MiRNA160 is associated with local defense and systemic acquired resistance against Phytophthora infestans infection in potato.

ABSTRACT: To combat pathogen infection, plants employ local defenses in infected sites and elicit systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in distant tissues. MicroRNAs have been shown to play a significant role in local defense, but their association with SAR is unknown. In addition, no such studies of the interaction between potato and Phytophthora infestans have been reported. We investigated the role of miR160 in local and SAR responses to P. infestans infection in potato. Expression analysis revealed induced levels of miR160 in both local and systemic leaves of infected wild-type plants. miR160 overexpression and knockdown plants exhibited increased susceptibility to infection, suggesting that miR160 levels equivalent to those of wild-type plants may be necessary for mounting local defense responses.

SUBMITTER: Natarajan B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6018911 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature