Transcriptome analysis of sesame- Macrophomina phaseolina interactions revealing the distinct genetic components for early defense responses

Nidhi Radadiya; Naman Mangukia; Virali Antala; Hiral Desai; Hemangini Chaudhari; T L Dholaria; Denish Dholaria; Rukam Singh Tomar; B A Golakiya; Mahesh Kumar Mahatma

doi:10.1007/s12298-021-01039-6

Transcriptome analysis of sesame- Macrophomina phaseolina interactions revealing the distinct genetic components for early defense responses

Physiol Mol Biol Plants. 2021 Aug;27(8):1675-1693. doi: 10.1007/s12298-021-01039-6. Epub 2021 Aug 9.

Authors

Nidhi Radadiya^{1

2}, Naman Mangukia^{3

4}, Virali Antala^{1

2}, Hiral Desai¹, Hemangini Chaudhari¹, T L Dholaria², Denish Dholaria², Rukam Singh Tomar¹, B A Golakiya¹, Mahesh Kumar Mahatma⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biotechnology, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat India.
² Solar Agrotech Pvt. Ltd. Bhaichand Mehta Industrial Estate, Rajkot, Gujarat India.
³ Department of Bioinformatics, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat India.
⁴ Bioinnovations, Mumbai India.
⁵ Department of Biochemistry, ICAR-Directorate of Groundnut Research, Junagadh, Gujarat India.

Abstract

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is an oilseed crop challenged by many biotic stresses. Charcoal rot caused by Macrophomina phaseolina (MP) is one of the most devastating diseases of sesame. Till date, molecular mechanisms of resistance to charcoal rot in sesame is not yet reported. In this study, two sesame variety GT-10 (resistant) and RT-373 (susceptible) were identified with contrasting disease incidence when infected with MP. To get the molecular insight, root samples were collected at 0, 24, 48- and 72-h post inoculation (hpi) with the pathogen and generated RNAseq data was analyzed. A total of 1153 and 1226 differentially expressed genes (DEGS) were identified in GT-10 and RT-373, respectively. During the inoculation with MP, resistant genotype showed high number DEGs at early time point of 24 hpi and when compared to late expression in susceptible genotype at 48 hpi. Distinct clusters were represented for each time period represented by cytochrome P450 83B1-like, single anchor, hypothetical protein C4D60, kirola like and heat shock proteins in the resistant genotype contributing for resistance. Analysis of differentially expressed genes, catalogued the genes involved in synthesis of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins, MYB, WRKY, leucine zipper protein, bHLH, bZIP and NAC transcription factors, ABC transporters (B, C and G subfamily), glutathione metabolism, secondary metabolites, fatty acid biosynthesis and phytohormones like auxin, abscisic acid, ethylene and gibberellic acid. Additionally, in the resistant response we have found three unique GO terms including ATP binding, ribonucleotide binding and nucleic acid binding in molecular function category. The molecular clues generated through this work will provide an important resource of genes contributing for disease resistance and could prioritize genes for functional validation in the important oil crop.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-01039-6.

Keywords: Charcoal rot; Defense genes; PR proteins; Secondary metabolites; Sesame; Transcriptomics.