Overexpression of the PdpapERF109 gene enhances resistance of Populus davidiana ×  P. alba var. pyramidalis to Fusarium oxysporum infection

Abstract

The key transcription factor gene PdPapERF109 was cloned from Populus davidiana ×  P. alba var. pyramidalis (Pdpap), and after overexpression of PdPapERF109 in transformants, the gene functions in the resistance response to Fusarium oxysporum infection. Compared with the wild Pdpap, after inoculation with F. oxysporum, the physiological and biochemical characteristics, including relative fresh weight, peroxidase activity, and the percentage of electrolyte leakage showed that, after overexpression of the PdPapERF109 gene, the transformants grew well and displayed significant resistance to F. oxysporum infection. By comparing the reactive oxygen species scavenging capacity of Pdpap plants after pathogen infection, the PdPapERF109-overexpressing plants had significantly better reactive oxygen species scavenging ability than the wild plants. Comprehensive analysis of plant morphology and various physiological and biochemical parameters showed that the overexpression of the PdpapERF109 gene significantly improved the resistance of Pdpap plants to F. oxysporum root rot. Therefore, increasing the expression of the homologous ERF109 gene can be an effective strategy to increase disease resistance in hybrid poplars.

Keywords

ERF / Fusarium oxysporum tolerance / Gene over-expression / Genetic transformation / Transcription factor