Wheat WCBP1 encodes a putative copper-binding protein involved in stripe rust resistance and inhibition of leaf senescence

Abstract

BackgroundStripe rust, a highly destructive foliar disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum), causes severe losses, which may be accompanied by reduced photosynthetic activity and accelerated leaf senescence.MethodsWe used suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) to examine the mechanisms of resistance in the resistant wheat line L693 (Reg. No. GP-972, PI 672538), which was derived from a lineage that includes a wide cross between common and Thinopyrum intermedium. Sequencing of an SSH cDNA library identified 112 expressed sequence tags.ResultsIn silico mapping placed one of these tags [GenBank: JK972238] on chromosome 1A. Primers based on [GenBank: JK972238] amplified a polymorphic band, which co-segregated with YrL693. We cloned a candidate gene encoding wheat copper-binding protein (WCBP1) by amplifying the polymorphic region, and we mapped WCBP1 to a 0.64 cM genetic interval. Brachypodium, rice, and sorghum have genes and genomic regions syntenic to this region.DiscussionSequence analysis suggested that the resistant WCBP1 allele might have resulted from a deletion of 36-bp sequence of the wheat genomic sequence, rather than direct transfer from Th. intermedium. qRT-PCR confirmed that WCBP1 expression changes in response to pathogen infection.ConclusionsThe unique chromosomal location and expression mode of WCBP1 suggested that WCBP1 is the putative candidate gene of YrL693, which was involved in leaf senescence and photosynthesis related to plant responses to stripe rust infection during the grain-filling stage.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12870-015-0612-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Transcriptome Analysis Identifies a 140 kb Region of Chromosome 3B Containing Genes Specific to Fusarium Head Blight Resistance in Wheat

“…Further analysis of 12 samples showed that the greatest difference in gene expression following F. graminearum infection occurred between different tissues (spike vs. leaf), while the smallest difference was observed between the resistant and susceptible genotypes ( Figure 3 B). This could be due to the fact that L693 and L661 have similar genetic backgrounds [ 16 , 20 , 23 ]. The fact that the greatest difference in gene expression occurred between the spike and leaf indicated that the transcriptome data were reliable to some degree, which could be a real response after F. graminearum infection.…”

“…Following pathogen attack, plants must redistribute energy and resources from the primary metabolism to the induced reaction [ 24 ]. Previous studies of wheat spike diseases such as FHB have usually focused on gene expression changes only in local spike tissue, whereas studies of wheat leaf diseases, such as stripe rust and powdery mildew, have focused on gene expression changes only in the local leaf tissue [ 13 , 23 ]. Gene expression changes in distant tissues of plants infected by pathogens, such as the leaves of wheat plants infected by F. graminearum, have not been documented.…”

Effects of Stripe Rust Infection on the Levels of Redox Balance and Photosynthetic Capacities in Wheat

“…Many research studies have shown that plant photosynthesis can be greatly reduced when disease symptoms are developing after inoculation with stripe rust [14,18,49,50]. Chlorophyll fluorescence has been shown to be a useful method for the investigation in photosynthesis under different stressful conditions including pathogen infection [51].…”

“…It is well known that Pst infection can change the photosynthetic efficiency of the host wheat. Some studies indicated that the photosynthetic activities were closely correlated with stripe rust, and PSII was easily damaged by Pst infection in wheat [14,18]. Even though in a resistant wheat cultivar, the photosynthetic rate significantly decreased after symptoms appear and signs develop.…”

Collinearity Analysis and High-Density Genetic Mapping of the Wheat Powdery Mildew Resistance Gene Pm40 in PI 672538

“…YU25 was derived from the cross between common wheat and Thinopyrum intermedium [ 21 , 36 ]. However, genomic in situ hybridization demonstrated that there is no alien chromosome fragment in PI 672538 [ 73 ]. In addition, in the present research, the responses of PI 672538/L1034 and crosses of the F 1 , F 2 , and F 2:3 populations to powdery mildew in different growth phases revealed PI 672538 resistance at both the seedling stage and in adult plants ( Fig 1 ).…”