Induction of a pepper cDNA encoding SAR8.2 protein during the resistance response to tobacco mosaic virus

A cDNA library was constructed with mRNA extracted from TMV resistant hot pepper plants 24 and 48 h after inoculation by TMV. The library was screened differentially with radio-labeled cDNA synthesized with mRNA from the leaves of either TMV-inoculated or mock-inoculated hot pepper plants. CaSAR8.2 clone was one of the clones isolated by this differential screening. The predicted amino acid sequence of CaSAR8.2 has a homology of 52% similarity to that of tobacco SAR8.2 genes. Southern blot analysis showed that a imiltigene family of CaSAR8.2 was present in the hot pepper genome. Transcripts homologous to CaSAR8.2 accumulated abundantly in the leaves and the flowers, but little in other tissues. CaSAR8.2 gene expression was induced by avirulent pathotype TMV-P₀ inoculation but not by virulent TMV-P_1.2 inoculation. Effects of exogenously applied abiotic elicitors on CaSAR8.2 expression were also examined. Salicylic acid and ethephon treatments caused a rapid accumulation of CaSAR8.2 transcripts in pepper leaves and methyl jasmonate treatment slightly induced the expression of CaSAR8.2. A strain of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv) that contains an avirulence gene avrBs2, was infiltrated into the leaves of a pepper cultivar containing the Bs2 resistance gene. A marked induction of CaSAR8.2 gene expression was observed in Xcv-infiltrated leaves. These results suggest possible roles of CaSAR8.2 as pathogenesis-related protein against varieties of pathogens including virus and bacteria.