Journal Article
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117, iss. 27, pp. 16043-16054, 2020
Authors
Siva L. S. Velivelli, Kirk J. Czymmek, Hui Li, Jared B. Shaw, Garry W. Buchko, Dilip M. Shah
Abstract
Significance
Several nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides expressed in a model legume
Medicago truncatula
exhibit potent antimicrobial activity. However, their structure–activity relationships and mechanisms of action against fungal pathogens of plants are still largely unknown. A small highly cationic peptide NCR044 with potent antifungal activity has been identified. This peptide has a unique highly dynamic structure and exhibits multifaceted mechanisms of action against a fungal pathogen
Botrytis cinerea
. Exogenous application of this peptide confers resistance to a gray mold disease caused by
B. cinerea
in tobacco and tomato plants as well as postharvest products. Our work paves the way for future development of NCR peptides as spray-on antifungal agents.
