Recombinant Nep1 From Fusarium oxysporum as a biological agent for control of Convolvulus arvensis

Nep1 is a natural bio-herbicide protein which has an effective necrosis stimulant in dicotyledonous weeds. This protein was first purified in 1995 form fermentation broth of Fusarium oxysporum. In this study, the nep1gene was isolated form F. oxysporum, after removal of signal peptide from the beginning of the gene; final pET16b-nep1 construct was cloned and transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). The recombinant Nep1 was produced inE. coli. Recombinant protein was purified, diluted and prepared for biological assay on weed. Two ml of recombinant Nep1 with 60 µg/ ml final concentrations was sprayed on Convolvulus arvensis. Our results showed necrosis and chlorosis symptoms were started on the plant leaves after 2 days, also significant necrosis on the leaves of C. arvensis was seen after 5 days. No necrosis lesion was seen in the negative control plants that sprayed only with buffer and denatured recombinant Nep1 in 100 ºC for 15 min. Discussion and Our results introduced recombinant Nep1 as a biological potent agent for biocontrol of C. arvensis.