ARS | Publication request: Preliminary Analysis of High-Throughput Expression Data and Small RNA in Soybean Stem Tissue Infected with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Submitted to: Proceedings of the International Sclerotinia Workshop
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 1, 2009
Publication Date: May 31, 2009
Repository URL: http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/sclerotinia_conference/index.html
Citation: Calla, B., Varala, K.K., Win, H., Hudson, M.E., Vodkin, L.O., Clough, S.J. 2009. Preliminary Analysis of High-Throughput Expression Data and Small RNA in Soybean Stem Tissue Infected with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum [abstract]. Proceedings of the International Sclerotinia Workshop. May 31-June 4, 2009, Wilmington, NC. P. 6.

Technical Abstract: We recently published a report on transcriptome changes in soybean stem tissue challenged with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum based on cDNA microarray analysis. We are now advancing this study by examining the differential expression of small RNA (miRNAs and siRNAs) and gene transcripts using the Illumina sequence-by-synthesis ‘Genome Analyzer’ technology (www.illumina.com). The sequencing yielded approximately 445,000 unique reads, being analyzed with soybean (www.phytozome.net/soybean) and S. sclerotiorum (www.broad.mit.edu/annotation/genome/sclerotinia_sclerotiorum/) genome sequence databases to determine plant and fungal origins and to narrow the lists of interest. In addition to complementing and expanding our previous microarray-based mRNA expression study, this new analysis will also provide in-depth transcript data from the pathogen and will provide insight into the possible role of small RNA as a mechanism by which host and pathogen genes are regulated during the infection process. The role of small RNA in the regulation of genes in plants under attack by diverse pathogens is beginning to be documented. Although fungi have been shown to have small RNA processing and RNA interfering abilities, little is known of the possible role of small RNA in plant pathogenic fungi during the infection process. In our studies, we used the partially resistant plant introduction PI 194639 and S. sclerotiorum strain 105HT. Preliminary results will be presented.