Analysis of long non-coding RNAs and mRNAs in harvested kiwifruit in response to the yeast antagonist, Wickerhamomyces anomalus

Qianhua Zhao; Qiya Yang; Zhenshuo Wang; Yuan Sui; Qi Wang; Jia Liu; Hongyin Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.csbj.2021.09.037

Analysis of long non-coding RNAs and mRNAs in harvested kiwifruit in response to the yeast antagonist, Wickerhamomyces anomalus

Comput Struct Biotechnol J. 2021 Oct 4:19:5589-5599. doi: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.09.037. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Qianhua Zhao¹, Qiya Yang¹, Zhenshuo Wang², Yuan Sui³, Qi Wang², Jia Liu³, Hongyin Zhang¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China.
² Department of Plant Pathology, MOA Key Lab of Pest Monitoring and Green Management, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
³ Chongqing Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Biotechnology, College of Landscape Architecture and Life Science/Institute of Special Plants, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Yongchuan, Chongqing 402160, China.

Abstract

Biological control utilizing antagonistic yeasts is an effective method for controlling postharvest diseases. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to be involved in a variety of plant growth and development processes, including those associated with plant disease resistance. In the present study, the yeast antagonist, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, was found to strongly inhibit postharvest blue mold (Penicillium expansum) and gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) decay of kiwifruit. Additionally, lncRNA high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analysis was used to identify lncRNAs in W. anomalus-treated wounds in kiwifruit and predict their function based on putative target genes. Our results indicate that lncRNAs may be involved in increasing ethylene (ET), jasmonic acid (JA), abscisic acid (ABA), and auxin (IAA) levels, as well as activating signal transduction pathways that regulate the expression of several transcription factors (WRKY72, WRKY53, JUB1AP2). These transcription factors (TFs) then mediate the expression of downstream, defense-related genes (ZAR1, PAD4, CCR4, NPR4) and the synthesis of secondary metabolites, thus, potentially enhancing disease resistance. Notably, by stimulating the accumulation of antifungal compounds, such as phenols and lignin, disease resistance in kiwifruit was enhanced. Our study provides new information on the mechanism underlying the induction of disease resistance in kiwifruit by W. anomalus, as well as a new disease resistance strategy that can be used to enhance the defense response of fruit to pathogenic fungi.

Keywords: Kiwifruit; Postharvest disease; Resistance; Wickerhamomyces anomalus; lncRNAs.