Quantitative Differences in Gene Expression of Defence Genes in Solanum tuberosum and S. sisymbriifolium Infected with Globodera pallida

Solanum sisymbriifolium is an effective trap crop for the potato cyst nematodes, Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis, with strong hatching ability and total immunity to both species. To investigate the mechanism of this immunity, expression changes of defence-related genes were studied in roots infected by G. pallida and compared with those in roots of potato, S. tuberosum. The results revealed that the potato basic class I chitinase gene was up-regulated at 3 days post inoculation in S. sisymbriifolium but not in S. tuberosum, indicating that the chitinase gene is a hallmark for the immunity of S. sisymbriifolium to G. pallida.