Transcriptional response of Scots pine trees to Heterobasidion annosum infection: analyses of antimicrobial protein Sp-AMP2

Understanding of mechanisms of resistance of forest trees against microbial pathogens is an essential prerequisite for the development of sustainable forestry practices and for the improvement of commercially-grown trees via either conventional breeding or rational genetic engineering. We have studied the transcriptional response of Scots pine trees to Heterobasidion annosum infection under field conditions. By comparing responses of trees to wounding and to fungal inoculation we could identify a set of genes that were specifically responding to fungal infection. We have also investigated a contribution of Scots pine antimicrobial protein Sp-AMP2 to the host antimicrobial defense to evaluate the potential of Sp-AMP genes as molecular markers for resistance breeding. 6 Samples of Stem (bulk of xylem and phloem) were analysed. Three replicates of wounded (non-inoculated tree) and three replicates of infected stems (inoculated tree).