Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Revealed That Flavonoid Biosynthesis May Dominate the Resistance of Zanthoxylum bungeanum against Stem Canker

Abstract

Stem canker of Zanthoxylum bungeanum is a devastating disease that seriously affects the plantation and industrial development of Z. bungeanum due to a lack of effective control measures. The objective of this study was to screen out resistant Z. bungeanum varieties and further explore their resistance mechanisms against stem canker. Results showed that the most resistant and susceptible varieties were, respectively, Doujiao (DJ) and Fengxian Dahongpao (FD). Combining transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, we found that the genes and metabolites associated with the phenylpropanoid metabolism, especially flavonoid biosynthesis, were highly significantly enriched in DJ following pathogen infection compared with that in FD, which indicated that the flavonoid metabolism may positively dominate the resistance of Z. bungeanum. This finding was further confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, through which higher expression levels of core genes involved in flavonoid metabolism in resistant variety were observed. Moreover, by analyzing the differences in the flavonoid content in the stems of resistant and susceptible varieties and the antifungal activities of flavonoids extracted from Z. bungeanum stems, the conclusion that flavonoid metabolism positively regulates the resistance of Z. bungeanum was further supported. Our results not only aid in better understanding the resistance mechanisms of Z. bungeanum against stem canker but also promote the breeding and utilization of resistant varieties.

Metabolomics Study on the Resistance of Walnut Peel to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides under Prochloraz Treatment

“…Based on the quantitative analyses of all detected metabolites (Table S2) and the fold change threshold, a total of 311 DAMs were obtained for the comparison of CK versus PT, of which 68 metabolites were downregulated and 243 metabolites were upregulated in PT. A heatmap of DAM confirmed the significant differences in the metabolome of CK and PT walnut peels following C. gloeosporioides infection (Figure 1(b)) [17].…”

Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals Key Metabolites Involved in Camellia oleifera Defense against Anthracnose

“…Phytoalexins are often compounds in terpenes, phenols and alkaloids. Flavonoids, a large class of phenolic compounds, are derived from a branch of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis [ 24 ]. To identify DEGs associated with phytoalexin synthesis in Ca.…”

“…In recent years, joint analysis of transcriptome and metabolome data has revealed aspects of the response of plants to biological stressors [ 24 , 25 ], including the interaction of plants and pathogens. For example, flavonoid biosynthesis plays an important role in the response of the herbaceous plant Stylosanthes to anthracnose infection [ 26 ].…”

“…An integrated, de novo transcriptome and metabolome approach has revealed that cell structure and hormone levels change in common bean after infection with Fusarium [ 28 ]. The combined analysis of the transcriptome and the metabolome can contribute to our understanding of plant-pathogen interactions and the identification of resistance genes and disease resistant varieties [ 24 ]. The current research on Ca.…”

Transcriptomics Integrated With Metabolomics Reveal the Effects of Ultraviolet-B Radiation on Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Antarctic Moss

“…The moss gametophytes were collected and used for LC-MS/MS analysis. The sample extraction, metabolite identification, and quantification were conducted by Wuhan Metware Biotechnology Co., Ltd. following the standard procedures ( Zhou et al, 2019 ; Li et al, 2021 ; Wang et al, 2021 ). Briefly, the freeze-dried seedlings were ground to powder using a grinder (MM 400, Retsch, Germany).…”