Relationship between cutin monomers and tomato resistance to powdery mildew infection

Introduction of the yeast Delta -9 desaturase gene into tomato plants (Lyco persicon esculentum Mill.) led to distinctive changes in their fatty acid a nd cutin monomer profiles. Most evident were the dramatic increases in 9-he xadecenoic acid and similarly sharp increases of this acid as a cutin monom er in transgenic plants. The transgenic plants were also more resistant to powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe polygoni DC. Cutin monomers from transgen ic plants inhibited the germination of spores of powdery mildew. Germinatio n of spores on transgenic cutin sheets was also inhibited. (C) 2000 Academi c Press.