Expression profiling of Castanea genes during resistant and susceptible interactions with the Oomycete pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi reveal possible mechanisms of immunity

摘要

The most dangerous pathogen affecting the production of chestnuts is Phytophthoracinnamomi a hemibiotrophic that causes root rot, also known as ink disease. Littleinformation has been acquired in chestnut on the molecular defense strategies againstthis pathogen. The expression of eight candidate genes potentially involved in thedefense to P. cinnamomi was quantified by digital PCR in Castanea genotypes showingdifferent susceptibility to the pathogen. Seven of the eight candidate genes displayeddifferentially expressed levels depending on genotype and time-point after inoculation.Cast_Gnk2-like revealed to be the most expressed gene across all experiments andthe one that best discriminates between susceptible and resistant genotypes. Our datasuggest that the pre-formed defenses are crucial for the resistance of C. crenata toP. cinnamomi. A lower and delayed expression of the eight studied genes was foundin the susceptible Castanea sativa, which may be related with the establishment andspread of the disease in this species. A working model integrating the obtained resultsis presented