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Tominello-Ramirez CS, Muñoz Hoyos L, Oubounyt M, Stam R. Network analyses predict major regulators of resistance to early blight disease complex in tomato. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:641. [PMID: 38971719 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05366-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early blight and brown leaf spot are often cited as the most problematic pathogens of tomato in many agricultural regions. Their causal agents are Alternaria spp., a genus of Ascomycota containing numerous necrotrophic pathogens. Breeding programs have yielded quantitatively resistant commercial cultivars, but fungicide application remains necessary to mitigate the yield losses. A major hindrance to resistance breeding is the complexity of the genetic determinants of resistance and susceptibility. In the absence of sufficiently resistant germplasm, we sequenced the transcriptomes of Heinz 1706 tomatoes treated with strongly virulent and weakly virulent isolates of Alternaria spp. 3 h post infection. We expanded existing functional gene annotations in tomato and using network statistics, we analyzed the transcriptional modules associated with defense and susceptibility. RESULTS The induced responses are very distinct. The weakly virulent isolate induced a defense response of calcium-signaling, hormone responses, and transcription factors. These defense-associated processes were found in a single transcriptional module alongside secondary metabolite biosynthesis genes, and other defense responses. Co-expression and gene regulatory networks independently predicted several D clade ethylene response factors to be early regulators of the defense transcriptional module, as well as other transcription factors both known and novel in pathogen defense, including several JA-associated genes. In contrast, the strongly virulent isolate elicited a much weaker response, and a separate transcriptional module bereft of hormone signaling. CONCLUSIONS Our findings have predicted major defense regulators and several targets for downstream functional analyses. Combined with our improved gene functional annotation, they suggest that defense is achieved through induction of Alternaria-specific immune pathways, and susceptibility is mediated by modulating hormone responses. The implication of multiple specific clade D ethylene response factors and upregulation of JA-associated genes suggests that host defense in this pathosystem involves ethylene response factors to modulate jasmonic acid signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher S Tominello-Ramirez
- Department of Phytopathology and Crop Protection, Institute for Phytopathology, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
- Phytopathology, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Lina Muñoz Hoyos
- Phytopathology, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Mhaned Oubounyt
- Institute for Computational Systems Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Remco Stam
- Department of Phytopathology and Crop Protection, Institute for Phytopathology, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany.
- Phytopathology, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
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Athinodorou F, Foukas P, Tsaniklidis G, Kotsiras A, Chrysargyris A, Delis C, Kyratzis AC, Tzortzakis N, Nikoloudakis N. Morphological Diversity, Genetic Characterization, and Phytochemical Assessment of the Cypriot Tomato Germplasm. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:1698. [PMID: 34451743 PMCID: PMC8401825 DOI: 10.3390/plants10081698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is considered one of the most valuable and versatile vegetable crops globally and also serves as a significant model species for fruit developmental biology. Despite its significance, a severe genetic bottleneck and intense selection of genotypes with specific qualitative traits have resulted in the prevalence of a restricted number of (geno)types, also causing a lack of diversity across widespread cultivated types. As a result, the re-emergence of landraces as well as traditional and heirloom varieties is largely acknowledged as a countermeasure to restore phenotypic, phytochemical and genetic diversity while enriching the aroma/taste tomato palette. On those grounds, the Cypriot tomato germplasm was assessed and characterized. Ten landrace accessions were evaluated under greenhouse conditions and data were collected for 24 IPGRI discrete phenotypic traits. Grouping of accessions largely reflected the fruit shape and size; four different fruit types were recorded across accessions (flattened, heart-shaped, rounded and highly rounded). Moreover, a single run panel consisting of ten SSRs was developed and applied in order to genetically characterize 190 Cypriot genotypes and foreign heirloom varieties. Based on genetic indexes it was established that tomato landraces have a rather low level of heterogeneity and genetic variation. Finally, mineral and phytochemical analyses were conducted in order to estimate biochemical attributes (total phenolics, ascorbic acid, lycopene, β-carotene, total soluble content, titratable acidity) across genotypes; thus, ascertaining that the Cypriot panel has a high nutritional value. Due to the thermo-drought adaptation and tolerance of these genotypes, the current study serves as a roadmap for future breeding efforts in order to incorporate desirable traits or develop novel tomato lines combining resilience and alimentary value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filio Athinodorou
- Department of Agricultural Science, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus; (F.A.); (P.F.); (A.C.); (N.T.)
| | - Petros Foukas
- Department of Agricultural Science, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus; (F.A.); (P.F.); (A.C.); (N.T.)
| | - Georgios Tsaniklidis
- Department of Viticulture, Vegetable Crops, Floriculture and Plant Protection, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture, Hellenic Agricultural Organization ELGO-DIMITRA, Mesa Katsabas, 71307 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - Anastasios Kotsiras
- Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Agricultural Technology and Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Peloponnese, 24100 Kalamata, Greece; (A.K.); (C.D.)
| | - Antonios Chrysargyris
- Department of Agricultural Science, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus; (F.A.); (P.F.); (A.C.); (N.T.)
| | - Costas Delis
- Department of Agricultural Technology, School of Agricultural Technology and Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Peloponnese, 24100 Kalamata, Greece; (A.K.); (C.D.)
| | - Angelos C. Kyratzis
- Vegetable Crop Sector, Agricultural Research Institute—Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Nicosia 1516, Cyprus;
| | - Nikolaos Tzortzakis
- Department of Agricultural Science, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus; (F.A.); (P.F.); (A.C.); (N.T.)
| | - Nikolaos Nikoloudakis
- Department of Agricultural Science, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol 3036, Cyprus; (F.A.); (P.F.); (A.C.); (N.T.)
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Santos-Silva CAD, Vilela LMB, Oliveira-Silva RLD, Silva JBD, Machado AR, Bezerra-Neto JP, Crovella S, Benko-Iseppon AM. Cassava (Manihot esculenta) defensins: Prospection, structural analysis and tissue-specific expression under biotic/abiotic stresses. Biochimie 2021; 186:1-12. [PMID: 33789147 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2021.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Defensins are a prominent family of antimicrobial peptides. They play sophisticated roles in the defense against pathogens in all living organisms, but few works address their expression under different conditions and plant tissues. The present work prospected defensins of Manihot esculenta Crantz, popularly known as cassava. Five defensin candidates (MeDefs) were retrieved from the genome sequences and characterized. Considering chromosome distribution, only MeDef1 and 2 occupy adjacent positions in the same chromosome arm. All 3D structures had antiparallel ß-sheets, an α-helix, and amphipathic residues distributed throughout the peptides with a predominance of cationic surface charge. MeDefs expression was validated by RT-qPCR, including two stress types (biotic: fungus Macrophomina pseudophaseolina, and abiotic: mechanical injury) and a combination of both stresses (fungus+injury) in three different tissues (root, stem, and leaf). For this purpose, ten reference genes (RGs) were tested, and three were chosen to characterize MeDef expression. MeDef3 was up-regulated at roots in all stress situations tested. MeDef1 and MeDef5 were induced in leaves under biotic and abiotic stresses, but not in both stress types simultaneously. Only MeDef2 was down-regulated in the stem tissue also with biotic/abiotic combined stresses. These results indicate that although defensins are known to be responsive to pathogen infection, they may act as preformed defense or, still, have tissue or stress specificities. Aspects of their structure, stability and evolution are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos André Dos Santos-Silva
- Departamento de Genética, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, CEP 50.670-423, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Lívia Maria Batista Vilela
- Departamento de Genética, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, CEP 50.670-423, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Roberta Lane de Oliveira-Silva
- Departamento de Genética, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, CEP 50.670-423, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Barboza da Silva
- Departamento de Genética, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, CEP 50.670-423, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Reis Machado
- Departamento de Micologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, CEP 50.670-423, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - João Pacífico Bezerra-Neto
- Departamento de Genética, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, CEP 50.670-423, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Sergio Crovella
- Departamento de Genética, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, CEP 50.670-423, Recife, PE, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Benko-Iseppon
- Departamento de Genética, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235, CEP 50.670-423, Recife, PE, Brazil.
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