Expression of the β-1,3-glucanase gene bgn13.1 from Trichoderma harzianum in strawberry increases tolerance to crown rot diseases but interferes with plant growth.

摘要: The expression of antifungal genes from Trichoderma harzianum, mainly chitinases, has been used to confer plant resistance fungal diseases. However, the biotechnological potential glucanase scarcely assessed. In this research, transgenic strawberry plants expressing β-1,3-glucanase gene bgn13.1 T. under control CaMV35S promoter, have generated. After acclimatization, five out 12 independent lines analysed showed a stunted phenotype when growing in greenhouse. Moreover, most displayed reduced yield due both reduction number fruit per and lower size. Several showing higher activity leaves than were selected for pathogenicity tests. When inoculated with Colletotrichum acutatum, one important pathogens, anthracnose symptoms leaf crown control. three selected, percentage decreased 61 % mean value 16.5 %, lines, respectively. Some also an enhanced Rosellinia necatrix, soil-borne pathogen causing root rot strawberry. These results indicate that harzianum can be increase tolerance diseases, although its constitutive affects growth yield. Alternative strategies such as use tissue specific promoters might avoid negative effects performance.