A case study from the interaction of strawberry and Botrytis cinerea highlights the benefits of comonitoring both partners at genomic and mRNA level.
Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa (cv. Korona) was inoculated with Botrytis cinerea by dipping berries in a conidial suspension. Colonization by the pathogen was monitored using real-time PCR, ELISA and ergosterol assays, the first showing the highest sensitivity. The expression of pathogen beta-tubulin and six polygalacturonases (Bcpg1-6) and three host defence genes (polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein (FaPGIP) and two class II chitinases) were monitored using real-time RT-PCR. The maximum transcript levels of the host defence genes occurred at 16 h postinoculation (hpi) at the presumed initial penetration stage. The unique transcript profile of Bcpg2 over the 96-h incubation time and its high transcript levels relative to those of the other Bcpgs at 8-24 hpi suggest that the gene has a specific role in the penetration stage. Bcpg1 was expressed constitutively at a relatively high level in actively growing mycelia throughout the experimental period. Comparison of the transcript profiles indicated that Bcpg1 and Bcpg3-6 were coordinately regulated.
Mehli
Lisbeth
L
Sør-Trøndelag University College, Faculty of Food Science and Medical Technology, Trondheim, Norway. lisbeth.mehli@hist.no
Kjellsen
Trygve D
TD
Dewey
Frances M
FM
Hietala
Ari M
AM
D001483:Base Sequence; D020171:Botrytis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D031985:Fragaria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D018745:Genome, Plant; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D018744:DNA, Plant; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant