Transcriptional profiling of watermelon during its incompatible interaction with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum

Abstract

Transcriptome profiling of watermelon during its incompatible interactions with Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum (FON) was performed using an Agilent custom microarray, which contains 15,000 probes representing approximately 8,200 watermelon genes. A total of 24, 275, 596, 598, and 592 genes showed significant differential expression in FONinfected plant roots, as compared with mockinoculated roots, at 0.5, 1, 3, 5 and 8 days post inoculation (dpi), respectively. Bioinformatics analysis of these differentially expressed genes revealed that during the incompatible interaction between watermelon and FON, the expression of a number of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, transcription factors, signalling/regulatory genes, and cell wall modification genes, was significantly induced. A number of genes for transporter proteins such as aquaporins were down-regulated, indicating that transporter proteins might contribute to the development of wilt symptoms after FON infection. In the incompatible interaction, most genes involved in biosynthesis of jasmonic acid (JA) were expressed stronger and more sustained than those in a compatible interaction in FON-infected tissues. Similarly, genes associated with shikimate-phenylpropanoid-lignin biosynthesis were also induced during the incompatible interaction, but expression of these genes were not changed or repressed in the compatible interaction. Those results demonstrate that JA biosynthesis and shikimatephenylpropanoid-lignin pathways might play important roles in watermelon against FON infection and thus provides new insights in understanding the molecular basis and signalling network in watermelon plants in response to FON infection. We also performed confocal imaging of watermelon roots infected with the green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged FON1 to revealed histological characteristics of the infection.

Transcriptome and Expression Profile Analysis of Highly Resistant and Susceptible Banana Roots Challenged with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4

“…Further analysis showed that the transcription levels of GST, CCoAM and CAD in the highly resistant cultivar were higher than those in the susceptible cultivar, which is in agreement with previous observation in watermelon challenged with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Niveum [59]. These results indicated that full lignification is likely to contribute to disease resistance.…”

Companion cropping with wheat increases resistance to Fusarium wilt in watermelon and the roles of root exudates in watermelon root growth

“…Lü et al [29] demonstrated that JA biosynthesis and shikimate-phenylpropanoid-lignin pathways are important processes in watermelon resistance against Fon infection. We found in this study, expression levels of the genes in responsible for biosynthesis of JA and shikimate-phenylpropanoidlignin were enhanced in both monoculture and companion cropping with Fon inoculation.…”

“…As the control, watermelon monoculture, each pot contained one watermelon seedling. The seedlings were watered every two days with Hoagland nutrient solution throughout the experiments [29]. Peat soil and vermiculite moisture levels were maintained by weighing irrigation manually.…”

“…This study analyzed the expression of genes in JA biosynthesis and shikimate-phenylpropanoid-lignin pathways, which were related in the watermelon roots under companion cropping and monoculture systems after challenging by Fon [29]. Phospholipase (PL) and allene oxide synthase (AOS) are involved in the different steps of the JA biosynthesis pathway.…”

“…Lignin, flavonoids and phenolics phytochemicals are the most important groups of secondary metabolites and had important role in inhibiting plant pathogens [24,40]. The jasmonic acid (JA) and shikimate-phenylpropanoid-lignin biosynthesis genes are relevant to watermelon responses to Fon1 infection [29]. By analyzing the changes of the above physiological parameters and gene expression under watermelonewheat companion cropping, we hope to understand the relationship between watermelon and Fon by using D 125 wheat as companion crop.…”