Basal differences in the transcriptional profiles of tomato leaves associated with the presence/absence of the resistance geneMi-1and changes in these differences after infestation by the whiteflyBemisia tabaci

Abstract

AbstractThe tomatoMi-1gene mediates plant resistance to whiteflyBemisia tabaci, nematodes, and aphids. Other genes are also required for this resistance, and a model of interaction between the proteins encoded by these genes was proposed. Microarray analyses were used previously to identify genes involved in plant resistance to pests or pathogens, but scarcely in resistance to insects. In the present work, the GeneChip™ Tomato Genome Array (Affymetrix®) was used to compare the transcriptional profiles of Motelle (bearingMi-1) and Moneymaker (lackingMi-1) cultivars, both before and afterB. tabaciinfestation. Ten transcripts were expressed at least twofold in uninfested Motelle than in Moneymaker, while other eight were expressed half or less. After whitefly infestation, differences between cultivars increased to 14 transcripts expressed more in Motelle than in Moneymaker and 14 transcripts less expressed. Half of these transcripts showed no differential expression before infestation. These results show the baseline differences in the tomato transcriptomic profile associated with the presence or absence of theMi-1gene and provide us with valuable information on candidate genes to intervene in either compatible or incompatible tomato–whitefly interactions.