Resistance to rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae) caused by the expression of trichosanthin gene in transgenic rice plants transferred through agrobacterium method

The gene of trichosanthin has been transferred into rice plants through agr obacterium method. The single copy insertion and the expression of foreign gene have been proved in regenerated plants. In antifungal assay the degree s of rice blast (Pyricularia oryzae) infection of the transgenic plants exp ressing trichosanthin and expressing GUS gene as control have been evaluate d. The differences such as the time of disease symptom observed, the number of infected plants and damaged leaves, the growth of infected plants of th e two transgenic plants after being inoculated by rice blast (Pyricularia o ryzae) are significant. The transgenic plants with trichosanthin gene grew faster than the plants with GUS gene, even when humidity environment was re moved. The results show that the transgenic plants that expressed trichosan thin are able to delay the infection of rice blast compared with the plants as control. In addition, no damage caused by the expression of trichosanth in gene in transgenic plants has been observed.