Pleiotropic expression of endogenous genes upon fungus infection of wheat plants containing anti-fungal transgenes

Recent attempts to increase endogenous disease resistance of plants by overexpression of anti-fungal transgenes have shown a potential of this method. However, it has also been shown that such improvements are usually small. One of the obvious reasons for this low anti-fungal effect might be the regulation of endogenous genes in parallel. In this project, we will study the effect of anti-fungal transgenes on the endogenous gene expression. Such effects might relate to substantial equivalence which is a biosafety issue of concern to the public.

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