Articles
Initial results of WGBS to unveil the role of cytosine methylation promoted by the biocontrol agent P. mediterranea in Citrus limon affected by Mal secco disease
Article number
1454_32
Pages
231 – 238
Language
English
Abstract
Mal secco disease (MSD), caused by the mitosporic fungus Plenodomus tracheiphilus, is a vascular disease of utmost importance for the citrus industry.
The main host is lemon, but other species in the Citrus and Rutaceae genera are also susceptible.
It enters in the host tissues through wounds and then spreads systemically until it reaches the lumen of the xylem leading to the desiccation of twigs, branches, or even of the whole plant.
Recently, the use of biological control agents (BCAs) to cope with diseases has received considerable attention, and promising results have been obtained by P. mediterranea PVCT 3C pre-treatment on lemon plants.
In particular, P. mediterranea strongly reduces the lemon leaf transcriptome modifications in the pathogen inoculated plants, limits the amount of fungal DNA inside the plant tissues and downregulates some receptor-like kinase genes (RLKs) involved in plant–pathogen interaction, whose main effect could be quenching the plant ability to perceive the infection.
DNA methylation is an important mode of epigenetic regulation and plays a pivotal role in the response of plants to several biotic and abiotic stresses.
In this study, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) was performed on Citrus limon (L.) plants artificially inoculated with P. tracheiphilus during the initial, asymptomatic phase of the disease and on P. mediterranea pretreated and fungus-inoculated plants in order to understand if DNA methylation is involved in BCA-mediated disease enhanced tolerance.
Preliminary results indicate the presence of 14% of mCG on average mostly in the intronic regions, and 7 and 2% of mCHH of mCHG, mainly in the promoter region.
Furthermore, P. mediterranea pre-treatment used as BCA led to changes in cytosines methylation mainly in CHH context, suggesting an involvement of these changes in the lemon plant improved defense response against P. tracheiphylus.
The main host is lemon, but other species in the Citrus and Rutaceae genera are also susceptible.
It enters in the host tissues through wounds and then spreads systemically until it reaches the lumen of the xylem leading to the desiccation of twigs, branches, or even of the whole plant.
Recently, the use of biological control agents (BCAs) to cope with diseases has received considerable attention, and promising results have been obtained by P. mediterranea PVCT 3C pre-treatment on lemon plants.
In particular, P. mediterranea strongly reduces the lemon leaf transcriptome modifications in the pathogen inoculated plants, limits the amount of fungal DNA inside the plant tissues and downregulates some receptor-like kinase genes (RLKs) involved in plant–pathogen interaction, whose main effect could be quenching the plant ability to perceive the infection.
DNA methylation is an important mode of epigenetic regulation and plays a pivotal role in the response of plants to several biotic and abiotic stresses.
In this study, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) was performed on Citrus limon (L.) plants artificially inoculated with P. tracheiphilus during the initial, asymptomatic phase of the disease and on P. mediterranea pretreated and fungus-inoculated plants in order to understand if DNA methylation is involved in BCA-mediated disease enhanced tolerance.
Preliminary results indicate the presence of 14% of mCG on average mostly in the intronic regions, and 7 and 2% of mCHH of mCHG, mainly in the promoter region.
Furthermore, P. mediterranea pre-treatment used as BCA led to changes in cytosines methylation mainly in CHH context, suggesting an involvement of these changes in the lemon plant improved defense response against P. tracheiphylus.
Authors
A. Sicilia, E. Scialò, V. Catara, G. Dimaria, S. La Malfa, A.R. Lo Piero
Keywords
DNA methylation, WGBS, Citrus limon, P. tracheiphilus, biocontrol agent
Groups involved
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Working Group Genetic Transformation and Gene Editing
- Working Group Horticultural Biotechnology and Breeding
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Horticulture for Development
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