Biology subjects

Widell, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Widell, S..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Transcriptomic analysis of quinoa reveals a group of germin-like proteins induced by Trichoderma

Symbiotic strains of fungi in the genus Trichoderma affect growth and pathogen resistance of many plant species, but the interaction is not known in molecular detail. Here we describe the transcriptomic response of two cultivars of the crop Chenopodium quinoa to axenic co-cultivation with Trichoderma harzianum BOL-12 and Trichoderma afroharzianum T22. The response of C. quinoa roots to BOL-12 and T22 in the early phases of interaction was studied by RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR verification. Interaction with the two fungal strains induced partially overlapping gene expression responses. Comparing the two plant genotypes, a broad spectrum of putative quinoa defense genes were found activated in the cultivar Kurmi but not in the Real cultivar. In cultivar Kurmi, relatively small effects were observed for classical pathogen response pathways but instead a C. quinoa-specific clade of germin-like genes were activated. Germin-like genes were found to be more rapidly induced in cultivar Kurmi as compared to Real. The same germin-like genes were found to also be upregulated systemically in the leaves. No strong correlation was observed between any of the known hormone-mediated defense response pathways and any of the quinoa-Trichoderma interactions. The differences in responses are relevant for the capabilities of applying Trichoderma agents for crop protection of different cultivars of C. quinoa.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2019

The disease progression and molecular defense response in Chenopodium quinoa infected with Peronospora variabilis, the causal agent of quinoa downy mildew

The downy mildew disease, caused by the biotrophic oomycete Peronospora variabilis, is the largest environmental threat to quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) cultivation in the Andean highlands. However, so far no molecular information on the quinoa-Peronospora interaction has been reported. Here, we have developed tools to study the downy mildew disease in quinoa at gene expression level. Living P. variabilis could be isolated and maintained in the presence of a fungicide, allowing the characterization of downy mildew disease progression in two differently susceptible quinoa cultivars under controlled conditions. Quinoa gene expression changes induced by P. variabilis were analysed by qRT-PCR for quinoa homologues of Arabidopsis thaliana pathogen-associated genes. Overall, we observed a slower disease progression and higher tolerance in the quinoa cultivar Kurmi than in the cultivar Maniquena Real. We also observed that quinoa orthologs of A. thaliana genes involved in the salicylic acid defense response pathway (AtCAT2 and AtEP3) did not have changes in its gene expression. In contrast, quinoa orthologs of A. thaliana gene markers of the induction of the jasmonic acid response pathway (AtWRKY33 and AtHSP90) were significantly induced in plants infected with P. variabilis. These genes could be used as defense response markers to select quinoa cultivars that are more tolerant to P. variabilis infection.

plant biology↗