Project description:Investigation of whole genome gene expression level changes in leaves of susceptible (MM106) or resistant (ME010) apple genotypes either non-inoculated, inoculated with the wild type strain of Erwinia amylovora (CFBP1430) or the non-pathogenic mutant strain PMV6023. The mutant strain PMV6023 is affected in the biosynthesis of the type 3 secretion system delivering bacterial effectors into apple cells. Leaves were harvested for RNA extraction before inoculation, 6 hours and 24 hours after inoculation.
Project description:Fire blight (FB) is a bacterial disease affecting plants from Rosaceae family, including apple and pear. FB develops after the infection of Erwinia amylovora, gram-negative enterobacterium, and results in burnt-like damages and wilting, which can affect all organs of the plant. Although the mechanisms underlying disease response in apples are not elucidated yet, it has been well described that FB resistance depends on the rootstock type. The main objective of this work was to identify miRNAs involved in response to bacterial infection in order to better explain apple defense mechanisms against fire blight disease. We performed deep sequencing of eighteen small RNA libraries obtained from inoculated and non-inoculated Gala apple leaves. 233 novel plant mature miRNAs were identified together with their targets and potential role in response to bacterial infection. We identify three apple miRNAs responding to inoculation (mdm-miR168a,b, mdm-miR194C and mdm-miR1392C) as well as miRNAs reacting to bacterial infection in a rootstock-specific manner (miR395 family). Our results provide insights into the mechanisms of fire blight resistance in apple.
Project description:Inoculation of endophyte-free (E-) Theobroma cacao leaves with Colletotrichum tropicale (E+), the dominant foliar fungal endophyte in healthy T. cacao, induced significant changes in the expression of hundreds of host genes. Further, E+ leaves exhibit enhanced pathogen resistance, increased lignin and cellulose content, reduced maximum rates of photosynthesis (Amax), and enrichment of nitrogen-15 and carbon-13 isotopes that all correspond to the changes in expression of specific functional genes in related pathways. Moreover, a cacao gene highly up-regulated in E+ leaves increases pathogen resistance apart from any direct endophyte effects. Thus, benefits of increased pathogen resistance in E+ plants are partially due to enhanced induction of intrinsic host defense pathways, and potential costs include reduced photosynthetic capacity and endophyte metabolism of host tissues. Similar effects are likely to be properties of most plant-endophyte interactions, suggesting general relevance to the design and interpretation of studies of genetic and phenotypic expression in plants. The objective of this experiment was to identify Theobroma cacao genes that are differentially expressed between leaves inoculated with fungal endophyte Colletotrichum tropicale (E+ leaves) and control un-inoculated leaves (E- leaves) 14 days post last endophyte inoculation. The experiment was conducted in a Percival growth chambers (model I35LL, 115 volts, 1/4 Hp, series: 8503122.16, Percival Scientific, Inc., Perry IA) with 12/12 h light/dark photoperiod and temperatures of 30M-BM-:C and 26M-BM-:C respectively. A total of four endophyte spore inoculations (1X10^6 spore/ml) were made by aspersion to a group of T. cacao seedlings and a second group of seedlings were maintained as un-inoculated. Then six biological replicates per treatment (E+ leaves and six E- leaves) each one belonging from a different seedling were collected and processed for a two color oligo microarray analysis. A total of six arrays were processed, each one hybridized to an inoculated and a control un-inoculated sample in a dye swap design.
Project description:Inoculation of endophyte-free (E-) Theobroma cacao leaves with Colletotrichum tropicale (E+), the dominant foliar fungal endophyte in healthy T. cacao, induced significant changes in the expression of hundreds of host genes. Further, E+ leaves exhibit enhanced pathogen resistance, increased lignin and cellulose content, reduced maximum rates of photosynthesis (Amax), and enrichment of nitrogen-15 and carbon-13 isotopes that all correspond to the changes in expression of specific functional genes in related pathways. Moreover, a cacao gene highly up-regulated in E+ leaves increases pathogen resistance apart from any direct endophyte effects. Thus, benefits of increased pathogen resistance in E+ plants are partially due to enhanced induction of intrinsic host defense pathways, and potential costs include reduced photosynthetic capacity and endophyte metabolism of host tissues. Similar effects are likely to be properties of most plant-endophyte interactions, suggesting general relevance to the design and interpretation of studies of genetic and phenotypic expression in plants. The objective of this experiment was to identify Theobroma cacao genes that are differentially expressed between leaves inoculated with fungal endophyte Colletotrichum tropicale (E+ leaves) and control un-inoculated leaves (E- leaves) 3 days post endophyte inoculation. The experiment was conducted in a Percival growth chamber (model I35LL, 115 volts, 1/4 Hp, series: 8503122.16, Percival Scientific, Inc., Perry IA) with 12/12 h light/dark photoperiod and temperatures of 30M-BM-:C and 26M-BM-:C respectively. Inoculation was done by aspersion of endophyte spores (2X10^6 spore/ml) to a group of T. cacao seedlings and a second group of seedlings were maintained as control un-inoculated (E- leaves). Then three biological replicates (each one consisting of one leaf from different plants) per treatment E+ and four leaves per treatment E- leaves) were collected and processed for a two color oligo microarray analysis.
Project description:Ontogenic scab resistance in apple leaves and fruits is a horizontal resistance against the plant pathogen VenturiaM- inaequalis and is expressed as decrease of disease symptoms and incidence with the ageing of the leaves. Several studies at biochemical level tried to unveil the nature of this resistance, however without any conclusive results. We decided therefore to investigate the genetic origin of this phenomenon by performing a full quantitative trascriptome sequencing and comparison of young (susceptible) and old (ontogenic resistant) leaves, infected or not with the pathogen. Two time points at 72 and 96 hours post inoculation were chosen for RNA sampling and sequencing. Comparison between the different conditions (young and old leaves, inoculated or not) should allow finding genes differentially expressed which may represent different induced plant defense reaction leading to ontogenic resistance or be the cause for a constitutive (not inoculated with the pathogen) shift toward resistance in old leaves. Differentially expressed genes were then characterized for their function by homology to A.M- thaliana and other plantsM-^R genes, particularly looking for genes involved in pathways already suspected of appertaining to ontogenic resistance in apple or other hosts, or to plant defense mechanisms in general.
Project description:Resistant lines (Mandelup, carrying the AnMan allele and 83A:476 carrying the Lanr1 allele), the line which is putative novel donor of resistance (Boregine) and a susceptible line (Population 22660) were used in this study. 4 weeks after sowing, when the plants reached 4-6 leaf stage, plants were inoculated with Colletotrichum lupini or mock-inoculated (control plants) and then kept for 24 hours in darkness under ~100% humidity and temperature of 25°C. Leaves were sampled at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours post inoculation.