We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Transgenic East African Highland Banana Plants Are Protected against Radopholus similis through Host-Delivered RNAi.
- Authors
Mwaka, Henry Shaykins; Bauters, Lander; Namaganda, Josephine; Marcou, Shirley; Bwesigye, Priver Namanya; Kubiriba, Jerome; Smagghe, Guy; Tushemereirwe, Wilberforce Kateera; Gheysen, Godelieve
- Abstract
The burrowing nematode Radopholus similis is considered a major problem of intensive banana cultivation. It can cause extensive root damage resulting in the toppling disease of banana, which means that plants fall to the ground. Soaking R. similis in double-stranded (ds) RNA of the nematode genes Rps13, chitin synthase (Chs-2), Unc-87, Pat-10 or beta-1,4-endoglucanase (Eng1a) suppressed reproduction on carrot discs, from 2.8-fold (Chs-2) to 7-fold (Rps13). The East African Highland Banana cultivar Nakitembe was then transformed with constructs for expression of dsRNA against the same genes, and for each construct, 30 independent transformants were tested with nematode infection. Four months after transfer from in vitro culture to the greenhouse, the banana plants were transferred to a screenhouse and inoculated with 2000 nematodes per plant, and thirteen weeks later, they were analyzed for several parameters including plant growth, root necrosis and final nematode population. Plants with dsRNA constructs against the nematode genes were on average showing lower nematode multiplication and root damage than the nontransformed controls or the banana plants expressing dsRNA against the nonendogenous gene. In conclusion, RNAi seems to efficiently protect banana against damage caused by R. similis, opening perspectives to control this pest.
- Subjects
CHITIN synthase; NEMATODE-plant relationships; NEMATODE infections; BANANA growing; PEST control; BANANAS
- Publication
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023, Vol 24, Issue 15, p12126
- ISSN
1661-6596
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/ijms241512126