Project description:Lack of resistance to pink snow mould (Microdochium nivale) is seen as a major constraint for adaptation of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) at higher latitudes. Plants generally become more resistant to snow moulds after cold acclimation, and almost all investigations of genetic variation in resistance have been performed using cold acclimated plants. However, there may be variation in resistance mechanisms that are functioning independently of cold acclimation. In this study our aim was to identify candidate genes involved in such resistance mechanisms. We first characterized variation in resistance to M. nivale among non-acclimated plants of eight genotypes from the Norwegian cultivar Fagerlin and selected one resistant and one susceptible genotype for transcriptome analysis. Total RNA was extracted from leaf blade tissue of plants exposed to three different treatments: non-inoculated and non-incubated plants, non-inoculated plants after four days of incubation, and inoculated plants after four days of incubation. cDNA libraries were prepared and paired-end sequencing performed using Illumina Hiseq 2000. Transcriptome profiles, GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis indicate that defence response related genes are differentially expressed between incubated non-inoculated and incubated inoculated conditions both within resistant and susceptible genotypes. A significant up-regulation of defence related genes as well as genes involved in cell wall cellulose metabolic processes and aryl-alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP+) activity was observed in the resistant genotype. The candidate genes identified in this study might be potential molecular marker resources for breeding perennial ryegrass cultivars with improved resistance to pink snow mould.
Project description:Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold and noble rot, is a phytopathogenic fungus with a scientific and economic relevance due to its effects in agriculture. This fungus employs various molecular tools, such as enzymes and secondary metabolites, to infect and colonize plant tissues. Pathogenicity and virulence factors are identified, highlighting their role in the infectious cycle. Our approach presents the description of a new infection mechanism in the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea, based on the production of bioactive peptides. Those peptides were isolated from cultures with glucose (constitutive stage) and tomato (virulence inductor), and showed significant effects on virulence, suggesting a crucial function in the fungus-plant interaction. Biochemical and genetic analysis methods were employed to determine the expression of genes involved in peptide production, highlighting the potential for de novo peptide synthesis and degradation of parental proteins. The results indicate that B. cinerea has significant biotechnological potential, as it can generate peptides of interest for industrial and pharmaceutical applications. This work is pioneering in describing the peptidome of a phytopathogenic fungus and suggests new strategies for controlling microbial infections.
Project description:In this study, we showed that three bacteria were able to inhibit the mycelial growth of the phytopathogenic fungus Thielaviopsis ethacetica, by the emission of microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). Aiming to understand the molecular mechanisms of these interactions, we evaluated the transcriptomic response of T. ethacetica to the mVOCs produced by one of these bacterial isolates.
2021-07-22 | GSE158776 | GEO
Project description:Population genomic data of Rhododendron nivale