Analysis of differential transcript expression in chickpea during compatible and incompatible interactions with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris Race 4

Comprehensive transcriptome analyses of Fusarium-infected root xylem tissues to decipher genes involved in chickpea wilt resistance

Fusarium wilt is the most destructive soil-borne disease that poses a major threat to chickpea production. To comprehensively understand the interaction between chickpea and Fusarium oxysporum, the xylem-specific transcriptome analysis of wilt-resistant (WR315) and wilt-susceptible (JG62) genotypes at an early timepoint (4DPI) was investigated. Differential expression analysis showed that 1368 and 348 DEGs responded to pathogen infection in resistant and susceptible genotypes, respectively. Both genotypes showed transcriptional reprogramming in response to Foc2, but the responses in WR315 were more severe than in JG62. Results of the KEGG pathway analysis revealed that most of the DEGS in both genotypes with enrichment in metabolic pathways, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, and carbon metabolism. Genes associated with defense-related metabolites synthesis such as thaumatin-like protein 1b, cysteine-rich receptor-like protein kinases, MLP-like proteins, polygalacturonase inhibitor 2-like, ethylene-responsive transcription factors, glycine-rich cell wall structural protein-like, beta-galactosidase-like, subtilisin-like protease, thioredoxin-like protein, chitin elicitor receptor kinase-like, proline transporter-like, non-specific lipid transfer protein and sugar transporter were mostly up-regulated in resistant as compared to susceptible genotypes. The results of this study provide disease resistance genes, which would be helpful in understanding the Foc resistance mechanism in chickpea.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03803-9.

Breeding and Genomic Approaches towards Development of Fusarium Wilt Resistance in Chickpea

Chickpea is an important leguminous crop with potential to provide dietary proteins to both humans and animals. It also ameliorates soil nitrogen through biological nitrogen fixation. The crop is affected by an array of biotic and abiotic factors. Among different biotic stresses, a major fungal disease called Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (FOC), is responsible for low productivity in chickpea. To date, eight pathogenic races of FOC (race 0, 1A, and 1B/C, 2-6) have been reported worldwide. The development of resistant cultivars using different conventional breeding methods is very time consuming and depends upon the environment. Modern technologies can improve conventional methods to solve these major constraints. Understanding the molecular response of chickpea to Fusarium wilt can help to provide effective management strategies. The identification of molecular markers closely linked to genes/QTLs has provided great potential for chickpea improvement programs. Moreover, omics approaches, including transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics give scientists a vast viewpoint of functional genomics. In this review, we will discuss the integration of all available strategies and provide comprehensive knowledge about chickpea plant defense against Fusarium wilt.