Overexpression of Lectin Receptor-Like Kinase 1 in Tomato Confers Resistance to f. sp. .

The disease crown and root rot (FCRR), caused mainly by f. sp. (), seriously affects commercial tomato [ (Sl)] yields. However, the genes that offer resistance to are limited and the mechanism of resistance to FCRR is poorly understood. Lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRKs) play critical roles in defensive responses and immunity in many plant species; however, whether specific LecRKs are involved in the response of tomato plants to is unclear. Here, we report that the expression of was obviously induced by the infection of . Biochemical and cell biological data revealed that SlLecRK1 is an active kinase that is located at the cell membrane, while real-time quantitative PCR data suggested that is mainly expressed in stems and roots. Genetic studies showed that overexpression of significantly improved the resistance of tomato plants to but did not cause visible changes in plant growth and development compared with wild-type control plants. RNA-Seq data suggested that the positive effects of SlLecRK1 on the resistance of tomato plants to occur mainly by triggering the expression of () genes. Together, our findings not only identify a new target for the development of FCRR-resistant tomato varieties, they also demonstrate a molecular mechanism linking SlLecRK1 and ERFs in regulating the immune responses of tomato plants to .