Comparative Biochemical and Transcriptomic Analyses Provide New Insights into Phytoplasma Infection Responses in Cucumber

Abstract

Flat stem and witches’ broom phytoplasma-like symptoms in the cucumber inbred line C17 were observed in a greenhouse at Yangzhou University, China for three consecutive planting seasons; these symptoms resulted in a decreased yield. To better understand the cause of these symptoms, 16S rRNA PCR, plant hormones, mineral elements, and RNA-seq profiling were performed using symptomatic and normal stem samples. The results showed that the causal agent was classified as the Candidatus phytoplasma asteris strain, a plant pathogenic prokaryote that could not be cultured in vitro. Measurement of plant hormones showed that auxin, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid contents were significantly increased, whereas that of ethylene’s immediate biosynthetic precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, was decreased in the phytoplasma-infected stems compared with the healthy stems. Furthermore, measurement of mineral element composition showed that magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, and zinc concentrations significantly changed in the phytoplasma-infected cucumber stems compared with the uninfected stems. Comparative RNA-seq identified 253 differentially expressed genes, including 179 upregulated and 74 downregulated genes. Further analyses suggested that genes related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction contributed to phytoplasma infection. Taken together, this study presents the first in-depth assessment of disease symptoms and biochemical content of cucumber stems known to be infected with phytoplasma.