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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #347516
Title: Response of wheat constitutively expressing monolignol biosynthesis genes to fusarium head blight

Author
item Funnell-Harris, Deanna
item Duray, Zachary
item Graybosch, Robert
item Sattler, Scott
item WEGULO, STEPHEN - University Of Nebraska
item CLEMENTE, THOMAS - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: National Fusarium Head Blight Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/3/2017
Publication Date: 12/3/2017
Citation: Funnell-Harris, D.L., Duray, Z.T., Graybosch, R.A., Sattler, S.E., Wegulo, S.N., Clemente, T.E. 2017. Response of wheat constitutively expressing monolignol biosynthesis genes to fusarium head blight. National Fusarium Head Blight ForumProceedings. [abstract].In: Proceedings of the National Fursariam Head Blight Forum, U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Intitiative, December 3-5, 2017 Milwaukee, WI.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The goal of this research is to identify Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) resistance in wheat plants through constitutive expression of monolignol biosynthesis genes, a generalized defense response against pathogens. Monolignols are the subunits of the lignin polymer that are secreted into cell walls to provide structural support, and this pathway also is induced upon pathogen attack. The spring wheat CB037 was transformed with constitutive expression constructs containing the gene SbMyb60, or a gene encoding a sorghum monolignol pathway enzyme [caffeoyl-CoA 3-O-methyltransferase (SbCCoAOMT), 4-coumarate-Coenzyme A ligase (Sb4CL), and p-coumarate 3-hydroxylase (SbC3H)], each under control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) E35S promoter. The lead transgenic events, the recipient line CB037, the resistant line Sumai No. 3, and the susceptible line Wheaton, were grown in the greenhouse. At anthesis plants were either spray-inoculated with a conidial suspension of the FHB pathogen to assess Type I resistance (to initial infection), or point-inoculated to assess Type II resistance (to pathogen spread). Disease severity was determined 7, 14 and 21 days after inoculation (dai) for spray inoculations, and 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21 dai for point inoculations and used to calculate Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC). Proportion of Fusarium Damaged Kernels (FDK) also was determined. Both lead events for SbCCoAOMT and SbC3H had AUDPC significantly less than that for the susceptible line, Wheaton, and one event, each, had AUDPC similar to that of the resistant line Sumai No. 3. FDK analysis supported these results with both SbC3H events and one SbCCoAOMT event having FDK similar to Sumai No. 3. AUDPC values for the Sb4CL and SbMyb60 lead events were all significantly greater than that of Sumai No. 3; one event of each had AUDPC similar to that of Wheaton. FDK values for the Sb4CL and SbMyb60 lines were also significantly greater than that of Sumai No. 3. Responses of these lines expressing the SbMyb60 transcription factor or each of the three enzymes may suggest products from the monolignol pathway that are likely to increase resistance to F. graminearum. Further analyses of SbCCoAOMT and SbC3H expression in wheat may provide novel strategies using monolignol biosynthesis pathway genes to increase resistance to F. graminearum.