Abstract
BackgroundIn strawberry cultivation, continuous cropping (CC) obstacles seriously threaten production. A patented soil amendment (SA) can effectively relieve the CC obstacles to strawberry cultivation, but knowledge of the recovery mechanisms underlying this phenomenon is limited.ResultsIn this study, transcriptomic profiling of strawberry roots in soil with and without the SA was conducted using RNA-Seq technology to reveal gene expression changes in response to SA treatment. In total, 188 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 144 upregulated and 44 downregulated DEGs, were identified. SA treatment resulted in genotype-dependent responses, and the response pattern, including an overall increase in the expression of nutrient transport genes and a decrease in the expression of defense response genes, may be a possible mechanism underlying recovery strategies in strawberry roots after the application of the SA to CC soil. We also found that 9 Hsp genes involved in plant defense pathways were all downregulated in the SA-treated roots.ConclusionsThis research indicated that strawberry plants reallocated defense resources to development when SA treatment alleviated the stress caused by a CC soil environment. The present study provides an opportunity to reveal the fundamental mechanisms of the tradeoff between growth and defense in strawberry.
Highlights
In strawberry cultivation, continuous cropping (CC) obstacles seriously threaten production
We found that several WRKY group III members might play important roles in the response to CC obstacles in strawberry [18]
Effects of soil amendment (SA) on growth The lengths and fresh weights of the roots and shoots of strawberry plants were influenced by the SA (Fig. 1)
Summary
Continuous cropping (CC) obstacles seriously threaten production. A patented soil amendment (SA) can effectively relieve the CC obstacles to strawberry cultivation, but knowledge of the recovery mechanisms underlying this phenomenon is limited. Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.), a major economic fruit, is widely cultivated in many countries [1]. Cultivated strawberry is a typical annual plant and is grown mainly under greenhouse conditions. The strawberry is terribly threatened by the continuous cropping (CC) problem [2,3,4,5,6]. Substantial agricultural losses due to CC obstacles are observed every year, and sustainable strawberry cultivation has been impeded worldwide [3]. The application of SA during strawberry engraftment can increase the fruit yield and quality of CC-produced strawberries [15]
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