Proteome and metabolome analyses reveal differential responses in tomato-Verticillium dahliae-interactions

Authors: HU, XIAOPING - Northwest Agricultural & Forestry University; PURI, KRISHNA - University Of California; GURUNG, SURAJ - University Of California; Klosterman, Steven; Wallis, Christopher; BRITTON, MONICA - University Of California; DURBIN-JOHNSON, BLYTHE - University Of California; PHINNEY, BRETT - University Of California; SALEMI, MICHELLE - University Of California; SHORT, DYLAN - University Of California; SUBBARAO, KRISHNA - University Of California

Submitted to: Proteomics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/11/2019
Publication Date: 7/16/2019
Citation: Hu, X., Puri, K.D., Gurung, S., Klosterman, S.J., Wallis, C.M., Britton, M., Durbin-Johnson, B., Phinney, B., Salemi, M., Short, D.P.G., Subbarao, K.V. 2019. Proteome and metabolome analyses reveal differential responses in tomato-Verticillium dahliae-interactions. Journal of Proteomics. 207:103449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2019.103449.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2019.103449

Interpretive Summary: Verticillium dahliae is a soilborne fungus that causes disease on over 200 plant species worldwide, including many agriculturally important crops. In some crop systems such as tomato, the available genetic resources allow more in-depth studies to be carried out to identify specific genes and proteins that are up or down-regulated following pathogen treatment. Identification of these genes and their encoded protein products provides insights into how plants defend themselves. In this study, we examined the proteome of Verticillium resistant and susceptible tomato during the respective pathogen-host interactions. We identified tomato proteins involved in secondary metabolism associated with the resistant interaction, and associated with resistance in other plant-fungal interactions. Because V. dahliae attacks such a broad range of plants, the work will be useful to guide additional research on resistance mechanisms in multiple plant-pathogen systems.

Technical Abstract: Verticillium dahliae, a soilborne fungal pathogen, causes vascular tissue discoloration in stems, leaf wilting, and death of susceptible plant hosts. In this study, proteins and metabolites obtained from skin peeled stems of race 1 -incompatible (Beefsteak) and -compatible (Early Pak) tomato cultivars were characterized following inoculation with races 1 and 2 of V. dahliae. A total of 814 and 584 proteins in Beefsteak; and 456 and 637 in proteins in Early Pak were identified in stem extracts of plants inoculated with races 1 and 2, respectively. A significant number of defense-related proteins were abundantly expressed in all interactions. Remorin 1, NAD-dependent epimerase/dehydratase, polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and SAM-dependent methyltransferase were unique to the incompatible interaction. Compared with the uninoculated control, significant overexpression of gene ontology terms associated with lignin biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid pathway and methylation were identified exclusively in the incompatible interaction. At seven weeks post-inoculation, phenolic compounds including two caffeic acid derivatives, four flavonoid glycosides, and three hydrolysable tannins (quinic acid derivatives), all of which are known to be involved in plant defense mechanisms, showed a significant upregulation in the incompatible interaction. Some of the differentially expressed proteome and metabolome components in the resistant reaction versus the susceptible reaction likely confer resistance to race 1 of V. dahliae in tomato.