Induction of PR-10 genes and metabolites in strawberry plants in response to Verticillium dahliae infection

Abstract

Background The soil-borne vascular pathogen Verticillium dahliae causes severe wilt symptoms in a wide range of plants including strawberry ( Fragaria × ananassa). To enhance our understanding of the effects of V. dahliae on the growth and development of F. × ananassa, the expression patterns of 21 PR-10 genes were investigated by qPCR analysis and metabolite changes were determined by LC-MS in in vitro F. × ananassa plants upon pathogen infection. Results The expression patterns of the 21 isoforms showed a wide range of responses. Four PR-10 genes were highly induced in leaves upon pathogen infection while eight members were significantly up-regulated in roots. A simultaneously induced expression in leaves and roots was detected for five PR-10 genes. Interestingly, two isoforms were expressed upon infection in all three tissues (leaves, roots and stems) while no induction was detected for two other members. Accumulation of antifungal catechin and epicatechin was detected upon pathogen infection in roots and stems at late stages, while caffeic acid and citric acid were observed only in infected roots. Production of abscisic acid, salicylic acid, jasmonic acid (JA), gibberellic acid and indole acetic acid (IAA) was induced in infected leaves and stems at early stages. IAA and JA were the sole hormones to be ascertained in infected roots at late stages. Conclusions The induction of several PR-10 genes upon infection of strawberry plants with V. dahliae suggest a role of PR-10 genes in the defense response against this pathogen. Production of phytohormones in the early stages of infection and antifungal metabolites in late stages suppose that they are implicated in this response. The results may possibly improve the control measures of the pathogen. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12870-019-1718-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Down-regulation of Fra a 1.02 in strawberry fruits causes transcriptomic and metabolic changes compatible with an altered defense response

“…A large number of PR-10 genes have been identified in different species with expression patterns that differ between normal growth and stress conditions 2 , 3 . In strawberry, 39 Fra a 1 genes have been identified to date 4 .…”

The rhizosphere microbiome plays a role in the resistance to soil-borne pathogens and nutrient uptake of strawberry cultivars under field conditions

“…fragariae. Resistance to these soil-borne pathogens seems to be achieved through the expression of multiple genes 29 thought to regulate the production of substances with antifungal properties such as catechin, caffeic acid, or citric acid 30 . Cultivars with different degrees of resistance to Macrophomina crown rot have also been identified, yet little is known on the mechanisms involved despite its recently increasing incidence in California and other regions of the world [31][32][33] .…”

Hop Polyphenols in Relation to Verticillium Wilt Resistance and Their Antifungal Activity

“…Hop polyphenols are a complex mixture of phenolic acids and non-prenylated flavonoids, including proanthocyanidins and flavonol glycosides [ 47 ]. Some of these compounds have been shown to accumulate in the defense response of host plants after infection with Verticillium [ 14 , 28 , 37 , 46 , 83 , 84 , 85 ], and for certain compounds, antifungal activity has been tested in vitro [ 38 ].…”