Characterization of wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) family in rose (Rosa chinensis) reveals the role of RcWAK4 in Botrytis resistance

Xintong Liu,Dandan Li,Zhao Zhang,Changqing Zhang,Wenqi Dong,Shiya Zhang,Zicheng Wang,Yu Tian

doi:10.1186/s12870-021-03307-9

Abstract

BackgroundWall-associated kinase (WAK)/WAK-like (WAKL) is one of the subfamily of receptor like kinases (RLK). Although previous studies reported that WAK/WAKL played an important role in plant cell elongation, response to biotic and abiotic stresses, there are no systematic studies on RcWAK/RcWAKL in rose.ResultsIn this study, we identified a total of 68 RcWAK/RcWAKL gene family members within rose (Rosa chinensis) genome. The RcWAKs contained the extracellular galacturonan-binding domain and calcium-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain, as well as an intracellular kinase domains. The RcWAKLs are missing either calcium-binding EGF-like domain or the galacturonan-binding domain in their extracellular region. The phylogenetic analysis showed the RcWAK/RcWAKL gene family has been divided into five groups, and these RcWAK/RcWAKL genes were unevenly distributed on the 7 chromosomes of rose. 12 of RcWAK/RcWAKL genes were significantly up-regulated by Botrytis cinerea-inoculated rose petals, where RcWAK4 was the most strongly expressed. Virus induced gene silencing of RcWAK4 increased the rose petal sensitivity to B. cinerea. The results indicated RcWAK4 is involved in the resistance of rose petal against B. cinerea.ConclusionOur study provides useful information to further investigate the function of the RcWAK/RcWAKL gene family and breeding research for resistance to B. cinerea in rose.

Highlights

IntroductionWall-associated kinase (WAK)/WAK-like (WAKL) is one of the subfamily of receptor like kinases (RLK)
Wall-associated kinase (WAK)/WAK-like (WAKL) is one of the subfamily of receptor like kinases (RLK). previous studies reported that WAK/WAKL played an important role in plant cell elongation, response to biotic and abiotic stresses, there are no systematic studies on RcWAK/RcWAKL in rose
The results indicated RcWAK4 is involved in the resistance of rose petal against B. cinerea

Summary

Introduction

Wall-associated kinase (WAK)/WAK-like (WAKL) is one of the subfamily of receptor like kinases (RLK). Previous studies reported that WAK/WAKL played an important role in plant cell elongation, response to biotic and abiotic stresses, there are no systematic studies on RcWAK/RcWAKL in rose. Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are a class of receptor kinases localized in the cell membrane that recognize pathogen invasion and transmit danger signals in plants [4]. Wallassociated kinase (WAK)/ WAK-like (WAKL) is a typical category of PRRs classified to receptor-like protein kinases (RLKs) [5]. WAKs/WAKLs are transmembrane proteins with an intracellular Ser/Thr kinase domain and an extracellular mmons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data

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