Changes in chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase transcript levels in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) in response to treatment with Xanthomonas citri subsp. Citri

Asiatic citrus canker caused by <em>Xanthomonas citri</em> subsp. <em>citri</em> is a bacterial disease with economic importance in tropical and subtropical citrus-producing areas. One of the potential reaction of plants to pathogens attack is an increased levels of pathogenesis-related proteins such as chitinase and β - 1,3 -glucanase. The objective of present study was to investigate the expression of the PR proteins; β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase in Washington Navel orange (<em>Citrus sinensis</em>) inoculated with <em>Xanthomonas citri</em> sub sp.<em>citri</em>. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the mRNA level of chitinase and ß- 1,3 -glucanase genes in early stage of plant defense response. For this purpose, total RNA was extracted from inoculated and non inoculated citrus plants at<em> </em><em>different times</em><em> </em>post<em>-</em><em>inoculation</em><em>. </em><em>Higher</em> amounts of <em>transcripts were</em><em> </em>detected 24 hours after pathogen inoculation of citrus leaves and four-fold more than the control citrus plant. The transcript levels of the two genes were reduced with the time after inoculation, and decreased significantly at 96 hours post inoculation. This study indicated that the role of chitinase gene is more than glucanase in early stage of citrus canker disease.<em></em>

Abstract licence: CC BY

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