Synergistic activity of chitinases and beta-1,3-glucanases enhances fungal resistance in transgenic tomato plants Jongedijk, E.; Tigelaar, H.; Roekel, J.S.C.; Bres-Vloemans, S.A.; Dekker, I.; van den Elzen, P.J.M.; Cornelissen, B.J.C.; Melchers, L.S. Link to publication Citation for published version (APA): Jongedijk, E., Tigelaar, H., Roekel, J. S. C., Bres-Vloemans, S. A., Dekker, I., van den Elzen, P. J. M., ... Melchers, L. S. (1995). Synergistic activity of chitinases and

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... s enhances fungal resistance in transgenic tomato plants. EUPHYTICA, 85, 173-180. Summary Simultaneous expression of a tobacco class I chitinase and a class I /3-1,3-glucanase gene in tomato resulted in increased fungal resistance, whereas transgenic tomato plants expressing either one of these genes were not protected against fungal infection . After infection with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, a 36% to 58% reduction in disease severity was observed in resistant tomato lines . Two transgenic lines largely recovered from the initial infection by the time wild-type tomato plants had died . The overall results are consistent with the observation that class I chitinases and class I /3-1,3-glucanases synergistically inhibit the growth of fungi in vitro and provide the first experimental support to the hypothesis that such synergy can contribute to enhanced fungal resistance in planta .