Purification and characterization of elicitor protein from Phytophthora colocasiae and basic resistance in Colocasia esculenta.

An elicitor was identified in the fungus Phytophthora colocasiae. The molecular weight of the purified elicitor was estimated by means of gel filtration chromatography and SDS-PAGE and was estimated as 15kDa. Protease treatment severely reduced its activity, allowing the conclusion that the elicitor is proteinaceous. Infiltration of a few nanograms of this proteinaceous elicitor into taro leaves caused the formation of lesions that closely resemble hypersensitive response lesions. The elicitation of the cells was effective in the induction of the activity of lipoxygenase. Cellular damage, restricted to the infiltrated zone, occurred only several hours later, after the infiltration of the elicitor protein. After few days, systemic acquired resistance was also induced. Thus, taro plant cells that perceived the glycoprotein generated a cascade of signals acting at local, short, and long distances, and causing the coordinate expression of specific defence. The obtained results give important information regarding the plant-pathogen interactions, mainly as subsidy for taro improvement against Phytophthora leaf blight.

Identification and characterization of differentially expressed genes in the resistance reaction in taro infected with Phytophthora colocasiae.

Leaf blight disease caused by Phytophthora colocasiae represents a major constraint to the growth and yield of taro (Colocasia esculenta L.). Ongoing research on model plant systems has revealed that defense responses are activated via signaling pathways mediated by endogenous signaling molecule such as salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and ethylene. Activation of plant defenses is associated with changes in the expression of large number of genes. To gain a better understanding of defense responses, virulent race of P. colocasiae was used to inoculate the taro cultivar UL-56 (compatible) and its nearly isogenic line Muktakeshi (incompatible). We have employed suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH), cDNA libraries, Northern blot analysis, high throughput DNA sequencing, and bioinformatics to identify the defense-related genes in taro induced by P. colocasiae infection. Two putative resistance genes and a transcription factor were identified among the upregulated sequences. The expression of several candidate genes including lipid transfer proteins (LTPs), and other pathogenesis-related genes were evaluated following 8-48 h of appearance of symptom in compatible and incompatible interactions. Results confirmed the higher overall expression of these genes in Muktakeshi (resistant) compared to UL-56 (susceptible). This study constitutes the first attempt to characterize the taro differential transcriptome associated with host-pathogen interactions from different genotypes. All the generated ESTs have been submitted to GenBank for further functional studies.

Food-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis: first case report in Thailand.

A forty-year-old military personnel presented with generalized urticaria, syncope, shortness of breath and headache associated with jogging after ingestion of a taro-filled bun and a red bean-filled bun. Skin prick test was positive for bread, taro and wheat but negative for red bean and preservative. Exercise challenge tests were performed. Exercise alone failed to induce any allergic reaction but exercise following ingestion of a taro-filled bun and a red bean-filled bun induced generalized urticaria. Since the patients stopped taking these types of food, the urticaria has not returned. This is the first case report of food-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis in Thailand.