Effect of synthetic antimicrobial peptides on common fungal pathogens and its application in field pea (Pisum sativum L.)
Citation
Hannig, A., Chatterton, S., Bing, D.J. and Goyal, R.K. (2020). Effect of antimicrobial peptides on common fungal pathogens and its application in filed pea (Pisum sativum L.). 41st annual workshop of Plant Pathology Society of Alberta, November 4-5, 2020, Lethbridge, AB.
Plain language summary
The peptides that have been predicted to have a potent antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens especially root-rot pathogens were synthesized. These were evaluated under in vitro conditions against a host of fungal, oomycetes and bacterial pathogens. They demonstrated their potency in micromolar range against a multiple pathogens. These AMPs can be developed as biopesticides or expressed in plants to provide tolerance against diseases.
Abstract
Plant antimicrobial peptides (AMP’s) are short amino acid chains (<100 amino acids) which form a part of innate immunity in living organisms and display antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacterial and fungal pathogens. AMP’s can be identified from transcriptomic and genomic data and be designed using computer softwares. Synthetic AMP’s can be produced which have similar or improved activity compared to natural AMP’s. In this study, the effect of 8 AMP’s (PBL-1 to PBL-8) were tested on 20 fungal pathogens including pathogenic ascomycetes (Fusarium spp.), oomycetes and basidiomycetes (Rhizoctonia sp.). AMP’s were tested at concentrations of 1, 10 and 50 uM against pathogen cultures under in vitro conditions. A rating scale of 0 (no growth inhibition) to 5 (complete growth inhibition) was used to rate the effect of AMP on germination of fungal spores and mycelial growth relative to the controls. In summary, PBL-1 and PBL-5 ranked the highest in inhibition rating towards pathogens tested. The AMP’s having potent activity can be developed as bio-fungicides for foliar applications.