Development of transgenic disease-resistance root stock for growth of watermelon.(oral)

To protect the plant against several soil-borne pathogens, we are currently constructing disease-resistant transgenic root stock for the growth of cucurbitaceae vegetable plants, watermelon and gourd. We made a watermelon cDNA library from Cladosporium cucumerinum-Infected leaves for substractive hybriazation and differential screening. We isolated the several pathogen inducible cDNA clones, such as caffeoyl-CoA-methyltransferase, LAA induced protein, receptor-like kinase homolog, hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein, catalase, calmodulin binding protein, mitochondrial ATPase beta subunit, methyl tRNA synthetase and WRKY transcription factors. We previously obtained CaMADS in pepper and galactinol synthase ( CsGolS) in cucumber that were confirmed to be related with disease-resistance. CaMADS and CsGolS2 were transformed into the inbred line 'GO701-2' gourd, the inbred line '6-2-2' watermelon and the Kong-dye watermelon by Agrobacterium tumerfaciens LBA4404. Plant growth regulators (zeatin, BAP and IAA) were used for shoot regeneration and root induction for optimal condition. Putative transgenic plants were selected in medium containing 100mg/L kanamycin and integration of the CaMADS and CsGO/S2 into the genomic DNA were demonstrated by the PCR analysis. We isolated major soil-borne pathogens, such as Monosporascus cannonballus, Didymella bryoniae, Cladosporium cuvumerinum from the cultivation area of watermelon or root stock, and successfully established artificial inoculation method for each pathogen. This work was supported by a grant from BioGreen 21 program, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.