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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mayaguez, Puerto Rico » Tropical Crops and Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #415197
Research Project: Uncovering New Sources of Disease Resistance in Tropical Sorghum Germplasm

Location: Tropical Crops and Germplasm Research

Title: Dual-RNA-sequencing to elucidate the interactions between sorghum and Colletotrichum sublineola

Author
item VELA, SADDIE - University Of Florida
item WOLF, EMILY - University Of Florida
item ROLLINS, JEFFREY - University Of Florida
item Cuevas, Hugo
item VERMERRIS, WILFRED - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Frontiers in Fungal Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/19/2024
Publication Date: 8/16/2024
Citation: Vela, S., Wolf, E.S., Rollins, J.A., Cuevas, H.E., Vermerris, W. 2024. Dual-RNA-sequencing to elucidate the interactions between sorghum and Colletotrichum sublineola. Frontiers in Fungal Biology. 5: 1437344. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffunb.2024.1437344.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/ffunb.2024.1437344

Interpretive Summary: Understanding the molecular interactions between plants and pathogens is imperative for the development of new disease control strategies. Thus, gene expressions of sorghum and the pathogen, Colletotrichum sublineola (causal agent of anthracnose disease), was studied using different resistant cultivars. Results showed pathogen virulence genes mainly affects the host apoplast where the pathogen can immediately interfere with the plant immunity response. The sorghum genes associated with the plant-pathogen interaction observed in this work are the most likely ones to be modified or edited to develop novel resistance.

Technical Abstract: In warm and humid regions, the productivity of sorghum is significantly limited by the fungal hemibiotrophic pathogen Colletotrichum sublineola, leading to anthracnose disease, one of the most problematic diseases of sorghum that can result in grain and biomass yield losses of up to 50%. Despite available genomic resources for both the host and fungal pathogen, the molecular basis of sorghum'C. sublineola interactions is poorly understood. By employing a dual-RNA sequencing approach, the molecular crosstalk between sorghum and C. sublineola can be elucidated. In this study, we examined the transcriptomes of four sorghum genotypes from the sorghum association panel (SAP) inoculated with a C. sublineola isolate collected in Florida at varying times post-infection. Approximately 0.3% and 93% of the reads were mapped to the genomes of C. sublineola and Sorghum bicolor, respectively. Expression profiling of in vitro versus in planta C. sublineola transcripts at 1-, 3-, and 5-days post-infection (dpi) indicated that genes encoding secreted effectors, carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), and membrane transporters increased in expression during the transition from the biotrophic phase to the necrotrophic phase (3 dpi). The hallmark of the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity in sorghum includes the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phytoalexins. The majority of effectors secreted by C. sublineola were predicted to be localized in the host apoplast, where they could interfere with the PAMP-triggered immunity response, specifically in the host ROS signaling pathway. The genes encoding critical molecular factors influencing pathogenicity identified in this study are a resource for subsequent genetic experiments aimed at validating their contributions to pathogen virulence. This comprehensive study not only provides a better understanding of the biology of C. sublineola but also supports the long-term goal of developing resistant sorghum cultivars.