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Abstract
Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) infects various plants. PSTVd pathogenesis is associated with interference with the cellular metabolism and defense signaling pathways via direct interaction with host factors or via the transcriptional or post-transcriptional modulation of gene expression. To better understand host defense mechanisms to PSTVd infection, we analyzed the gene expression in two pepper cultivars, Capsicum annuum Kurtovska kapia (KK) and Djulunska shipka (DS), which exhibit mild symptoms of PSTVd infection. Deep sequencing-based transcriptome analysis revealed differential gene expression upon infection, with some genes displaying contrasting expression patterns in KK and DS plants. More genes were downregulated in DS plants upon infection than in KK plants, which could underlie the more severe symptoms seen in DS plants. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that most of the downregulated differentially expressed genes in both cultivars were enriched in the gene ontology term photosynthesis. The genes upregulated in DS plants fell in the biological process of gene ontology term defense response. We validated the expression of six overlapping differentially expressed genes that are involved in photosynthesis, plant hormone signaling, and defense pathways by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The observed differences in the responses of the two cultivars to PSTVd infection expand the understanding of the fine-tuning of plant gene expression that is needed to overcome the infection.
Highlights
IntroductionViroids are pathogenic non-coding RNAs, 250–400 nt in length, which infect higher plants [1–3]
Published: 7 December 2021Viroids are pathogenic non-coding RNAs, 250–400 nt in length, which infect higher plants [1–3]
Our study showed that the hot and sweet pepper cultivars respond to Potato spindle tuber viroid (PSTVd) infection with specific changes in gene expression
Summary
Viroids are pathogenic non-coding RNAs, 250–400 nt in length, which infect higher plants [1–3]. The sequence and structure of viroids determine their interactions with host factors, resulting in successful replication, spread, and disease induction [4–6]. Two viroid families are recognized, Pospiviroidae and Avsunviroidae, and are distinguished by their structural conformation, cell localization, replication mode, and host range [7]. Members of the genus Pospiviroid within the family Pospiviroidae mainly infect. Various viroid species/strain and host species/cultivar combinations lead to asymptomatic or symptomatic infections [9,10]. The most recognizable symptoms of viroid infection in plants are stunting, epinasty, chlorosis, necrosis, and the malformation of the reproductive organs [11]. Distortions in the cell membrane and cell wall organization as well as impairment in chloroplast biogenesis and development are the most common symptoms of viroid infection [12]
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