Characterization of an Arabidopsis Defensin-like Gene Conferring Resistance against Nematodes.

Abdalmenem I. M. Hawamda,Amjad Abbas,Muhammad Amjad Ali,Susanne Reichert,Holger Bohlmann,Tina Austerlitz,Raimund Tenhaken,Muhammad Amjad Nawaz,Patricia Schekahn

doi:10.3390/plants11030280

Abstract

Arabidopsis contains 317 genes for defensin-like (DEFL) peptides. DEFLs have been grouped into different families based mainly on cysteine motifs. The DEFL0770 group contains seven genes, of which four are strongly expressed in roots. We found that the expression of these genes is downregulated in syncytia induced by the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii as revealed by RNAseq analysis. We have studied one gene of this group, At3g59930, in detail. A promoter::GUS line revealed that the gene is only expressed in roots but not in other plant organs. Infection of the GUS line with larvae of H. schachtii showed a strong downregulation of GUS expression in infection sites as early as 1 dpi, confirming the RNAseq data. The At3g59930 peptide had only weak antimicrobial activity against Botrytis cinerea. Overexpression lines had no enhanced resistance against this fungus but were more resistant to H. schachtii infection. Our data indicate that At3g59930 is involved in resistance to nematodes which is probably not due to direct nematicidal activity.

Highlights

7 genes and we have shown that At3g59930 is downregulated in syncytia induced by the 7 genes and we have shown that At3g59930 is downregulated in syncytia induced by the beet cyst nematode H. schachtii
Arabidopsis roots, we found that the expression of several nematode H. schachtii in Arabidopsis roots, we found that the expression of several genes of of the
The DEFL0770 group consists of seven genes in Arabidopsis

Summary

Introduction

The DEFL0770 group contains seven genes, of which four are strongly expressed in roots. We found that the expression of these genes is downregulated in syncytia induced by the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii as revealed by RNAseq analysis. The family Heteroderidae comprises obligate biotrophic sedentary plant parasites They attack mainly the roots of a variety of plants which can severely damage crop plants. One major group within the family Heteroderidae are the cyst nematodes [1], sedesntary endoparasites which enter the plant roots as second stage juveniles (J2 larvae). After their entrance into the roots, they establish a feeding structure which is called a syncytium [2].

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