Deployment of Stacked Antimicrobial Genes in Banana for Stable Tolerance Against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense Through Genetic Transformation

Enhanced tolerance to wilt disease ( Fusarium oxysporum f.sp . cubense) was achieved in banana variety Rasthali (AAB) by the transformation of embryogenic cells with two antimicrobial genes viz., Ace -AMP1 and pflp using Agrobacterium mediated transformation. The transgene copy numbers in stable transformants were confirmed by Southern analysis. The expression of stacked genes in the transgenic lines was validated by RT-PCR as well as Northern analysis. Bioassay using Foc race 1 in pot culture experiments demonstrated enhanced tolerance after 180 days of planting. Two independent transformants showed 10–20% Vascular Discoloration Index compared to untransformed banana cv. Rasthali (96%). The stacked lines revealed higher activity of Super Oxide Dismutase and Peroxidase compared to untransformed control which depicted higher tolerance to oxidative stress caused by Foc infection.