NSF Award
8701346
In Phase I research the chitinase (chiA) gene from the bacterium Serrata marcescens has been fused to three different promotor fragments which have been isolated. These chimaric genes have been introduced into tobacco protoplasts. Stably transformed plants have been generated and individuals have been identified which express high levels of the chiA gene at both the mRNA and protein level. These have been assayed for susceptibility to infection by the fungus Alternaria. It appears that they exhibit an increased resistance to the disease. In this Phase II research, it is planned to improve the level of expression and to express chitinase in specific tissues (roots) and outside the cell. Later the gene will be transferred to other plants and their resistance to other pathogens will be tested. This experimental research will be performed in tobacco tomato and Brassica napus and will assay for conferred resistance against Alternaria, the powdery mildews, and root knob nematodes. Control of a broad range of fungi by genetic engineering of plants could greatly increase crop production and preclude the excessive use of chemical fungicides.
