Abstract:
Objective To investigate the function of plant lectin genes against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (pine wood nematode) and provide candidate genes for developing new germplasm resistant to pine wilt disease (PWD).
Methods Based on the codon preference of Larix kaempferi, the Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) gene and Canavalia ensiformis agglutinin (ConA) gene were modified. Two plant overexpression vectors were constructed, each driven by the L. kaempferi promoter pLaUBQ. The L. kaempferi embryogenic callus were transformed via Agrobacterium-mediated method. Transgenic callus carrying GNA gene and ConA gene were obtained through molecular identification. Five days after inoculation with B. xylophilus, resistance was evaluated based on callus morphology, cell viability, microscopic structure, and nematode reproduction.
Results TBoth GNA and ConA were successfully integrated into L. kaempferi embryogenic callus, generating 21 transgenic cell lines for each gene. Five high-expression lines per gene (GNA: G7, G16, G19, G20, G21; ConA: C4, C14, C16, C18, C22) were used for resistance assessment. After five days post-inoculation, transgenic callus exhibited less browning and water-soaking compared with untransformed callus, with G21 and C4 showing no visible damage. Cell viability was significantly higher in transgenic lines than untransformed callus, with G21 and C4 displaying the strongest viability. Proembryonic masse remained relatively intact in lines G21 and C4, while those of untransformed callus were disrupted. Nematode number in all transgenic callus were significantly lower than that in untransformed callus (13 167 ± 669 nematodes) (P < 0.05). Line G21 contained 8 083 ± 796 nematodes (38.6% reduction), and line C4 contained 6 583 ± 193 nematodes (50.0% reduction).
Conclusion This findings demonstrate that GNA and ConA confer resistance to B. xylophilus, and constitute promising candidate genes for developing new PWD-resistant germplasm. Furthermore, this study establishes an evaluation system for assessing the resistance of L. kaempferi transgenic callus to B. xylophilus and offers an effective tool for early evaluation of PWD resistance in transgenic forest trees.