Identification of candidate susceptibility genes to Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici in wheat

Authors: HENNINGSEN, EVA - University Of Minnesota; OMIDVAR, VAHID - University Of Minnesota; COLETTA, RAFAEL - University Of Minnesota; MICHNO, JEAN-MICHEL - University Of Minnesota; GILBERT, ERIN - University Of Minnesota; LI, FENG - University Of Minnesota; MILLER, MARISA - University Of Minnesota; MYERS, CHAD - University Of Minnesota; GORDON, SEAN - Joint Genome Institute; VOGEL, JOHN - Joint Genome Institute; STEFFENSON, BRIAN - University Of Minnesota; Kianian, Shahryar; HIRSCH, CORY - University Of Minnesota; FIGUEROA, MELANIA - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/22/2021
Publication Date: 4/21/2021
Citation: Henningsen, E.C., Omidvar, V., Coletta, R.D., Michno, J., Gilbert, E., Li, F., Miller, M.E., Myers, C.L., Gordon, S.P., Vogel, J.P., Steffenson, B.J., Kianian, S.F., Hirsch, C.D., Figueroa, M. 2021. Identification of candidate susceptibility genes to Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici in wheat. Frontiers in Plant Science. 12. Article e657796. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.657796.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.657796

Interpretive Summary: Stem rust is a devastating disease of wheat. Fast evolving populations of the stem rust limit the efficacy of plant genetic resistance and constrain disease management strategies. Wheat stem rust resistance genes can be used to control stem rust. Understanding molecular mechanisms that lead to rust infection and disease susceptibility could deliver novel strategies to deploy crop resistance through genetic loss of disease susceptibility. We used molecular and bioinformatics approaches to characterize gene expression changes associated with stem rust infection in susceptible and resistant wheat genotypes as well as the non-host model grass species Brachypodium distachyon. We targeted our analysis to genes with differential expression in wheat and genes suppressed or not affected in Brachypodium and report several processes potentially linked to susceptibility to stem rust, such as cell death suppression and impairment of photosynthesis. We complemented our approach with a gene co-expression network analysis to identify wheat targets to deliver resistance to Pgt through removal or modification of putative susceptibility genes.

Technical Abstract: Wheat stem rust disease caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt) is a global threat to wheat production. Fast evolving populations of Pgt limit the efficacy of plant genetic resistance and constrain disease management strategies. Understanding molecular mechanisms that lead to rust infection and disease susceptibility could deliver novel strategies to deploy crop resistance through genetic loss of disease susceptibility. We used comparative transcriptome-based and orthology-guided approaches to characterize gene expression changes associated with Pgt infection in susceptible and resistant Triticum aestivum genotypes as well as the non-host Brachypodium distachyon. We targeted our analysis to genes with differential expression in T. aestivum and genes suppressed or not affected in B. distachyon and report several processes potentially linked to susceptibility to Pgt, such as cell death suppression and impairment of photosynthesis. We complemented our approach with a gene co-expression network analysis to identify wheat targets to deliver resistance to Pgt through removal or modification of putative susceptibility genes.