DNA Methylation Profile of β-1,3-Glucanase and Chitinase Genes in Flax Shows Specificity Towards Fusarium Oxysporum Strains Differing in Pathogenicity.

Wioleta Wojtasik,Kamil Kostyn,Jan Szopa,Marta Preisner,Anna Kulma,Aleksandra Boba

doi:10.3390/microorganisms7120589

Wioleta Wojtasik, Kamil Kostyn + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms7120589

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Abstract

Most losses in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) crops are caused by fungal infections. The new epigenetic approach to improve plant resistance requires broadening the knowledge about the influence of pathogenic and non-pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum strains on changes in the profile of DNA methylation. Two contrasting effects on the levels of methylation in flax have been detected for both types of Fusarium strain infection: Genome-wide hypermethylation and hypomethylation of resistance-related genes (β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase). Despite the differences in methylation profile, the expression of these genes increased. Plants pretreated with the non-pathogenic strain memorize the hypomethylation pattern and then react more efficiently upon pathogen infection. The peak of demethylation correlates with the alteration in gene expression induced by the non-pathogenic strain. In the case of pathogen infection, the expression peak lags behind the gene demethylation. Dynamic changes in tetramer methylation induced by both pathogenic and non-pathogenic Fusarium strains are dependent on the ratio between the level of methyltransferase and demethylase gene expression. Infection with both Fusarium strains suppressed methyltransferase expression and increased the demethylase (demeter) transcript level. The obtained results provide important new information about changes in methylation profile and thus expression regulation of pathogenesis-related genes in the flax plant response to stressors.

Highlights

IntroductionFungal diseases are the cause of about 20% of losses of flax cultivation
The greatest losses in flax crops are caused by fungal infections
We found 7 CCGG sites in the β-1,3-glucanase 1 gene, 12 CCGG sites in the β-1,3-glucanase 2 gene, and 8 CCGG sites in exons in the chitinase gene

Summary

Introduction

Fungal diseases are the cause of about 20% of losses of flax cultivation They result in the reduction of crop yield, both the seed and fiber and deterioration of their quality, as well as feed and food obtained from them [1]. The first group infects various plant species causing wilt or root rot and leads to death of the plant. By contrast, the latter do not invade the vascular system of plants and do not kill the host. Non-pathogenic strains of F. oxysporum colonizing plants without symptoms of fusariosis can protect the host from infection by pathogenic strains [2,3]. Some selected, non-pathogenic strains are perceived as potential biological control agents because their resistance-inducing activity correlates with an increase in the activity of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins: β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase [4,5]

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