Molecular studies on the Musa spp.-Pseudocercospora fijiensis interaction

Bananas and plantains are an important source of human food and income for many countries. Among the most important diseases of the crop is the black leaf streak disease (Pseudocercospora jiensis (Morelet) Deighton). To study the molecular bases of the Musa spp.-P. fijiensis interaction the susceptible cultivar 'Grande naine' and the resistant cultivar 'Calcutta 4' were used, which were inoculated with a suspension of P. fijiensis under greenhouse conditions. Subtractive libraries of both cultivars were obtained and the gene expression pro les were analyzed by quantitative PCR. Genes related to defense, antioxidants, and jasmonic acid/ethylene and phenylpropanoid pathways were isolated.