Crop Genetics Department, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK.
Computational and Systems Biology Department, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK.
Theor Appl Genet. 2024 Mar 2;137(3):65. doi: 10.1007/s00122-024-04569-1.
Using associative transcriptomics, our study identifies genes conferring resistance to four diverse fungal pathogens in crops, emphasizing key genetic determinants of multi-pathogen resistance. Crops are affected by several pathogens, but these are rarely studied in parallel to identify common and unique genetic factors controlling diseases. Broad-spectrum quantitative disease resistance (QDR) is desirable for crop breeding as it confers resistance to several pathogen species. Here, we use associative transcriptomics (AT) to identify candidate gene loci associated with Brassica napus constitutive QDR to four contrasting fungal pathogens: Alternaria brassicicola, Botrytis cinerea, Pyrenopeziza brassicae, and Verticillium longisporum. We did not identify any shared loci associated with broad-spectrum QDR to fungal pathogens with contrasting lifestyles. Instead, we observed QDR dependent on the lifestyle of the pathogen-hemibiotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens had distinct QDR responses and associated loci, including some loci associated with early immunity. Furthermore, we identify a genomic deletion associated with resistance to V. longisporum and potentially broad-spectrum QDR. This is the first time AT has been used for several pathosystems simultaneously to identify host genetic loci involved in broad-spectrum QDR. We highlight constitutive expressed candidate loci for broad-spectrum QDR with no antagonistic effects on susceptibility to the other pathogens studies as candidates for crop breeding. In conclusion, this study represents an advancement in our understanding of broad-spectrum QDR in B. napus and is a significant resource for the scientific community.
利用关联转录组学，我们的研究确定了赋予作物对四种不同真菌病原体抗性的基因，强调了多病原体抗性的关键遗传决定因素。作物受到多种病原体的影响，但这些病原体很少被同时研究以确定控制疾病的共同和独特遗传因素。广谱数量抗性（QDR）是作物育种所期望的，因为它赋予了对几种病原体物种的抗性。在这里，我们使用关联转录组学（AT）来鉴定与甘蓝型油菜组成型 QDR 相关的候选基因座，以应对四种截然不同的真菌病原体：芸薹链格孢菌、灰葡萄孢菌、芸薹核盘菌和长孢轮枝菌。我们没有发现任何与生活方式截然不同的真菌病原体广谱 QDR 相关的共享基因座。相反，我们观察到依赖于病原体生活方式的 QDR——半活体营养型和坏死型病原体具有不同的 QDR 反应和相关基因座，包括一些与早期免疫相关的基因座。此外，我们鉴定了一个与抗 V. longisporum 和潜在广谱 QDR 相关的基因组缺失。这是第一次同时使用 AT 来同时研究几种病原系统，以鉴定参与广谱 QDR 的宿主遗传基因座。我们强调了广谱 QDR 候选基因座的组成型表达，对其他研究的病原体的易感性没有拮抗作用，作为作物育种的候选者。总之，本研究代表了我们对甘蓝型油菜广谱 QDR 理解的一个进步，是科学界的一个重要资源。
