Differential expression of eight defensin genes of N. benthamiana following biotic stress, wounding, ethylene, and benzothiadiazole treatments.

Eight Nicotiana benthamiana defensin genes were identified that could be divided into two classes with class II defensins being longer than class I defensins due to an additional acidic C-terminal domain. Class I defensins were NbDef1.1, NbDef1.2, NbDef1.3, NbDef1.4, NbDef1.5, and NbDef1.6, and class II were Nbdef2.1 and NbDef2.2. Relative RT-PCR showed that NbDef1.1, NbDef1.2, and NbDef1.4 had relatively similar expression levels in healthy leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and seeds. However, Nbdef1.3, NbDef1.5, and NbDef1.6 had varying degrees of tissue specific expression, and Nbdef2.1 and NbDef2.2 had strictly flower-specific expression. None of the defensins were significantly induced by infection by Colletotrichum destructivum or C. orbiculare. However, infection by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci resulted in increased expression of Nbdef1.2 and Nbdef2.2, and decreased expression of NbDef1.1, NbDef1.4, and NbDef1.6. In the hypersensitive response of N. benthamiana containing Pto with P. syringae pv. tabaci containing AvrPto, only NbDef2.2 was significantly up-regulated. Expression of the genes was also affected by abiotic treatments. Both wounding and ethylene treatments resulted in a strong induction of NbDef2.2 and a moderate to weak induction of NbDef1.1, NbDef1.2, and NbDef1.4. Only weak or no induction was observed with treatment with benzothiadiazole. The expression of these eight defensin genes demonstrates that only a small fraction of the members of a defensin gene family will respond to a particular hemibiotrophic pathogen as well as to abiotic stress or signaling molecules.