Quantitative Differences in Gene Expression of Defence Genes in Solanum tuberosum and S. sisymbriifolium Infected with Globodera pallida Crawley Ayano Sasakia,c,*, Dybal Katarzynaa, Powers Stephen J.a, Birkett Michaela, Pickett Johna, Nelson Davida, Blackshaw Rodc, Carvalho Renatoa,d, Curtis Rosanea,e,** aRothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, UK bBranston Ltd, Mere Road, Branston, Lincoln LN4 1NJ, UK cCentre for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL48AA, UK dMonsanto do Brasil, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 04578-910 eBionemax UK Limited, Rothamsted Centre for Research and Enterprise, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, UK *Corresponding author, E-mail: ayano.zen@gmail.com
**r.curtis@bionemax.co.uk
Online published on 18 October, 2014. Abstract Solanum sisymbriifolium is an effective trap crop for the potato cyst nematodes, Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis, with strong hatching ability and total immunity to both species. To investigate the mechanism of this immunity, expression changes of defence-related genes were studied in roots infected by G. pallida and compared with those in roots of potato, S. tuberosum. The results revealed that the potato basic class I chitinase gene was up-regulated at 3 days post inoculation in S. sisymbriifolium but not in S. tuberosum, indicating that the chitinase gene is a hallmark for the immunity of S. sisymbriifolium to G. pallida. Top Keywords Potato cyst nematode, Globodera pallida, Globodera rostochiensis, Trap crop, Solanum tuberosum, Solanum sisymbriifolium, Immunity, Defence-related gene, Chitinase gene. Top |