A gene encoding a polygalacturonase‐inhibiting protein (PGIP) shows developmental regulation and pathogen‐induced expression in strawberry

Abstract

Summary• Polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) have been demonstrated to play a role in host defence in several plants.• The PGIP now cloned from strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa ) showed a high degree of homology to other fruit PGIPs. The gene expression of strawberry PGIP was monitored in healthy leaves, flowers and fruit at different maturity stages. PGIP transcript levels were also analysed following fruit inoculation with the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea in strawberry cultivars displaying variation in susceptibility.• Healthy mature berries showed the highest constitutive PGIP gene expression levels compared with leaves, flowers and immature fruit, indicating that the gene is developmentally regulated. Among the cultivars studied ('Elsanta', 'Korona', 'Polka', 'Senga sengana', 'Tenira'), 'Polka' had the highest constitutive expression level of PGIP. After inoculation with B. cinerea , all five cultivars displayed a significant induction of PGIP gene expression, but the differences between them were not statistically significant.• The high induction of the PGIP gene after inoculation with B. cinerea indicates that PGIP has a role in defence of strawberry.

Characterization of the Gene Encoding Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) PG-inhibiting Protein

“…These results are similar to the expression pattern of the BnPGIPs (Li et al, 2003) and BcPGIP (Ahsan et al, 2005). The expression of RsPGIP1 is also observed by mechanical wounding as reported in PGIPs from Arabidopsis (Li et al, 2003), Chinese cabbage (Ahsan et al, 2005), strawberry (Mehli et al, 2004), and bean (Devoto et al, 1998). Mechanical wounding is generally generated in the infection site where defense-related genes may be active against pathogens (Schenk et al, 2003).…”

“…A variety of PGIP genes have been cloned from 103 plant species ; NCBI gene bank). Recently, PGIP genes in rape, rice, strawberries and Chinese cabbage have been identified (Ahsan et al, 2005;Mehli et al, 2004). Most PGIP genes are composed of multi-gene families clustered in a particular chromosomal region.…”

Olive – Colletotrichum acutatum: An Example of Fruit-Fungal Interaction

“…The Colletotrichum species are known to produce enzymes that degrade carbohydrates and thus dissolve plant cell walls (e.g., polygalacturonases, pectin lyases and proteases) and hydrolyze fruit cuticles (Wharton & Diéguez-Uribeondo, 2004). In a response, several plants have evolved inhibitor proteins (PGIPs) that specifically recognise and inhibit fungal polygalacturonases (Mehli et al, 2004). Recently, a new report concerning the reduction of Colletotrichum acutatum infection by a polygalacturonase inhibitor protein extracted from apple, has been provided (Gregori et al, 2008).…”

Defense Genes Induced by Pathogens and Abiotic Stresses in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer

“…In the strawberry plant, one study found clear induction of PGIP due to infection with B. cinerea, whereas wounding failed to impact the transcription level [80]. In the potato plant, PGIP accumulation increased fi ve-fold after infection with Phytophthora infestans [81].…”