Comparative transcriptome analysis of the interaction between Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis and Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae in absence and presence of acibenzolar-S-methyl

• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4967-4
• Publication Date: 2018-08-06T13:16:52Z
• Authors: Vania Michelotti; Antonella Lamonta...; Giampaolo Buriani; Luigi Orrù; Antonio Cellini; Irene Donati; Joel L. Vanneste; Luigi Cattivelli; Gianni Tacconi; Francesco Spinelli
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Actinidia; Pseudomonas syringae; QH426-470; Plant Roots; Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae; 03 medical and health sciences; Acibenzolar-S-methyl; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Thiadiazoles; Genetics; Gene Regulatory Networks; Actinidia chinensis; Hormonal balance (HB); Disease Resistance; Plant Diseases; Plant Proteins; Transcription factors (TFs); Sequence Analysis, RNA; Gene Expression Profiling; RNAseq; TP248.13-248.65; Acibenzolar-S-methyl; Actinidia chinensis; Hormonal balance (HB); Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae; RNAseq; Transcription factors (TFs); Biotechnology; Genetics; Biotechnology; Research Article

Since 2007, bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) has become a pandemic disease leading to important economic losses in every country where kiwifruit is widely cultivated. Options for controlling this disease are very limited and rely primarily on the use of bactericidal compounds, such as copper, and resistance inducers. Among the latter, the most widely studied is acibenzolar-S-methyl. To elucidate the early molecular reaction of kiwifruit plants (Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis) to Psa infection and acibenzolar-S-methyl treatment, a RNA seq analysis was performed at different phases of the infection process, from the epiphytic phase to the endophytic invasion on acibenzolar-S-methyl treated and on non-treated plants. The infection process was monitored in vivo by confocal laser scanning microscopy.De novo assembly of kiwifruit transcriptome revealed a total of 39,607 transcripts, of which 3360 were differentially expressed during the infection process, primarily 3 h post inoculation. The study revealed the coordinated changes of important gene functional categories such as signaling, hormonal balance and transcriptional regulation. Among the transcription factor families, AP2/ERF, MYB, Myc, bHLH, GATA, NAC, WRKY and GRAS were found differentially expressed in response to Psa infection and acibenzolar-S-methyl treatment. Finally, in plants treated with acibenzolar-S-methyl, a number of gene functions related to plant resistance, such as PR proteins, were modulated, suggesting the set-up of a more effective defense response against the pathogen. Weighted-gene coexpression network analysis confirmed these results.Our work provides an in-depth description of the plant molecular reactions to Psa, it highlights the metabolic pathway related to acibenzolar-S-methyl-induced resistance and it contributes to the development of effective control strategies in open field.