Cumin Transformation for Resistance to Fungal Diseases

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Seed and Plant Improvement Research Department, Safiabad Agricultural Research and Education and Natural Resources Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Dezful, Iran

2 Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Aburihan Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Tehran, Pakdasht, Iran

3 Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) is an economically valuable medicinal and spice plant that is highly susceptible to fungal pathogens, including Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cumini, which can cause yield losses of up to 80%. In this study, a multi-gene construct (pBI121) carrying chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, and PRP1 genes, each driven by an independent CaMV 35S promoter and accompanied by a nptII selectable marker, was introduced into cumin through Agrobacterium tumefaciens–mediated transformation. Cotyledon explants were co-cultivated with Agrobacterium strain EHA105 at OD600 = 0.5, followed by selection on MS medium containing 50 mg L-1 kanamycin. A total of nine transgenic lines were confirmed by PCR amplification of specific bands at approximately 870 bp (glucanase), 680 bp (chitinase), and 580 bp (PRP1), corresponding to a transformation efficiency of about 1.5%. Protein extracts from transgenic plants exhibited clear antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum in vitro, with inhibition zones averaging 6.3 ± 0.5 mm and 9.8 ± 0.7 mm for 50 µg and 100 µg protein concentrations, respectively. No inhibition was observed in extracts from non-transgenic plants or buffer controls. The antifungal effect is attributed to synergistic action among chitinase, glucanase, and PRP1 proteins, which degrade fungal cell wall components and activate defense signaling pathways. These results demonstrate the feasibility of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in cumin and highlight the potential of multi-gene stacking strategies for enhancing fungal resistance in medicinal plants. This work represents an important step toward developing disease-resistant cumin genotypes and reducing reliance on chemical fungicides in sustainable agriculture.

Graphical Abstract

Cumin Transformation for Resistance to Fungal Diseases

Highlights

  • Cotyledon explants were used for the transformation process.
  • Amplified bands of 870, 680, and 580 bp in length related to glucanase, chitinase, and PRP1 genes were observed in transgenic plants and control plants lacked any bands.
  • Expression of glucanase and chitinase enzymes prevented fungal growth.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Agrotechniques in Industrial Crops
Volume 6, Issue 2
Agrotechniques in Industrial Crops (Agrotech Ind Crops) (Online ISSN: 2783-2945)
July 2026
Pages 231-239

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