Expression of anti apoptosis genes using Beta glucosidase Bgl promoter for Fusarium wilt resistance in banana cultivar Rasthali

Abstract

Banana is the leading fruit crop produced, traded and consumed globally. It is a non seasonal and poor man s fruit cultivated throughout the world mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the earth. It is ranked fourth-largest global food cultivated after rice, wheat and maize (Arias et al., 2003; Kaur et al., 2018). Rasthali banana (AAB, Silk) is one of the most liked fruit cultivars in southern India, due to its unique taste and aroma, has made it popular and a highly prized cultivar for table purpose. But it is highly sensitive to panama wilt (Fusaium wilt) caused by Fusarium oxyporum f.sp cubense (Foc). It is one of the dangerous fungal pathogens that influencing banana production severely worldwide by causing panama wilt / Fusarium wilts. Foc is the hemibiotrophic soil borne pathogen, initially establishes infection as biotroph with the infected plant but later transites to a necrotroph where infected plant succumbs (Vajna, 1985; Trusov et al., 2006, Dita et al., 2018). The fungal mycelia gain entry to the roots through natural injuries, and finally enters to the xylem, proliferates within the host causing water blockage from the roots to the leaves (Beckman 1990) and responsible for the development of characteristic wilt symptoms. newline