Location: Sugarbeet Research
Project Number: 3060-21000-045-035-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2025
End Date: Aug 31, 2026
Objective:
1. Identify differentially expressed genes in response to beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) infection in sugarbeet to understand molecular basis of rhizomania pathogenesis and host defense.
2. Functional characterization of differentially expressed genes that can be used to develop new tools for rhizomania disease management.
Approach:
Transcriptome analysis using RNA-Seq will elucidate the gene expression changes that occur during virus-host interactions. Rhizomania is a soil-borne viral disease and is managed through host-resistance that is currently incorporated into commercial varieties. However, host-resistance is being compromised due to high-selection pressure against these resistance genes. Identification of host response factors will provide new tools for developing alternative disease management strategies. 1)-Sugarbeet seedlings will be inoculated with BNYVV, and root-samples will be collected on time-course manner. 2)-RNA-Seq for transcriptome analysis will be performed using total RNA extracted from BNYVV-infected and mock-inoculated sugarbeet. 3)-Bioinformatic analysis will be carried out using USDA-SCINet using Rstudio work environment to identify gene expression changes in BNYVV-infected samples compared to mock-inoculated plants. 4)-Comparative molecular analysis to characterize the differentially expressed genes in response to BNYVV. This transcriptomics approach will identify new host-genes for developing effective management strategies for rhizomania disease, which in turn will support the needs of sugarbeet growers and the sugar industry.