Abstract
Genome-wide transcriptome analysis using RNA-Seq of Lilium longiflorum revealed valuable genes responding to biotic stresses. WRKY transcription factors are regulatory proteins playing essential roles in defense processes under environmental stresses, causing considerable losses in flower quality and production. Thirty-eight WRKY genes were identified from the transcriptomic profile from lily genotypes, exhibiting leaf blight caused by Botrytis elliptica. Lily WRKYs have a highly conserved motif, WRKYGQK, with a common variant, WRKYGKK. Phylogeny of LlWRKYs with homologous genes from other representative plant species classified them into three groups- I, II, and III consisting of seven, 22, and nine genes, respectively. Base on functional annotation, 22 LlWRKY genes were associated with biotic stress, nine with abiotic stress, and seven with others. Sixteen unique LlWRKY were studied to investigate responses to stress conditions using gene expression under biotic and abiotic stress treatments. Five genes—LlWRKY3, LlWRKY4, LlWRKY5, LlWRKY10, and LlWRKY12—were substantially upregulated, proving to be biotic stress-responsive genes in vivo and in vitro conditions. Moreover, the expression patterns of LlWRKY genes varied in response to drought, heat, cold, and different developmental stages or tissues. Overall, our study provides structural and molecular insights into LlWRKY genes for use in the genetic engineering in Lilium against Botrytis disease.
Highlights
Lilium spp. is one of the most important ornamental plants used for cut or potting flowers and gardening purposes
The lily is subject to a wide range of abiotic and biotic stresses, which have been worsened by global climate changes
38 LlWRKY genes were identified and studied to investigate the organization and abundance of WRKY in Lilium. These LlWRKYs were analyzed for protein structure, figuring out related motifs, genes classification according to their functions, and phylogenetic relationships by comparing with model plants
Summary
Lilium spp. is one of the most important ornamental plants used for cut or potting flowers and gardening purposes. The lily is subject to a wide range of abiotic and biotic stresses, which have been worsened by global climate changes. Botrytis in Lilium is a common fungal disease affecting leaves, stems, and sometimes the flowers. Flower bulb until the plant is affected three years consecutively [2]. Low temperature and high humidity cause necrotic lesions on lily leaves and petals, initiating rotting caused by Botrytis elliptica [3]. The quality and yield of Lilium are affected by various abiotic and biotic stresses. The drought stress in oriental lily cultivar ‘Sorbonne’ influences physiological and biochemical changes, resulting in shorter plants, smaller flowers, and shallower leaf color, affecting the quality of flowers [5]. The high temperature (>30 ◦C) reduces the quality of the cut flowers and leads to the degeneration of the bulb [6]
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