Metabolome profile variations in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) resistant and susceptible genotypes incited by rust (Uromyces appendiculatus)

Penny Makhumbila; Molemi E Rauwane; Hangwani H Muedi; Ntakadzeni E Madala; Sandiswa Figlan

doi:10.3389/fgene.2023.1141201

Metabolome profile variations in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) resistant and susceptible genotypes incited by rust (Uromyces appendiculatus)

Front Genet. 2023 Mar 16:14:1141201. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1141201. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Penny Makhumbila¹, Molemi E Rauwane^{1

2}, Hangwani H Muedi³, Ntakadzeni E Madala⁴, Sandiswa Figlan¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Roodeport, South Africa.
² Department of Botany, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
³ Research Support Services, North-West Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
⁴ Department of Biochemistry, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.

Abstract

The causal agent of rust, Uromyces appendiculatus is a major constraint for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production. This pathogen causes substantial yield losses in many common bean production areas worldwide. U. appendiculatus is widely distributed and although there have been numerous breakthroughs in breeding for resistance, its ability to mutate and evolve still poses a major threat to common bean production. An understanding of plant phytochemical properties can aid in accelerating breeding for rust resistance. In this study, metabolome profiles of two common bean genotypes Teebus-RR-1 (resistant) and Golden Gate Wax (susceptible) were investigated for their response to U. appendiculatus races (1 and 3) at 14- and 21-days post-infection (dpi) using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-qTOF-MS). Non-targeted data analysis revealed 71 known metabolites that were putatively annotated, and a total of 33 were statistically significant. Key metabolites including flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and lipids were found to be incited by rust infections in both genotypes. Resistant genotype as compared to the susceptible genotype differentially enriched metabolites including aconifine, D-sucrose, galangin, rutarin and others as a defence mechanism against the rust pathogen. The results suggest that timely response to pathogen attack by signalling the production of specific metabolites can be used as a strategy to understand plant defence. This is the first study to illustrate the utilization of metabolomics to understand the interaction of common bean with rust.

Keywords: LC-MS; Phaseolus vulgaris; Uromyces appendiculatus; common bean; metabolomics; rust.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the University of South Africa’s Women in Research Support Programme together with the National Research Foundation (MND2104145947060). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis. The decision to publish the prepared manuscript was solely by the authors.