Accumulation of a Protein Associated with Plant Defense in Powdery Mildew Resistant Dogwood (Cornus florida)

This study was conducted to better understand the nature of powdery mildew resistance in flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.) and in particular to determine if inducible plant defense proteins are associated with powdery mildew resistance. Results from this study showed an accumulation of a new protein in resistant plants, but not in susceptible plants that were challenged with powdery mildew pathogen (Erysiphe (Sect. Microsphaera) pulchra). The protein accumulated in a high level in the resistant selections at 48 hr after inoculation with the pathogen and that was consistent with the production of pathogenesis related (PR) proteins. The protein was characterized as having an isoelectric point of 7.5 ± 0.5 and molecular weight of 18 ± 2 KD. Partial sequence analysis of this protein revealed homology with PR-10 protein associated with drought resistance in potato and was analogous to other proteins related to resistance in other crops. Repeated analysis showed similar results and suggested that a biochemical mode of resistance involving plant defense proteins may be associated with powdery mildew resistance in flowering dogwood.