GENETIC ENGINEERING OF DISEASE RESISTANCE IN CANOLA USING PEA DRR206

Screening of pea defense genes in canola

In pea, DRR206 is activated in response to both fungal and bacterial pathogens

In transgenic plants, DRR206-mediated resistance

• is effective throughout the plant (leaves, stems, cotyledons, roots)
• is accompanied by decreased hyphal growth in vivo
• is associated with antifungal activity in plant extracts
• is effective against
• a hemibiotroph (Leptosphaeria maculans)
• a biotroph (Rhizoctonia solani)
• a necrotroph (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum)

DRR206 may be an enzyme related to lignan synthesis, but the precise mode of protection is yet to be determined