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ABSTRACT: Background
Screening and developing novel antifungal agents with minimal environmental impact are needed to maintain and increase crop production, which is constantly threatened by various pathogens. Small peptides with antimicrobial and antifungal activities have been known to play an important role in plant defense both at the pathogen level by suppressing its growth and proliferation as well as at the host level through activation or priming of the plant's immune system for a faster, more robust response against fungi. Rust fungi (Pucciniales) are plant pathogens that can infect key crops and overcome resistance genes introduced in elite wheat cultivars.Results
We performed an in vitro screening of 18 peptides predominantly of plant origin with antifungal or antimicrobial activity for their ability to inhibit leaf rust (Puccinia triticina, CCDS-96-14-1 isolate) urediniospore germination. Nine peptides demonstrated significant fungicidal properties compared to the control. Foliar application of the top three candidates, β-purothionin, Purothionin-α2 and Defensin-2, decreased the severity of leaf rust infection in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. Additionally, increased pathogen resistance was paralleled by elevated expression of defense-related genes.Conclusions
Identified antifungal peptides could potentially be engineered in the wheat genome to provide an alternative source of genetic resistance to leaf rust.
SUBMITTER: Panthi U
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10903759 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Panthi Urbashi U McCallum Brent B Kovalchuk Igor I Rampitsch Christof C Badea Ana A Yao Zhen Z Bilichak Andriy A
Journal, genetic engineering & biotechnology 20240215 1
<h4>Background</h4>Screening and developing novel antifungal agents with minimal environmental impact are needed to maintain and increase crop production, which is constantly threatened by various pathogens. Small peptides with antimicrobial and antifungal activities have been known to play an important role in plant defense both at the pathogen level by suppressing its growth and proliferation as well as at the host level through activation or priming of the plant's immune system for a faster, ...[more]