Antifungal defence proteins from wheat kernel

During an ongoing screening or antifungal proteins from wheat kernel (Triticum aestivum. cv. S.Pastore) a number of different products belonging to the large family of pathogenesis related (PR) proteins has been isolated and characterised. Well known anti-fungal proteins such as basic b1,3 glucanase and chitinase isoenzymes were Found to be expressed in kernel. Moreover three homologous proteins (wheatwinl, 2 and 3) belonging to the scarcely studied PR4 family were purified and characterised. The three proteins displayed strong antifungal activity in vitro by inhibiting hyphal growth of several fungi including wheat pathogens (IC50 values ranging from 6.0 to 33.0 ug/ml)