Abstract
Canola (Brassica napus) is an important crop species grown worldwide for its seeds, which are crushed for edible oil. Canola production is threatened by blackleg disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans, which can lead up to 100% yield loss. A plant’s disease resistance response depends highly on the regulation of the expression of defence genes. DNA methylation, an epigenetic mark, is one of the most important regulatory mechanisms in a plant’s defence system. Here, the DNA methylation pattern of promoters of defence genes has been investigated between leaves from control and infected plants with L. maculans of resistant and susceptible cultivars of B. napus. In total, over 12,000 promoters were found to be differentially methylated between leaves from control and infected plants in the two cultivars, of which 225 promoters were related to defence genes and differentially methylated between the resistant and susceptible cultivars. The majority of defence gene promoters were hypo- or hyper-methylated in the first and second true leaves, but not in the third and fourth leaves. The outcomes will assist in developing an insight into genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in canola cultivars, and ultimately help breeders to optimise the breeding programmes for enhancing resistance against blackleg disease.
Highlights
Brassica napus is cultivated as the most productive Brassica oilseed species, and is grown primarily for its seed
We reveal the potential role of DNA methylation in B. napus resistance responses, which may be employed by breeders for improving disease resistance
We show that a large number of promoters of resistance gene analogs (RGAs) are differentially methylated in resistant and susceptible cultivars of B. napus in response to blackleg disease
Summary
Brassica napus (canola, rapeseed, and oilseed rape) is cultivated as the most productive Brassica oilseed species, and is grown primarily for its seed. Worldwide canola production is threatened by various diseases, including stem rot, white rust, clubroot, downy mildew and blackleg. Blackleg, caused by the fungal pathogen Leptosphaeria maculans, is the most devastating disease of oilseed Brassica species, . Stages of infection occur at the seedling stage and symptoms appear as cotyledon and leaf necrotic lesions; from the infected leaves, the fungus grows within the vascular tissue to the stem base, causing a basal canker at the adult growth stage [4]. Blackleg damage can be partially controlled using strategies such as fungicide applications and crop rotation; growing resistant cultivars of B. napus is considered the most promising disease management strategy [2].
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