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Background:
Fungal
pathogens contribute to inefficiency in grain legume production
both through direct damage to crops and by making the use of fungicides
necessary. Transformation technology in legumes has advanced to
the stage where applications can now be considered. The EU needs
to reduce an unacceptable risk: its reliance on imported protein
(the protein self-sufficiency rate is about 36%). This reduction
is best achieved by making grain legume production more efficient
and competitive.
Objectives:
It
is proposed to build new pathogen resistance into the major European
grain legumes and to test its effectiveness in biomolecular, glasshouse
and field tests. Genes for three types of potentially useful anti-fungal
plant-derived proteins will be introduced into the major European
grain legumes. These three types of genes are: the gene for the
phytoalexin-synthesising enzyme stilbene synthase; the gene for
an inhibitor of an important cell wall degrading enzyme of fungal
pathogens, polygalacturonase inhibiting protein (PGIP); and a
combination of the genes for osmotin and endo-chitinase. Additional
genes are available to the participants and will be used if the
progress of the work allows.
Description:
These
genes will be driven by suitable promoters and transformants will
be screened for stable integration and suitable levels of expression.
The efficiency of transformation methods will be compared and
the best one will be selected to permit the generation of sufficient
transformants to be screened for expression levels. Studies will
be carried out on the effect of the expression of these transgenes
on major pathogens in peas, faba beans, chickpeas and lupins.
These pathogens will include the Botrytis species in all four
grain legume crops, and the species of the Ascochyta complex and
the foot and root rot complex in the first three crops. The effects
of transgene expression will be studied at three levels. Fungal
growth in infected tissues will be quantified rapidly using ELISA;
whole plant tests in containment will be performed by commercial
breeders; and field trials will be made by a consortium of breeders
to test effectiveness against selected pea pathogens in a field
experiment.
Current
situation/results:
Alternative
transformation methods have been compared for pea, faba bean and
chickpea. The most promising protocols have been studied and optimised
for the efficient production of transformed plants. Transformed
lines carrying anti-fungal genes have been created for pea, faba
bean and chickpea. These lines are undergoing evaluation for gene
expression, and are being taken through segregating generations.
Following multiplication, they will be challenged with fungal
pathogens to determine the effect of the expression of the transgenes
on these fungi.
Coordinator
Gavin
RAMSAY
The
Scottish Crop Research Institute
Invergowrie
UK-DD2
5DA Dundee
Tel.:
+44 1382 56 27 31
Fax:
+44 1382 56 24 26
E-mail:
gramsa@scri.sari.ac.uk
Partners
- Nigel W KERBY
Mylnefield Research Services Ltd
Invergowrie
UK-DD2 5DA Dundee
Tel.: +44-1382-56.27.31
Fax: +44-1382-56.14.42
- Evelyne TEOULE
I.N.R.A. - Centre de Versailles
Route De Saint-Cyr
F-78026 Versailles
Tel.: +33 1 30 83 33 06
Fax: +33 1 30 83 33 19
E-mail: teoule@versailles.inra.fr
- Edgardo FILIPPONE
Consorzio Interuniversitario Nazionale per la Biologia Molecolare
delle Piante
Via Universita 100
I-80055 Portici (Napoli)
Tel.: +39 08 17 76 16 46
Fax: +39 08 17 75 35 79
E-mail: filippon@unina.it
- Thomas PICKARDT
Freie Universität Berlin
Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 6
D-14195 Berlin
Tel.: +49 308 38 58 08
Fax: +49 308 384 345
E-mail: pickardt@fub46.zedat.fu-berlin.de
- Martine DUPARQUE
Groupement des Selectionneurs de Pois Proteagineux - GIE
Domaine de Brunehaut
F-80200 Estrees-Mons
Tel.: +33 3 22 85 75 18
Fax: +33 3 22 85 69 96
E-mail: duparque@mons.inra.fr
- Leon BROERS
Nunhems Zaden BV
Voort 6
P.O. Box 4005
NL-6080 AA Haelen
Tel.: +31 475 59 92 22
Fax: +31 475 59 92 23
E-mail: L.Broers@nunhems.com
- Hans-Joerg JACOBSEN
Universität Hannover
Herrenhäuser straße 2
D-30419 Hannover
Tel.: +49 511 762 40 82
Fax: +49 511 762 40 88
E-mail: jacobsen@mbox.lgm.uni-hannover.de
- Graham John JELLIS
Plant Breeding International Cambridge ltd
Maris Lane
UK-CB2 2LQ Trumpington - Cambridge
Tel.: +44 1223 84 04 11
Fax: +44 1223 84 44 25
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