Abstract
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri (Foc), one of the most important fungal pathogen of chickpea, is a constant threat to this crop plant. In the present study gene expression analysis of chickpea roots during Foc infection was performed using various approaches. cDNAs derived from total mRNA during infection process of susceptible (JG62)and resistant (Digvijay) cultivars, were amplified using random oligonucleotides. Sequence characterization of differentially expressed transcripts revealed their homology with many plant genes essential for various metabolic functions including defense. Further, expression patterns of specific candidate gene transcripts were analyzed in the Foc inoculated and uninoculated resistant and susceptible chickpea cultivars, on day 6 of infection. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis of defense related genes was performed using gene specific oligonucleotides in resistant and susceptible chickpea cultivars. The expression of fungal pathogenesis related genes and their race specific response was determined throughout the course of chickpea-Foc interaction. Temporal expression and race specific response of plant defense related and fungal virulence genes were studied in the resistant and susceptible cultivars of chickpea inoculated with three races of Foc highlighting the host-pathogen interactions. Few genes, involved in chickpea defense against Fusarium wilt which were not reported previously were unveiled in this study.
Highlights
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the most abundantly grown legume in India, which contributes to 64% of the world production and serves as an important source of dietary protein for the Indian vegetarian population [1]
Crop plants are constantly exposed to their pathogens in the field which has directed us to consider a wide timescale (2 - 16 dai) for the expression analysis of plant and fungal genes involved in the chickpea-Foc interaction
Seven days old chickpea plants were inoculated with fungal spores of Foc races individually and uninoculated plants served as control
Summary
Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the most abundantly grown legume in India, which contributes to 64% of the world production and serves as an important source of dietary protein for the Indian vegetarian population [1]. A complex interaction between plant and its fungal pathogen is an outcome of expression of both, plant defense genes as well as fungal pathogenesis related genes The result of such a relationship is projected as either resistance or disease development in the plant. We have analyzed the race specific expression of various plant and fungal genes and identified various up-regulated transcripts using several approaches. Crop plants are constantly exposed to their pathogens in the field which has directed us to consider a wide timescale (2 - 16 dai) for the expression analysis of plant and fungal genes involved in the chickpea-Foc interaction. An attempt has been made to analyze the expression pattern of four important fungal genes previously reported to be essential for growth and pathogenesis, namely Fgb (G protein subunit), Gas (glucanosyltransferase), chs (chitin synthase chaperonin) and Fow (mitochondrial carrier protein). The host-pathogen interaction using chickpea-Foc system has been unveiled in this study
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