Dual transcriptome analysis of the susceptible interaction between basil and Peronospora belbahrii

Authors: Johnson, Eric; Kim, Hye-Seon; Doehring, Mark; TIAN, MIAOYING - University Of Hawaii; GONDA, ITAY - Israel Agricultural Research Organization (ARO); TAL, OFIR - Israel Agricultural Research Organization (ARO); DUDAI, NATIV - Israel Agricultural Research Organization (ARO)

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/2021
Publication Date: 8/6/2021
Citation: Johnson, E.T., Kim, H., Doehring, M.E., Tian, M., Gonda, I., Tal, O., Dudai, N. 2021. Dual transcriptome analysis of the susceptible interaction between basil and Peronospora belbahrii. Meeting Abstract. [abstract].

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Downy mildew is a major yield-limiting disease of sweet basil production worldwide. Investigating the genetic program of how the pathogen infects basil plants could help scientists to identify targets for control products or discover basil genes that may promote susceptibility to downy mildew. The expression levels of all the genes in basil leaves and the downy mildew were analyzed three and six days after treatment with downy mildew spores. A number of basil genes that were identified with the term "defense response to oomycetes" were upregulated in the inoculated basil leaves after three days; after the same time interval, many genes contributing to photosynthesis in the infected leaves were downregulated. Many more genes were differentially expressed in the basil leaves after six days as the pathogen began to produce spores in the leaves; several genes involved in the response to fungi and bacteria were upregulated in the infected leaves at six days, possibly due to secondary infections caused by microbes present in the downy mildew spore preparation. Seven of the eight basil genes identified as orthologues of Arabidopsis thaliana DMR6 were upregulated with infection. After three and six days the pathogen was expressing a number of genes that code for carbohydrate degrading enzymes, which likely release sugars from the plant cell walls needed for growth of the pathogen. Many of the same genes encoding carbohydrate degrading enzymes were expressed by the pathogen infecting basil leaves in similar experiments performed at the University of Hawaii. These results contribute to a better understanding of the infection process and spread of downy mildew and should contribute to the development of more effective measures for reducing the severity of the disease.