Salicylic acid biosynthetic genes and uses thereof

Abstract

The invention provides methods for inducing or increasing disease resistance in a plant.

1 . A non-naturally occurring plant or plant component comprising i) a first nucleic acid molecule encoding an isochorismate synthase, operably linked to a rapid response inducible promoter that is functional in the plant or plant component, and ii) a second nucleic acid molecule encoding a salicyl AMP ligase, a nucleic acid molecule encoding a dihydroaeruginoic acid synthetase, or a nucleic acid molecule encoding a pyochelin synthetase.  
     
     
         2 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 1 , wherein the isochorismate synthase is  Arabidopsis thaliana  isochorismate synthase I or PchA.  
     
     
         3 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 1 , wherein said second nucleic acid molecule is operably linked to a rapid response inducible promoter that is functional in the plant or plant component.  
     
     
         4 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 1 , wherein said second nucleic acid molecule encodes a salicyl AMP ligase.  
     
     
         5 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 1 , wherein said second nucleic acid molecule encodes a dihydroaeruginoic acid synthetase.  
     
     
         6 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 1 , wherein said second nucleic acid molecule encodes a pyochelin synthetase.  
     
     
         7 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 1 , wherein said plant or plant component comprises a third nucleic acid molecule encoding a pyruvate lyase.  
     
     
         8 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 7 , wherein the pyruvate lyase is PchB.  
     
     
         9 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 1 , wherein the salicyl AMP ligase is PchD, the dihydroaeruginoic acid synthetase is PchE, or the pyochelin synthetase is PchF.  
     
     
         10 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 1 , wherein said plant or plant component is a crucifer or a plant component of a crucifer.  
     
     
         11 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 10 , wherein said crucifer is selected from the list consisting of rape, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, radish, kale, Chinese kale, kohlrabi, cauliflower, turnip, rutabaga, mustard, horseradish, and  Arabidopsis thaliana.    
     
     
         12 . A non-naturally occurring plant or plant component comprising a first nucleic acid molecule encoding a salicyl AMP ligase, a second nucleic acid molecule encoding a dihydroaeruginoic acid synthetase, and a third nucleic acid molecule encoding a pyochelin synthetase, wherein the first, second, and third nucleic acid molecules are expressed in the plant or plant component.  
     
     
         13 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 12 , wherein the salicyl AMP ligase is PchD, the dihydroaeruginoic acid synthetase is Pch, or the pyochelin synthetase is PchF.  
     
     
         14 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 12 , wherein said first, second or third nucleic acid molecule is operably linked to a rapid response inducible promoter that is functional in the plant or plant component.  
     
     
         15 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 12 , wherein said plant or plant component further comprises a nucleic acid molecule encoding a pyruvate lyase.  
     
     
         16 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 15 , wherein the pyruvate lyase is PchB.  
     
     
         17 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 12 , wherein said plant or plant component is a crucifer or a plant component of a crucifer.  
     
     
         18 . The non-naturally occurring plant or plant component of  claim 17 , wherein said crucifer is selected from the list consisting of rape, broccoli, cabbage, brussel sprouts, radish, kale, Chinese kale, kohlrabi, cauliflower, turnip, rutabaga, mustard, horseradish, and  Arabidopsis thaliana.