Analysis of Arabidopsis defensin-like genes and ovule development during fertilization and Fusarium infection

Abstract

Defensins are small, highly stable antimicrobial peptides. Many defensin-like (DEFL) peptides found in flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana are believed to have role in either natural immunity or cell-to-cell communication during fertilization. However, little is known about the DEFL peptides and their functions during these events. The goal of this work is to investigate the genes encoding selected DEFLs by observing their expression patterns during fertilization and Fusarium graminearum infection. According to the results 4 selected genes of interest (GOI) are downregulated after fertilization and infection and mock treatments are causing degradation and delay of development in treated ovules.