Co-overexpression of Brassica juncea NPR1 (BjNPR1) and Trigonella foenum-graecum defensin (Tfgd) in transgenic peanut provides comprehensive but varied protection against Aspergillus flavus and Cercospora arachidicola.

KEY MESSAGE: Coexpression of two antifungal genes ( NPR1 and defensin ) in transgenic peanut results in the development of resistance to two major fungal pathogens, Aspergillus flavus and Cercospora arachidicola. Fungal diseases have been one of the principal causes of crop losses with no exception to peanut (Arachis hypogeae L.), a major oilseed crop in Asia and Africa. To address this problem, breeding for fungal disease resistance has been successful to some extent against specific pathogens. However, combating more than one fungal pathogen via breeding is a major limitation in peanut. In the present study, we demonstrated the potential use of co-overexpression of two genes, NPR1 and defensin isolated from Brassica juncea and Trigonella foenum-graecum respectively; that offered resistance towards Aspergillus flavus in peanut. The transgenic plants not only resisted the mycelial growth but also did not accumulate aflatoxin in the seeds. Resistance was also demonstrated against another pathogen, Cercospora arachidicola at varied levels; the transgenic plants showed both reduction in the number of spots and delay in the onset of disease. PCR, Southern and Western blot analysis confirmed stable integration and expression of the transgenes in the transgenic plants. The combinatorial use of the two pathogen resistance genes presents a novel approach to mitigate two important fungal pathogens of peanut.

Simultaneous expression of regulatory genes associated with specific drought-adaptive traits improves drought adaptation in peanut.

Adaptation of crops to drought-prone rain-fed conditions can be achieved by improving plant traits such as efficient water mining (by superior root characters) and cellular-level tolerance mechanisms. Pyramiding these drought-adaptive traits by simultaneous expression of genes regulating drought-adaptive mechanisms has phenomenal relevance in improving stress tolerance. In this study, we provide evidence that peanut transgenic plants expressing Alfalfa zinc finger 1 (Alfin1), a root growth-associated transcription factor gene, Pennisetum glaucum heat-shock factor (PgHSF4) and Pea DNA helicase (PDH45) involved in protein turnover and protection showed improved tolerance, higher growth and productivity under drought stress conditions. Stable integration of all the transgenes was noticed in transgenic lines. The transgenic lines showed higher root growth, cooler crop canopy air temperature difference (less CCATD) and higher relative water content (RWC) under drought stress. Low proline levels in transgenic lines substantiate the maintenance of higher water status. The survival and recovery of transgenic lines was significantly higher under gradual moisture stress conditions with higher biomass. Transgenic lines also showed significant tolerance to ethrel-induced senescence and methyl viologen-induced oxidative stress. Several stress-responsive genes such as heat-shock proteins (HSPs), RING box protein-1 (RBX1), Aldose reductase, late embryogenesis abundant-5 (LEA5) and proline-rich protein-2 (PRP2), a gene involved in root growth, showed enhanced expression under stress in transgenic lines. Thus, the simultaneous expression of regulatory genes contributing for drought-adaptive traits can improve crop adaptation and productivity under water-limited conditions.