Identification of a set of up-regulated genes due to infection by Colletotrichum musae in a dessert banana cultivar, moderately- resistant to anthracnose

Understanding the mechanisms of host plant resistance at molecular level is useful towards designing effective disease management programmes against infections of plant pathogens. The present study was conducted to identify host plant genes expressed in response to infection by Colletotrichum musae using a moderately-resistant cultivar of banana (Seenikesel) to anthracnose. The expression profile of a selected defense-related gene over the infection process in the banana cultivar Seenikesel was also determined. Identification of genes was done by differential hybridization of a cDNA library constructed from peel tissues of banana inoculated with C. musae. Up-regulated genes due to C. musae infection were predicted through DNA homology search. Among the identified putative defense related genes, expression profile of Germin-like protein was studied by relative RTPCR over a period of 144 h after inoculation. The set of up-regulated gene transcripts identified in the present study were responsible for plant defense, stress response, growth, development, protein synthesis, protein folding and stabilization. Expression of Germin-like protein gene homologue was comparatively high at the late phase of inoculation (96 h after inoculation) of C. musae in banana cultivar Seenikesel.

Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 25 (2): 240 – 251 (2014)