ARS | Publication request: Differential Sugar Beet gene expression during the defense response to challenge by Cercospora beticola

Submitted to: American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: February 25, 2009
Publication Date: February 25, 2009
Citation: Larson, R., Mcclintock, M., Cramer, R., Hill, A.L., Fenwick, A.L., Reeves, P.A., Webb, K.M., Panella, L.W. 2009. Differential Sugar Beet gene expression during the defense response to challenge by Cercospora beticola. American Society of Sugarbeet Technologists. Vol. 46, No. 1 & 2, P 80 & 81.

Interpretive Summary: Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola Sacc. (Saccardo, 1867) (C. beticola) is a widespread foliar disease of sugar beet that causes reduced sugar and root yield. It can become a problem in many production areas in the U.S. and world-wide. The study of host resistance is important for the understanding of host-pathogen interaction, the development of more effective disease control strategies, and ultimately marker assisted selection utilizing implicated defense response genes. In the current study, a modified suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) was utilized to identify host plant genes involved in the defense response of sugar beet resistant to CLS. A CLS-resistant sugar beet germplasm, (FC504CMS X FC502/2)] X SP6322-0 (LSR), was inoculated with C. beticola and a subtracted cDNA library was created to identify defense related genes. Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantify the expression level of candidate defense response genes over an infection time course. Expression levels were examined for four genes identified via SSH (CP5, P450, PR-10, UVB), plus the sugar beet homologs of two defense response genes known from other systems (GST, SOD).

Technical Abstract: Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola Sacc. (Saccardo, 1867) (C. beticola) is a widespread foliar disease of sugar beet that causes reduced sugar and root yield. It can become a problem in many production areas in the U.S. and world-wide. The study of host resistance is important for the understanding of host-pathogen interaction, the development of more effective disease control strategies, and ultimately marker assisted selection utilizing implicated defense response genes. In the current study, a modified suppressive subtractive hybridization (SSH) was utilized to identify host plant genes involved in the defense response of sugar beet resistant to CLS. A CLS-resistant sugar beet germplasm, (FC504CMS X FC502/2)] X SP6322-0 (LSR), was inoculated with C. beticola and a subtracted cDNA library was created to identify defense related genes. Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantify the expression level of candidate defense response genes over an infection time course. Expression levels were examined for four genes identified via SSH (CP5, P450, PR-10, UVB), plus the sugar beet homologs of two defense response genes known from other systems (GST, SOD).