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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #190635
Title: TRANSFORMATION OF EPICHLOE TYPHINA BY ELECTROPORATION OF CONIDIA

Author
item Dombrowski, James
item Baldwin, James
item Alderman, Stephen

Submitted to: Plant Biology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2005
Publication Date: 7/31/2005
Citation: Dombrowski, J.E., Baldwin, J.C., Alderman, S.C. 2005. Transformation of epichloe typhina by electroporation of conidia. In: Plant Biology Annual Meeting.July 16-20, 2005, Seattle, WA. Abstract # 1094.

Interpretive Summary: Choke, caused by the endophytic fungus Epichloë typhina is an important disease of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L. ) grown for seed. Very little is known concerning the conditions necessary for successful infection of orchardgrass by E. typhina. Detection of E. typhina early in the disease cycle can be difficult due to sparse distribution of hyphae in the plant. Therefore a sensitive method to detect the fungal infection in plants would provide an invaluable tool in elucidating the conditions and establishment of the infection in orchardgrass. We have developed an efficient and reproducible electoporation transformation method of germinating E. typhina conidia isolated from infected plants. The transformation of E. typhina with the green fluorescent protein will facilitate the identification of the initial stages of infection and progression of the disease in planta.

Technical Abstract: Choke, caused by the endophytic fungus Epichloe typhina is an important disease of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L. ) grown for seed. Very little is known concerning the conditions necessary for successful infection of orchardgrass by E. typhina. Detection of E. typhina early in the disease cycle can be difficult due to sparse distribution of hyphae in the plant. Therefore a sensitive method to detect the fungal infection in plants would provide an invaluable tool in elucidating the conditions and establishment of the infection in orchardgrass. Utilization of a marker gene such as, the green fluorescent protein, transformed into Epichloe will facilitate the identification of the initial stages of infection and progression of the disease in plants. We have developed an efficient and reproducible electoporation transformation method of germinating Epichloe conidia isolated from infected plants. The transformation protocol and selection of stable transgenic lines of GFP Epichloe will be presented.