Comparative Transcriptome Profiling Unfolds a Complex Defense and Secondary Metabolite Networks Imparting <i>Corynespora cassiicola</i> Resistance in Soybean (<i>Glycine max</i> (L.) Merrill)

oleh: Sejal Patel, Jinesh Patel, Katherine Silliman, Nathan Hall, Kira Bowen, Jenny Koebernick

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-06-01

Deskripsi

Target spot is caused by <i>Corynespora cassiicola</i>, which heavily affects soybean production areas that are hot and humid. Resistant soybean genotypes have been identified; however, the molecular mechanisms governing resistance to infection are unknown. Comparative transcriptomic profiling using two known resistant genotypes and two susceptible genotypes was performed under infected and control conditions to understand the regulatory network operating between soybean and <i>C. cassiicola</i>. RNA-Seq analysis identified a total of 2571 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) which were shared by all four genotypes. These DEGs are related to secondary metabolites, immune response, defense response, phenylpropanoid, and flavonoid/isoflavonoid pathways in all four genotypes after <i>C. cassiicola</i> infection. In the two resistant genotypes, additional upregulated DEGs were identified affiliated with the defense network: flavonoids, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and brassinosteroids. Further analysis led to the identification of differentially expressed transcription factors, immune receptors, and defense genes with a leucine-rich repeat domain, dirigent proteins, and cysteine (C)-rich receptor-like kinases. These results will provide insight into molecular mechanisms of soybean resistance to <i>C. cassiicola</i> infection and valuable resources to potentially pyramid quantitative resistance loci for improving soybean germplasm.