Abstract

HERRERA, Mariana et al. Studying the Expression of Genes Coding for Putative PR Proteins in Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). Acta biol.Colomb. [online]. 2018, vol.23, n.3, pp.242-252. ISSN 0120-548X.  https://doi.org/10.15446/abc.v23n3.70878.

Once pathogens are perceived by plants a signal transduction pathway is activated leading to the induction of transcription factors, which in turn reprogram the host gene expression including the transcription of PR (Pathogenesis-Related) genes. The PR proteins are well known for their antimicrobial activity and for contributing to arrest the invasion of pathogens. In this work, a bioinformatics approach was used to identify the repertoire of possible PR proteins in the cassava genome. Additionally, the expression of nine PR genes was evaluated over a time course in resistant and susceptible cassava varieties in response to inoculation with the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis (Xam) by semiquantitative RT-PCR. It was found that several PR genes were induced as a result of the wound that is made during the inoculation process. In order to evaluate quantitatively the real contribution of the bacterial infection in the expression of the genes, a Real Time RT-PCR (qRT, quantitative Real-Time PCR) was carried out. In the resistant variety the gene coding for MePR1 (Manes06G026900) was induced at different post-inoculation times, which was not observed in the susceptible variety. Therefore, this gene constitutes an excellent marker to evaluate the molecular resistance response in cassava plants.

Keywords : cassava bacterial blight; gene expression; pathogenesis-related genes; Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis.

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