Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Wheat Glycoside Hydrolase Gene TaGlc2 Induced by Powdery Mildew Pathogen Infection

Fungal diseases cause serious yield losses in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. Numerous genes involved in the wheat–pathogen interactions have been identified, which include pathogenesis related (PR) genes and antifungal hydrolases, such as glucanase and chitinase genes. Recently, there has been increasing evidence of the potential involvement of 1,3-β-glucanase in defense against fungal infection. In this study, a cDNA encoding a 1,3-β-glucanase, designated TaGlc2, was identified from a wheat cDNA library. The deduced peptide sequence of TaGlc2 is similar to a glycoside hydrolase family 17. Using real-time PCR, the expression pattern of TaGlc2 in wheat seedlings inoculated with powdery mildew pathogen (Erysiphe graminis) was determined. The results showed that TaGlc2 is inducible in response to fungal infection. The 5′ genomic region of TaGlc2 was isolated. This gene contains some cis-elements that are reported to be involved in pathogenesis response.