Abstract
Banana Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) is one of the most destructive soil-borne diseases. In this study, young tissue-cultured plantlets of banana (Musa spp. AAA) cultivars differing in Foc susceptibility were used to reveal their differential responses to this pathogen using digital gene expression (DGE). Data were evaluated by various bioinformatic tools (Venn diagrams, gene ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses) and immunofluorescence labelling method to support the identification of gene candidates determining the resistance of banana against Foc. Interestingly, we have identified MaWRKY50 as an important gene involved in both constitutive and induced resistance. We also identified new genes involved in the resistance of banana to Foc, including several other transcription factors (TFs), pathogenesis-related (PR) genes and some genes related to the plant cell wall biosynthesis or degradation (e.g., pectinesterases, β-glucosidases, xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase and endoglucanase). The resistant banana cultivar shows activation of PR-3 and PR-4 genes as well as formation of different constitutive cell barriers to restrict spreading of the pathogen. These data suggest new mechanisms of banana resistance to Foc.
Highlights
Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the most important fruit and food crops in the world with annual production of more than 100 Mt [1]
We have found that enhanced expression of specific transcription factors, receptor-like kinases and genes involved in the cell wall metabolism play a substantial role in the banana resistance to Foc
We have found several genes and gene ontology (GO) annotation items related to plant cell wall hemi-cellulose perhaps involved in banana resistance to Foc race 4 (Foc4)
Summary
Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the most important fruit and food crops in the world with annual production of more than 100 Mt [1]. Cubense (Foc) is one of the most destructive diseases substantially reducing the production of banana in the world [2,3]. Foc has been classified into four physiological races according to the symptoms of different banana cultivars [4]. Foc race 4 (Foc4) is the most virulent one and affects many Musa spp. Current methods for the management of this disease are not efficient.
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