Antifungal Proteins during Sorghum Grain Development and Grain Mould Resistance |
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| Authors: | R Rodriguez-Herrera R D Waniska W L Rooney C N Aguilar and J C Contreras-Esquivel |
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| Institution: | Authors' addresses: Food Science and Technology Department, School of Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, Blvd V. Carranza e Ing. J. Cárdenas s/n, Col. Republica, 25280 Saltillo Coahuila, Mexico;;Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2474, USA (correspondence to R. Rodriguez-Herrera. E-mail: ) |
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| Abstract: | Proteins potentially inhibitory to the growth of grain‐moulding fungi in vitro have been identified from sorghum seeds. However, their role in vivo during fungi infection is still not clear. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the presence of antifungal proteins (AFPs) during grain development. Sureño (a grain mould‐resistant line), RTx430 (a grain mould‐susceptible) and their F1 hybrid, were planted at two moisture levels. Caryopses were collected from each genotype every 7 days after anthesis (DAA) during development and maturity of the grain. Significant levels of grain mould occurred naturally. Levels of four AFPs (sormatin, chitinases, β‐1,3‐glucanases and ribosomal‐inactivating proteins) were determined using the immunoblotting technique. During grain development (7–35 DAA), Sureño and the F1 hybrid showed higher levels of sormatin and chitinase than RTx430. RIPs levels in Sureño and the F1 hybrid were higher than those in RTx430 after 21 DAA. Sormatin, chitinases, β‐1,3‐glucanases and RIPs levels in Sureño and in the F1 hybrid were higher than those of RTx430 after grain physiological maturity. AFPs are associated with grain mould resistance because Sureño and the F1 hybrid induce and/or retain higher AFPs levels under grain mould infection pressure than did RTx430. |
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| Keywords: | sormatin chitinases β-1 3-glucanases ribosomal-inactivating proteins |
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