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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Canal Point, Florida » Sugarcane Field Station » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #393463
Research Project: Identification of Resistant Germplasm and Markers Associated with Resistance to Major Diseases of Sugarcane

Location: Sugarcane Field Station

Title: Comparing transcriptomic and metabolomic responses of resistant and susceptible sugarcane sister lines to orange rust disease

Author
item ZHOU, YUPENG - University Of Florida
item LOU, ZHENG - University Of Florida
item Islam, Md
item Sood, Sushma
item WANG, JIANPING - University Of Florida

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/31/2022
Publication Date: 7/16/2022
Citation: Zhou, Y., Lou, Z., Islam, M.S., Sood, S.G., Wang, J. 2022. Comparing transcriptomic and metabolomic responses of resistant and susceptible sugarcane sister lines to orange rust disease. American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 34.

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) as one of the most important crops in Florida has suffered from orange rust disease caused by Puccinia kuehnii since 2007. Developing cultivars with orange rust disease resistance has been an important goal in sugarcane breeding programs in Florida and many other countries in South America. To identify the genetic resistance source and resistance genes, an F1 population segregating on orange rust resistance was developed earlier for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis. However, the resistance mechanisms were still not clear. In this study, we selected two sister lines from the F1 population, with different genotypes in the major QTL region and showing contrastive resistant responses to the orange rust disease. Transcriptomic and metabolomics analyses were carried out with these two lines to investigate the molecular and metabolomic differences between them. The results showed that 24 genes and 15 microRNA families were associated with the orange rust disease response. Most hub genes in networks that were also differentially expressed after orange rust infection, suggesting their potential roles in the disease resistance. Metabolomic analysis revealed different metabolites involved in the defensive process against orange rust disease, which can serve as “natural fungicides” to the disease. Interestingly, the susceptible line had higher stomata density on both sides of the leaves and larger stomata size on top of the leave. The results of this study serve as an important reference for future breeding programs of orange rust resistance.