Transcriptional Changes during Phytophthora capsici Infection Reveal Potential Defense Mechanisms in Squash

Phytophthora capsici incites foliar blight, root, fruit, and crown rot in squash (Cucurbita spp.) and limits production worldwide. Resistance to crown rot in C. moschata breeding line #394-1-27-12 is conferred by three dominant genes, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this resistance are poorl...

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Published inStresses Vol. 3; no. 4; pp. 827 - 841
Main Authors Acharya, Shailesh Raj, Shrestha, Swati, Michael, Vincent Njung’e, Fu, Yuqing, Sabharwal, Prerna, Thakur, Shallu, Meru, Geoffrey
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Pisa MDPI AG 01.12.2023
Subjects
Biosynthesis
co-expression analysis
crown rot
Cucurbita moschata
Defense mechanisms
differentially expressed genes
Gene expression
Genomes
Infections
Medical screening
Ontology
Oxidation
Pathogens
Plant reproduction
Proteins
Racquetball & squash
RNA-seq
Transcription factors
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Summary:Phytophthora capsici incites foliar blight, root, fruit, and crown rot in squash (Cucurbita spp.) and limits production worldwide. Resistance to crown rot in C. moschata breeding line #394-1-27-12 is conferred by three dominant genes, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this resistance are poorly understood. In the current study, RNA sequencing was used to investigate transcriptional changes in #394-1-27-12 (resistant) and Butterbush (susceptible) following infection by P. capsici at 12, 24, 48, 72, and 120 h post inoculation (hpi). Overall, the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Butterbush (2648) exceeded those in #394-1-27-12 (1729), but in both genotypes, the highest number of DEGs was observed at 72 hpi and least at 24 hpi. Our gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed a downregulation of the genes involved in polysaccharide and lignin metabolism in Butterbush but as an upregulation of those associated with regulation of peptidase activity. However, in #394-1-27-12, the downregulated genes were primarily associated with response to stimuli, whereas those upregulated were involved in oxidation–reduction and response to stress. The upregulated genes in #394-1-27-12 included defensin-like proteins, respiratory-burst oxidases, ethylene-responsive transcription factors, cytochrome P450 proteins, and peroxidases. These findings provide a framework for the functional validation of the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to P. capsici in cucurbits.
ISSN:2673-7140
2673-7140
DOI:10.3390/stresses3040056