Pathogenic Process-Associated Transcriptome Analysis of from Tomato.

Tomato () gray leaf spot disease is a predominant foliar disease of tomato in China that is caused mainly by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen . Little is known regarding the pathogenic mechanisms of this broad-host-range pathogen. In this study, a comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed and more genetic information on the pathogenicity determinants of . during the infection process in tomato were obtained. Through an RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis, 1,642 and 1,875 genes upregulated during the early infection and necrotrophic phases, respectively, were identified and significantly enriched in 44 and 24 pathways, respectively. The induction of genes associated with pectin degradation, adhesion, and colonization was notable during the early infection phase, whereas during the necrotrophic phase, some structural molecule activity-related genes were prominently induced. Additionally, some genes involved in signal regulation or encoding hemicellulose- and cellulose-degrading enzymes and extracellular proteases were commonly upregulated during pathogenesis. Overall, we present some putative key genes and processes that may be crucial for . pathogenesis. The abilities to adhere and colonize a host surface, effectively damage host cell walls, regulate signal transduction to manage infection, and survive in a hostile plant environment are proposed as important factors for the pathogenesis of . in tomato. The functional characterization of these genes provides an invaluable resource for analyses of this important pathosystem between . and tomato, and it may facilitate the generation of control strategies against this devastating disease.