Affiliation:
1. Key Laboratory of Biohazard Monitoring and Green Prevention and Control for Artificial Grassland, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Grassland Research of CAAS, Hohhot 010010, China
2. School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, USA
Abstract
Fusarium root rot, caused by Fusarium spp. in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), adversely impacts alfalfa by diminishing plant quality and yield, resulting in substantial losses within the industry. The most effective strategy for controlling alfalfa Fusarium root rot is planting disease-resistant varieties. Therefore, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying alfalfa’s resistance to Fusarium root rot is imperative. In this study, we observed the infection process on alfalfa seedling roots infected by Fusarium acuminatum strain HM29-05, which is labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP). Two alfalfa varieties, namely, the resistant ‘Kangsai’ and the susceptible ‘Zhongmu No. 1’, were examined to assess various physiological and biochemical activities at 0, 2, and 3 days post inoculation (dpi). Transcriptome sequencing of the inoculated resistant and susceptible alfalfa varieties were conducted, and the potential functions and signaling pathways of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed through gene ontology (GO) classification and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Meanwhile, a DEG co-expression network was constructed though the weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) algorithm. Our results revealed significant alterations in soluble sugar, soluble protein, and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in both the ‘Kangsai’ and ‘Zhongmu No. 1’ varieties following the inoculation of F. acuminatum. WGCNA analysis showed the involvement of various enzyme and transcription factor families related to plant growth and disease resistance, including cytochrome P450, MYB, ERF, NAC, and bZIP. These findings not only provided valuable data for further verification of gene functions but also served as a reference for the deeper explorations between plants and pathogens.
Funder
National Key Research and Development Program of China
Central Government Guides Local Funds for Scientific and Technological Development Program
Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Funding
Subject
Plant Science,Ecology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Reference58 articles.
1. Study on the pathogenicity of F. acuminatum and disease resistance of alfalfa varieties;Guo;Acta Phytopathol. Sin.,2018
2. Research advances in Fusarium root rot of alfalfa (Medicago sativa);Fang;Acta Prataculturae Sin.,2019
3. Situation of domestic alfalfa market and the impact from Sino-US trade frictions and its countermeasures;Tao;Anim. Husb. Feed Sci.,2019
4. National alfalfa industry development plan;Yi;China Agric. Inf.,2017
5. A study on international competitiveness of China’s forage industry;Shi;Pratacultural Sci.,2018