Project description:Magnaporthe oryzae (rice blast) and the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola are causing two of the most important pathogenic diseases jeopardizing rice production. Here, we show that root-knot nematode infestation on rice roots leads to important above-ground changes in plant immunity gene expression, which is correlated with significantly enhanced susceptibility to blast disease.
Project description:In this study we generated small RNA libraries from tissues rice plants infected with Meloidogyne graminicola (Mg)3 days postinoculation as well as from uninfected rice plants. The goal was to study the behaviour of small RNA (miRNA and siRNAs) in response to Mg infection. We combine the expression data gathered from this experiment together with degradome sequencing to predict the targets of differentially expressed miRNAs. Expression was validated using RT-qPCR. The small RNA sequencing datasets were also used with literature annotated siRNA loci for differential expression analysis. DNA methylation data and total RNA sequencing data were used to find siRNAs that were candidates to regulate gene expression through DNA methylation of promoter regions.
Project description:Ascorbic acid (AA) is known to play a vital role in plant growth and detoxification of reactive oxygen species, however little is known about the significance of AA oxidation in plant defence against pathogens. • The role of ascorbate oxidation in rice defence against root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne graminicola, was tested with application of AA, ascorbate oxidase (AO), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), biosynthesis inhibitors and use of mutants. Transcriptome analysis was done on AO treated plants, and hormone measurements were executed to confirm the results. Biochemical analyses were used to study oxidative stress markers, including accumulation of H2O2, , malondialdehyde and AA/DHA.