Articles
Transcriptome analysis under pecan scab infection reveals the molecular mechanisms of the defense response in pecan
Article number
1420_32
Pages
237 – 242
Language
English
Abstract
Pecan scab (caused by fungal organism Venturia effusa) is the most devastating disease of pecan (Carya illinoinensis) in the southeastern United States.
To understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of scab resistance in pecan, we performed a transcriptome analysis of the pecan cultivar ‘Desirable’ in response to a pathogenic and an apathogenic scab pathotype at three different time points (24, 48, and 96 h post-inoculation). Differential gene expression and gene ontology enrichment showed contrasting gene expression patterns and pathway enrichment in response to the contrasting pathotypes with varying pathogenicity.
The weighted gene co-expression analysis of differentially expressed genes detected 11 gene modules.
Among them, module-4 (M4) had a significant enrichment of genes involved with defense responses.
These genes were particularly upregulated in the resistant reaction at the early stage of fungal infection (24 h) compared to the susceptible reaction.
Observations made in this study suggest that the early response of pathogen-related signal transduction and the development of cellular barriers against the invading fungus are likely defense mechanisms employed by pecan cultivars against apathogenic pathotypes.
The transcriptomic data generated in this study may provide the foundation for identifying candidate resistant genes in pecan against Venturia effusa and exploring the molecular mechanisms of disease resistance.
To understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of scab resistance in pecan, we performed a transcriptome analysis of the pecan cultivar ‘Desirable’ in response to a pathogenic and an apathogenic scab pathotype at three different time points (24, 48, and 96 h post-inoculation). Differential gene expression and gene ontology enrichment showed contrasting gene expression patterns and pathway enrichment in response to the contrasting pathotypes with varying pathogenicity.
The weighted gene co-expression analysis of differentially expressed genes detected 11 gene modules.
Among them, module-4 (M4) had a significant enrichment of genes involved with defense responses.
These genes were particularly upregulated in the resistant reaction at the early stage of fungal infection (24 h) compared to the susceptible reaction.
Observations made in this study suggest that the early response of pathogen-related signal transduction and the development of cellular barriers against the invading fungus are likely defense mechanisms employed by pecan cultivars against apathogenic pathotypes.
The transcriptomic data generated in this study may provide the foundation for identifying candidate resistant genes in pecan against Venturia effusa and exploring the molecular mechanisms of disease resistance.
Publication
Authors
G. Bhattarai, P. Conner, J. Randall, H. Shadgou Rhein
Keywords
Carya illionensis, Venturia effusa, differential gene expression, disease resistance
Groups involved
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