Abstract
In an effort to characterize induced defense responses in Norway spruce (Picea abies), we have developed an infection system that is reproducible, do not require advanced growth systems or large space, plants for experiments is accesible all the year, and the experimental time is short. The fungi used, Pythium dimorphum, is a pathogen which mainly penetrate the roots in the extracellular space but also penetrate through the plasmamembrane into the cytoplasm both in cortex and stele within 12 h. With this infection system we have shown that several low pH extractable proteins, including chitinases, chitosanases and ß-l,3-glucanases, not detected before infection, appeared within 1–4 days after infection. However, the appearance of these proteins was not mainly due to an increased synthesis of the proteins but due to release from a form, not accesible without the use of detergents or caffeine during the extraction. The release with these compounds are strong indications that these proteins are non-covalently bound in complex with polyphenols in non-infected roots but are released from these complex after infection.
In addition to the characterization at the anatomical and protein levels we have also studied genes activated after infection. To do so we constructed a subtracted cDNA library enriched for cDNA clones representing genes activated after infection with P. dimorphum. From this library we have isolated several clones that are currently being characterized. One of these cDNA clones, SPI1, encodes a protein with high similarity to y-thionins from other plants. This clone showed a complex expression pattern with a possible negative regulation after pathogen infection.
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© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
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Lönneborg, A., Sharma, P. (1996). Induced Defense Responses in Norway Spruce. In: Ahuja, M.R., Boerjan, W., Neale, D.B. (eds) Somatic Cell Genetics and Molecular Genetics of Trees. Forestry Sciences, vol 49. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3983-0_35
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3983-0_35
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