Hydroxy proline and gamma-aminobutyric acid: markers of susceptibility to vine decline disease caused by the fungus Monosporascus cannonballus in melons (Cucumis melo L.)

Sixto Alberto Marquez; Kevin Crosby; Bhimanagouda Patil; Carlos Avila; Amir Mh Ibrahim; Herika Pessoa; Jashbir Singh

doi:10.7717/peerj.14932

Hydroxy proline and gamma-aminobutyric acid: markers of susceptibility to vine decline disease caused by the fungus Monosporascus cannonballus in melons (Cucumis melo L.)

PeerJ. 2023 Mar 2:11:e14932. doi: 10.7717/peerj.14932. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Sixto Alberto Marquez^{1

2

3}, Kevin Crosby^{1

2

3}, Bhimanagouda Patil^{1

2

3

4}, Carlos Avila^{3

5}, Amir Mh Ibrahim^{2

6}, Herika Pessoa⁷, Jashbir Singh^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
² Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, USDA National Center of Excellence for Melon at the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, TX, USA.
³ Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center, College Station, TX, USA.
⁴ Department of Food Science and Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
⁵ Department of Horticultural Sciences,Texas A&M Agrilife Research and Extension Center, Texas A&M University, Weslaco, TX, USA.
⁶ Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
⁷ Agronomia, Universidad Federal de Viçosa-UFV, Viçosa, Minas de Gerais, Brasil.

Abstract

Background: Vine decline disease caused by the fungus Monosporascus cannonballus, is a threat to melon production (Cucumis melo L.) worldwide. Nonetheless, little is known about the metabolites produced during the host pathogen interaction. Thus, the objective of this study was to measure quantities of amino acids produced over time during such an interaction.

Methods: Two melon genotypes named TAM-Uvalde (susceptible) and USDA PI 124104 (resistant) were grown and inoculated with M. cannonballus. The metabolites previously stated were measured before inoculation (0 hours) and 24, 48 and 72 hours after inoculation, using high performance liquid chromatography analysis.

Results: The production of some amino acids during the interaction of the resistant and susceptible melon genotypes with the fungus M. cannonballus was different regarding quantities over time. Interestingly, hydroxy proline was always up-regulated in higher quantities in response to pathogen infection in the genotype TAM-Uvalde. Also, the up-regulation in higher quantities of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the genotype TAM-Uvalde 48 and 72 hours after inoculation, suggests more penetration of the pathogen in its roots. Hence, taken together, hydroxy proline and gamma-aminobutyric acid levels could be used as markers of susceptibility to vine decline disease caused by M. cannonballus, which could be useful in developing resistant varieties.

Keywords: Gamma-aminobutyric acid; Hydroxy proline; Markers of susceptibility; Melons; Monosporascus cannonballus; Vine Decline Disease.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Amino Acids
Antifibrinolytic Agents*
Ascomycota*
Cucumis melo*
Flower Essences*
Proline
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

Substances

Proline
gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
Amino Acids
Antifibrinolytic Agents
Flower Essences

Supplementary concepts

Monosporascus cannonballus

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the USDA-NIFA-SCIR-2017-51181-26834 grant program. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.