ARS | Publication request: Identification of lettuce genes differentially expressed in a Verticillium dahliae-lettuce interaction by suppression subtractive hybridization

Submitted to: Phytopathology Supplement; APSnet (Plant Pathology Online)
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2009
Publication Date: July 3, 2009
Citation: Klosterman, S.J., Anchieta, A.G., Maruthachalam, K., Hayes, R.J., Subbarao, K.V. 2009. Identification of lettuce genes differentially expressed in a Verticillium dahliae-lettuce interaction by suppression subtractive hybridization. Phytopathology Supplement; APSnet (Plant Pathology Online).

Technical Abstract: Verticillium wilt, caused by the fungus Verticillium dahliae, is an emerging threat to the U.S. lettuce industry. Lettuce germplasm with resistance to race 1of V. dahliae is available for breeding programs, although germplasm with resistance to race 2 of the pathogen has not been identified. The objective of this work was to identify lettuce genes that are differentially expressed in leaves displaying Verticillium wilt symptoms. To accomplish this objective, the technique of suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was applied. The cDNA populations used for the SSH were prepared from symptomatic leaf tissue (tester), and asymptomatic leaf tissue (driver) of lettuce line PI 251246.cDNAs from the forward and reverse subtraction were cloned, sequenced, and analyzed in database searches. The results of these searches indicated an abundance of sequences encoding plant pathogenesis-related proteins, including endochitinase and thaumatin-like proteins, in the forward subtracted library. Further evaluation of these genes, and others identified in this library, may provide insight into mechanisms of resistance or susceptibility in lettuce-V. dahliae interactions.