Project description:Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands (Pc) is a hemibiotrophic oomycete and the causal agent of Phytophthora root rot (PRR) of the commercially important fruit crop avocado (Persea americana Mill.). Plant defense against pathogens is modulated by phytohormone signaling pathways such as salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), ethylene (ET), auxin and abscisic acid. The role of specific signaling pathways induced and regulated during hemibiotroph-plant interactions has been widely debated. Some studies report SA mediated defense while others hypothesize that JA responses restrict the spread of pathogens. This study aimed to identify the role of SA- and JA- associated genes in the defense strategy of a resistant avocado rootstock, Dusa® in response to Pc infection. Transcripts associated with SA-mediated defense pathways and lignin biosynthesis were upregulated at 6 hours post-inoculation (hpi). Results suggest that auxin, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca2+ signaling was also important during this early time point, while JA signaling was absent. Both SA and JA defense responses were shown to play a role during defense at 18 hpi. Induction of genes associated with ROS detoxification and cell wall digestion (β-1-3-glucanase) was also observed. Most genes induced at 24 hpi were linked to JA responses. Other processes at play in avocado at 24 hpi include cell wall strengthening, the formation of phenolics and induction of arabinogalactan, a gene linked to Pc zoospore immobility. This study represents the first transcriptome wide analysis of a resistant avocado rootstock treated with SA and JA compared to Pc infection. The results provide evidence of a biphasic defense response against the hemibiotroph, which initially involves SA-mediated gene expression followed by the enrichment of JA-mediated defense from 18 to 24 hpi. Genes and molecular pathways linked to Pc resistance are highlighted and may serve as future targets for manipulation in the development of PRR resistant avocado rootstocks.

Project description:Background: Cell walls (CWs) are protein-rich polysaccharide matrices essential for plant growth and environmental acclimationadaptation. The CW constitutes the first physical barrier as well as a primary source of sugars for plant microbes, such as the vascular pathogen Fusarium oxysporum (Fo). Fo colonizes roots, advancing through the plant primary CWs towards the vasculature, where it grows causing devastation in many crops. The pathogenicity of Fo and other vascular microbes relies on their capacity to reach and colonize the xylem. However, little is known about the root-microbe interaction before the pathogen reaches the vasculature and the role of the plant CW during this process. Results: Using the pathosystem Arabidopsis-Fo5176, we show dynamic transcriptional changes in both fungus and root during their interaction. One of the earliest plant responses to Fo5176 was the downregulation of primary CW synthesis genes. We observed enhanced resistance to Fo5176 in Arabidopsis mutants impaired in primary CW cellulose synthesis. Previous studies showed an induction of ectopic lignification, accumulation of defense-related phytohormones, and dwarfism in primary CW cellulose synthesis deficient plants, potentially explaining their resistance to Fo5176. We confirmed that Arabidopsis roots deposit lignin in response to Fo5176 infection but we show that lignin-deficient mutants were as susceptible as wildtype plants to Fo5176. Genetic impairment of jasmonic acid biosynthesis and signaling did not alter Arabidopsis response to Fo5176, whereas impairment of ethylene signaling did increase vasculature colonization by Fo5176. AbolishingThis ethylene signaling interruption attenuated the observed resistance while maintaining the dwarfism observed in primary CW cellulose-deficient mutants. Conclusions: Our study provides significant insights on the dynamic root-vascular pathogen interaction at the transcriptome level and the vital role of primary CW cellulose during defense response to these pathogens. These findings represent an essential resource for the generation of plant resistance to Fo that can be transferred to other vascular pathosystems.

Project description:For potato crops, host resistance is currently the most effective and sustainable tool to manage potato root and tuber diseases caused by the plasmodiophorid, Spongospora subterranea. Arguably, zoospore root attachment is the most critical phase of the pathogen infection, however, the mechanisms underlying zoospore root attachment remains unknown. This study investigated the potential role of root cell wall surface polysaccharides and proteins in zoospore root attachment in resistant and susceptible potato cultivars. We first compared the effects of enzymatic removal of root cell wall proteins, N-linked glycans or polysaccharides on S. subterranea attachment to root tissue of resistant and susceptible potato cultivars. Subsequently, mass spectrometry analysis of peptides released by trypsin shaving (TS) of root segments identified 1235 proteins, of which 262 were differentially abundant between the resistant and susceptible cultivars. In particular, proteins associated with glutathione metabolism and lignin biosynthesis were more abundant in the resistant cultivar. Comparison with whole-root proteomic analysis of the same resistant and susceptible cultivars led to identification of 226 proteins unique to the TS dataset, of which 188 were significantly different between cultivars. Among these, the pathogen defence-related cell wall protein stem 28 kDa glycoprotein and two major latex proteins were significantly less abundant in the resistant cultivar compared to the susceptible cultivar. A further major latex protein was detected at reduced levels in the resistant cultivar in both TS and whole-root proteomic datasets. In contrast, in the TS-specific dataset, three glutathione S-transferase proteins were more abundant in the resistant cultivar, while the protein glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidase was significantly increased in both the TS and whole-root datasets. These results imply a particular role of major latex proteins and glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidase in the regulation of host susceptibility to S. subterranea.

Project description:Whirling disease, caused by the pathogen Myxobolus cerebralis, afflicts several salmonid species. Rainbow trout are particularly susceptible and suffer high mortality rates. The disease is persistent and spreading in hatcheries and natural waters of several countries, including the U.S., and the economic losses associated with whirling disease have been extremely large. In this study, gene expression profiling was conducted for resistant and susceptible rainbow trout strains following pathogen exposure with the primary objective of identifying specific genes associated with whirling disease resistance. Several genes were significantly up-regulated in skin following pathogen exposure for both the resistant Hofer and susceptible Trout Lodge rainbow trout strains. For both strains, response to infection appears to be associated with the interferon system. Metallothionein is differentially expressed between the resistant and susceptible strains and is a good candidate for future studies due to its diverse functional roles in inflammation and immune response. The present study has provided the first examination into the genetic basis underlying rainbow trout’s immune response and resistance to the whirling disease pathogen. The identified genes have allowed us to gain initial insight into the molecular mechanisms associated with a salmonid host’s immune response and resistance to whirling disease infection. Keywords: Disease state comparison. 1st comparison: exposed vs control. 2nd comparison: resistant vs susceptible strains Resistant (Hofer) and susceptible (Trout Lodge) rainbow trout strains were exposed to 2,000 triactinomyxons (whirling disease pathogen) per fish. Unexposed controls for each strain were treated identically to exposed other than their lack of pathogen exposure. After twenty-four hours, caudal fin tissue was collected for RNA extraction. Amplified RNA was competitively hybridized (exposed versus control) for each strain. Four biological replicates were used for each experimental condition and a balanced block design was incorporated.

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GNPS - Metabolomic Patterns of Septoria Canker Resistant and Susceptible Populus trichocarpa Genotypes 24 Hours Postinoculation

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