Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms of host plant resistance at molecular level is useful towards designing effective disease management programmes against infections of plant pathogens. The present study was conducted to identify host plant genes expressed in response to infection by Colletotrichum musae using a moderately-resistant cultivar of banana (Seenikesel) to anthracnose. The expression profile of a selected defense-related gene over the infection process in the banana cultivar Seenikesel was also determined. Identification of genes was done by differential hybridization of a cDNA library constructed from peel tissues of banana inoculated with C. musae. Up-regulated genes due to C. musae infection were predicted through DNA homology search. Among the identified putative defense related genes, expression profile of Germin-like protein was studied by relative RTPCR over a period of 144 h after inoculation. The set of up-regulated gene transcripts identified in the present study were responsible for plant defense, stress response, growth, development, protein synthesis, protein folding and stabilization. Expression of Germin-like protein gene homologue was comparatively high at the late phase of inoculation (96 h after inoculation) of C. musae in banana cultivar Seenikesel. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 25 (2): 240 – 251 (2014)
Highlights
Banana including plantain (Musa spp.) have been ranked as the fourth important food crop and the second important fruit crop in the world (FAO Stat, 2007; Lassois et al, 2010)
Identification of differentially-expressed genes was performed according to the intensity of the signal intensity on X-ray films (Fig. 1) after subjecting to the differential hybridization with treatment probes and control probes
Differential hybridization resulted in 21 down-regulated cDNA clones which showed high signal intensities by control probe in comparison to treatment probe
Summary
Banana including plantain (Musa spp.) have been ranked as the fourth important food crop and the second important fruit crop in the world (FAO Stat, 2007; Lassois et al, 2010). In Sri Lanka, banana and plantains are widely consumed as a dessert fruit and a vegetable fruit, respectively. It is predominantly produced for the local market of Sri Lanka, banana has been identified as a crop with a high potential to contribute to the national economy through export earnings (De Costa & Kalpage, 2006). Bananas are subjected to numerous infectious diseases which can lead to severe pre- and postharvest losses in terms of quality and quantity (Ma et al, 2009). Curt.) is one of the most important diseases infecting banana at postharvest stage (Abd-Elsalam et al, 2010; Wardlaw, 1934). Symptoms of anthracnose on banana occur as peel blemishes and black or brown sunken spots of various
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