QTL mapping and transcriptome analysis of cowpea reveals candidate genes for root-knot nematode resistance

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189185
• Publication Date: 2018-01-04T19:05:15Z
• Authors: Jansen Rodrigo Pe...; Arsenio Daniel Ndeve; Bao-Lam Huynh; William Charles M...; Philip Alan Roberts
• Keywords: Candidate gene; Root-knot nematode

Cowpea is one of the most important food and forage legumes in drier regions tropics subtropics. However, cowpea yield worldwide markedly below known potential due to abiotic biotic stresses, including parasitism by root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp., RKN). Two resistance genes with dominant effect, Rk Rk2, have been reported provide against RKN cowpea. Despite their description use breeding for particularly genetic mapping locus, exact conferring remain unknown. In present work, QTL using recombinant inbred line (RIL) population 524B x IT84S-2049 segregating a newly mapped locus analysis transcriptome changes two near-isogenic lines (NIL) were used identify candidate locus. A major QTL, designated QRk-vu9.1, associated Meloidogyne javanica reproduction, was detected on linkage group LG9 at position 13.37 cM egg production data. Transcriptome resistant susceptible NILs 3 9 days after inoculation revealed up-regulation 109 98 down-regulation 110 89 genes, respectively, out 19,922 unique common bean reference genome. Among differentially expressed four nine found within QRk-vu9.1 QRk-vu11.1 intervals, respectively. Six these belong TIR-NBS-LRR family three upregulated or more time-points. Quantitative RT-PCR validated gene expression be positively correlated RNA-seq pattern eight genes. Future functional will enhance our understanding Rk-mediated specific responsible resistance.