Constitutive Expression of Two Endochitinases from Root Nodules of Elaeagnus umbellata Confers Resistance on Transgenic Arabidopsis Plants against the Fungal Pathogen Botrytis cinerea

Plant chitinases have been known as pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, but recent studies suggest that they play functional roles during normal plant growth and development. We previously isolated two cDNA clones encoding endochitinases, EuNOD-CHT1 and -CHT2, from the root nodules of Elaeagnus umbellata. These genes show differential expression patterns, with the EuNOD-CHT1 gene being active in the root nodules and meristems, while EuNOD­-CHT2 is preferentially expressed in the infected cells of those nodules.