Journal Article

Overexpression of ginkbilobin-2 homologous domain gene to enhance the tolerance to Phytophthora cinnamomi in plants of European chestnut

Valladares, Silvia, Del Castillo-González, Lucía, Piñeiro, Pablo, Berrocal-Lobo, Marta, Costa, Rita Lourenço, Serrazina, Susana, Martínez, Mª Teresa, Piñas, Eduardo, Francisco, Marcelo, Corredoira, Elena, Malhó, Rui

2026

Overview

Castanea sativa , a species of high ecological and economic relevance in Europe, faces severe threats from root rot caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi . To explore genetic strategies for enhancing disease tolerance, we investigated the functional role of a chestnut gene homologous to Ginkgo biloba ’s ginkbilobin-2 ( Cast_Gnk2-like ), known for its antifungal properties. Using Agrobacterium tumefaciens -mediated transformation, the Cast_Gnk2-like gene was introduced into somatic embryos from two embryogenic chestnut lines. Transformation efficiency was genotype-dependent, and varied from 14.2% to 2.5%. Twelve independent transgenic lines were confirmed by PCR, and each was estimated to carry a single copy of the transgene. Gene expression analysis revealed significant Cast_Gnk2-like transcript levels in two transgenic lines. Following cold storage and germination treatment, viable transgenic plants were regenerated. Disease tolerance assays demonstrated that Cast_Gnk2-like overexpression significantly reduced root necrosis and symptom severity, indicating enhanced tolerance to P. cinnamomi . These findings highlight the potential of targeted gene overexpression to improve disease resilience in chestnut through genetic engineering.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Agricultural research / Agrobacterium tumefaciens / Analysis / Animal Genetics and Genomics / Antibiotics / Antifungal activity / Antifungal agents / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Carbenicillin / Castanea sativa / Chestnut / Cold storage / Control / Cysteine-rich repeat secretory protein / Disease / Disease Resistance - genetics / Disease tolerance / Diseases and pests / Embryonic development / Embryos / Fagaceae - genetics / Fagaceae - microbiology / Food quality / Fungicides / Gene expression / Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Genes / Genetic aspects / Genetic engineering / Genetic transformation / Genetically modified plants / Genotypes / Germination / In vitro tolerance assays / Ink disease / Life Sciences / Medical research / Medicine, Experimental / Microarrays / Microbial Genetics and Genomics / Necrosis / Neomycin / Nut industry / Pathogens / Phytophthora - physiology / Phytophthora cinnamomi / Phytophthora diseases / Plant Diseases - genetics / Plant Diseases - microbiology / Plant Genetics and Genomics / Plant immunology / Plant Proteins - chemistry / Plant Proteins - genetics / Plant Proteins - metabolism / Plant Roots - genetics / Plants, Genetically Modified / Proteins / Proteomics / Root rot / Somatic embryos / Transgenes / Transgenic plants