Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Analyses of the CRK Gene Family in Cotton Reveals GbCRK18 Confers Verticillium Wilt Resistance in Gossypium barbadense

Abstract

Cysteine-rich receptor-like kinases (CRKs) are a large subfamily of plant receptor-like kinases that play a critical role in disease resistance in plants. However, knowledge about the CRK gene family in cotton and its function against Verticillium wilt (VW), a destructive disease caused by Verticillium dahliae that significantly reduces cotton yields is lacking. In this study, we identified a total of 30 typical CRKs in a Gossypium barbadense genome (GbCRKs). Eleven of these (>30%) are located on the A06 and D06 chromosomes, and 18 consisted of 9 paralogous pairs encoded in the A and D subgenomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the GbCRKs could be classified into four broad groups, the expansion of which has probably been driven by tandem duplication. Gene expression profiling of the GbCRKs in resistant and susceptible cotton cultivars revealed that a phylogenetic cluster of nine of the GbCRK genes were up-regulated in response to V. dahliae infection. Virus-induced gene silencing of each of these nine GbCRKs independently revealed that the silencing of GbCRK18 was sufficient to compromise VW resistance in G. barbadense. GbCRK18 expression could be induced by V. dahliae infection or jasmonic acid, and displayed plasma membrane localization. Therefore, our expression analyses indicated that the CRK gene family is differentially regulated in response to Verticillium infection, while gene silencing experiments revealed that GbCRK18 in particular confers VW resistance in G. barbadense.

A wheat cysteine-rich receptor-like kinase confers broad-spectrum resistance against Septoria tritici blotch

“…While the nature of these genes is diverse, none of them so far belongs to the CRK family. Recently, the cotton CRK GbCRK18 was shown to play a role in resistance to Verticillium dahliae as silencing this gene by virus-induced gene silencing mediates plant susceptibility 32 . However, it is not known if this gene would confer resistance once introduced into a susceptible accession.…”

Cysteine-Rich Receptor-Like Kinase Gene Family Identification in the Phaseolus Genome and Comparative Analysis of Their Expression Profiles Specific to Mycorrhizal and Rhizobial Symbiosis

“…CRK family members in Glycine max were found to be transcriptionally regulated by the biotic stress signals triggering plant immune response [18]. Further, CRK18 in Gossypium barbadense is reported to confer resistance to verticillium wilt resistance [19].…”

The Gossypium hirsutum TIR‐NBS‐LRR gene GhDSC1 mediates resistance against Verticillium wilt

“…Several genes in cotton that contribute to defence responses against Verticillium wilt have been characterized (Duan et al ., ; Gao et al ., ; Li et al ., , ; Mo et al ., ; Munis et al ., ; Yang et al ., , ; Zhang et al ., ; ; ; ), and studies on these genes provide an ever greater understanding of the bases for disease resistance in cotton. In most of these studies, however, candidate genes were identified in an arbitrary model such as conserved homologue cloning that lacks a genetic basis.…”