A gene capable of enhancing salicylic acid-induced cell death in a plant cell and contributing to resistance to the fungal virulence factor deoxynivalenol, and a recombinant construct including the gene
The Applicant has identified a novel DON-responsive orphan gene (ENST1 - SEQ ID NO: 1), and its promoter, which features DON-responsive elements, which can be used to drive the expression of FHB resistance genes. The Applicant has isolated two variants of the gene from wheat that share approx 94% homology with ENST1. The Applicant has shown that this gene has homologs of > 62% nucleotide sequence identity exist in Aegilops tauschii, Brachypodium distachyon, Festuca pratensis, Hordeum vulgare and Triticum aestivum.