Modification of fatty acids in eggplant affects its resistance to Verticillium dahliae

Expression of the yeast Delta-9 desaturase gene in eggplant increased its r evels of 16: 1, 18: 1, and 16:3 fatty acids and enhanced its resistance to Verticillium dahliae. Eggplants responded to V. dahliae inoculation with tr ansitory upsurges in phospholipase A(2) and lipoxygenase activities, as wel l as levels of free fatty acids and lipid peroxides. The upsurges of certai n fatty acids, in particular the 16 : 1 and 16: 3 fatty acids, were more pr onounced in the transgenic plants. cis-Delta 9 16:1 was found to directly i nhibit the growth of V. dahliae. The results suggest that increasing the pr oduction of 16:1 in plants could be an approach to enhance their resistance to fungal diseases (C) 2000 Academic Press.