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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #413122
Research Project: Disease Management and Improved Detection Systems for Control of Pathogens of Vegetables and Strawberries

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: Disease-stage specific expression of carbohydrate active enzyme and effector genes during Macrophomina phaseolina infection of strawberry roots

Author
item DILLA-ERMITA, JADE - University Of California
item PENNERMAN, KAYLA - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item GUTIERREZ, OLIVIA - Former ARS Employee
item Jimenez, Zoey
item Ramos, Gerardo
item INFANTE, SARA - Former ARS Employee
item Goldman, Polly
item Henry, Peter

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/22/2024
Publication Date: 3/26/2024
Citation: Dilla-Ermita, J., Pennerman, K., Gutierrez, O., Jimenez, Z.D., Ramos, G., Infante, S., Goldman, P.H., Henry, P.M. 2024. Disease-stage specific expression of carbohydrate active enzyme and effector genes during Macrophomina phaseolina infection of strawberry roots. Conference on Soilborne Plant Pathogens, March 26-28, 2024, Corvallis, Oregon.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Climate change-induced heat stress has exacerbated strawberry crown rot disease caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms contributing to this phenomenon. We hypothesized that higher temperatures accelerate the switch to necrotrophy, leading to upregulation of necrotrophy-related genes at earlier timepoints. To test our hypothesis, we conducted two growth chamber experiments at low (23'C day/18'C night) and high (30'C day/25'C night) temperature treatments, and inoculated plants by submersion in 8% M. phaseolina mycelial suspension or sterile V8 broth. Foliar, root, and crown symptoms were evaluated to determine the disease stage (early, middle, late, and saprophytic) of each sample. Root samples (five plants/treatment) were collected at 1-, 5-, 12-, and 21-days post inoculation for RNA sequencing and microscopy. Plants in the high temperature treatment had more severe crown/root necrosis, wilting, and accelerated plant death than plants in the low temperature treatment. Gene expression profiles for effectors and carbohydrate active enzymes were distinct for each disease stage. Our study demonstrated that the switch to the expression of necrotrophy-associated genes occurred earlier at higher temperatures for M. phaseolina. This work highlights the need for research on modulating soil temperatures as a disease control, and in exploring the potential to suppress necrotrophy-associated gene expression through biotechnology.