A1 Cubero, Beatriz
YR 2006
UL http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/142/2/722.abstract
AB Genes encoding defense-related proteins have been used to alter the resistance of plants to pathogens and other environmental challenges, but no single fungal gene overexpression has produced broad-spectrum stress resistance in transgenic lines. We have generated transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) lines that overexpress the endochitinases CHIT33 and CHIT42 from the mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma harzianum and have evaluated their tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. Both CHIT33 and CHIT42, individually, conferred broad resistance to fungal and bacterial pathogens, salinity, and heavy metals. Such broad-range protective effects came off with no obvious detrimental effect on the growth of tobacco plants.