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Functional Characterization of Protease Inhibitor SlPinII5 in Tomato Resistance to Late Blight
Zhiyuan Xue1, Ruirui Yang1, Jiaxuan Zhu1
1School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|November 19, 2025
Summary
This study reveals that SlPinII5 enhances tomato resistance to late blight by activating defense mechanisms and directly inhibiting Phytophthora infestans. This finding offers a sustainable approach for disease management and resistance breeding in tomatoes.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, significantly reduces tomato yield and quality.
- Chemical control methods pose environmental concerns, driving the need for sustainable resistance strategies.
- Proteinase inhibitor II (PinII) shows potential for enhancing plant disease resistance, but its specific role in tomato defense is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize tomato SlPinII genes involved in defense against Phytophthora infestans.
- To elucidate the functional mechanism of SlPinII5 in conferring resistance to late blight in tomatoes.
- To provide insights for developing tomatoes with improved natural disease resistance.
Main Methods:
- Identification and selection of SlPinII genes responsive to P. infestans infection.
- Functional analysis of SlPinII5, including gene expression, enzyme activity assays, and reactive oxygen species modulation.
- Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes to identify regulated pathways.
- Direct inhibition assays of purified SlPinII5 against P. infestans growth and infection.
Main Results:
- Twelve SlPinII genes were identified, with SlPinII5 showing a strong response to P. infestans.
- SlPinII5 significantly enhanced tomato resistance by activating defense-related genes, modulating enzyme activities, and regulating reactive oxygen species.
- Enrichment analysis revealed SlPinII5's involvement in key disease resistance pathways.
- Purified SlPinII5 directly inhibited P. infestans growth and reduced disease incidence in tomato.
Conclusions:
- SlPinII5 plays a crucial role in enhancing tomato's natural defense against late blight.
- The findings highlight SlPinII5 as a valuable target for genetic improvement of tomato disease resistance.
- This research contributes to sustainable agricultural practices by offering alternatives to chemical disease control.
