Abstract
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), with extremely broad host range including both monocots and dicots around the world, belongs to most important viral crop threats. Either natural or genetically constructed sources of resistance are being intensively investigated; for this purpose, exhaustive knowledge of molecular virus-host interaction during compatible and incompatible infection is required. New technologies and computer-based “omics” on various levels contribute markedly to this topic. In this work, two cucumber cultivars with different response to CMV challenge were tested, i.e., sensitive cv. Vanda and resistant cv. Heliana. The transcriptomes were prepared from both cultivars at 18 days after CMV or mock inoculation. Subsequently, four independent comparative analyses of obtained data were performed, viz. mock- and CMV-inoculated samples within each cultivar, samples from mock-inoculated cultivars to each other and samples from virus-inoculated cultivars to each other. A detailed picture of CMV-influenced genes, as well as constitutive differences in cultivar-specific gene expression was obtained. The compatible CMV infection of cv. Vanda caused downregulation of genes involved in photosynthesis, and induction of genes connected with protein production and modification, as well as components of signaling pathways. CMV challenge caused practically no change in the transcription profile of the cv. Heliana. The main differences between constitutive transcription activity of the two cultivars relied in the expression of genes responsible for methylation, phosphorylation, cell wall organization and carbohydrate metabolism (prevailing in cv. Heliana), or chromosome condensation and glucan biosynthesis (prevailing in cv. Vanda). Involvement of several genes in the resistant cucumber phenotype was predicted; this can be after biological confirmation potentially applied in breeding programs for virus-resistant crops.
Highlights
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is the type member of the genus Cucumovirus.Each of its tripartite (+)ssRNA genome segments is separately encapsidated in non-enveloped virionsPathogens 2020, 9, 145; doi:10.3390/pathogens9020145 www.mdpi.com/journal/pathogensPathogens 2020, 9, 145 with icosahedral symmetry
Individual samples were labeled as H- (Heliana mock), H+ (Heliana/CMV), V- (Vanda mock) and
Each of the four comparisons provides different evidence (Figure 1) and their combination enables a complex evaluation of cucumber reaction to the middle-late state of CMV infection
Summary
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is the type member of the genus Cucumovirus (family Bromoviridae). Host defense genes try to eliminate the infection. Mutual influence of these processes on several levels results in both virus-beneficial and unintended consequences of infection for the host plant [6]. We tested several cucumber cultivars for their sensitivity to various viruses and found an appropriate virus-host system for detailed study of interactions during viral infection [11]. Vanda appeared to be very sensitive to CMV infection, showing severe symptoms, the high virus concentration detected in the plants immunochemically, as well as by RT-PCR. Heliana showed no symptoms under identical experimental conditions and CMV could be detected neither by RT-PCR, nor by immunoblotting in any inoculated plant In this cultivar obviously extreme resistance (immunity) was manifested. In this work we show the results of comparative transcriptomics analysis of sensitive and resistant cultivars before and after exposition to the CMV challenge
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