Overexpression of a moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) transcription factor gene PheWRKY1 enhances disease resistance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

Abstract

Members of plant WRKY transcription factor families are implicated in defense responses and various other physiological processes. To study the function of WRKY transcription factors in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz.), a PheWRKY1 gene (GenBank accession number: GU944762) was cloned by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. An overexpression vector for this gene was constructed and transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. by an agrobacterium-mediated method. To determine the effect of PheWRKY1 gene overexpression on disease resistance in A. thaliana, the photosynthetic parameters and the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes were examined after Pseudomonas syringae PV Tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000) infection. Compared to wild-type plants, most PheWRKY1-overexpressing plants did not exhibit spreading maceration to systemic leaves and had a better photosynthetic capacity after Pst DC3000 infection. Furthermore, PheWRKY1-overexpressing plants accumulated significantly more PR1, PR2, PR5, and nonexpressor of PR genes (NPR1) transcripts. These results demonstrated that transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing PheWRKY1 gene exhibited improved resistance to bacterial infection.