A rapid and efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transient gene expression system for strawberry leaves and the study of disease resistance proteins

Transient gene expression is a simple and universal method and has been broadly applied in gene functional analyses in several plant species. However, few studies have reported the utilization and transient expression of strawberry leaves. Here, an Agrobacterium-mediated transient gene expression system was established in strawberry leaves. The strawberry leaf transient gene expression system was tested for protein expression, western blot assays, and protein subcellular localization. Furthermore, the Arabidopsis thaliana broad-spectrum disease resistance protein RPW8.2 was transiently expressed in strawberry leaves. Both the application of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) and the following infection by the strawberry powdery mildew pathogen, Podosphaera aphanis, resulted in increased expression of the RPW8.2 fusion protein. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR analysis showed that the transient expression of AtRPW8.2 in strawberry leaves could induce defense-related gene transcription levels. In conclusion, we demonstrated the potential of a rapid and efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transient gene expression system in strawberry leaves and its use for the study of disease resistant protein activity in strawberry leaves.