Background: Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca S. Chow is a medicinal plant. G. elata f. glauca is unavoidably infected by pathogens in their growth process. In previous work, we have successfully isolated and identified Penicillium oxalicum from fungal diseased tubers of G. elata f. glauca . As a widespread epidemic, this fungal disease seriously affected the yield and quality of G. elata f. glauca . We speculate that the healthy G. elata f. glauca might carry resistance genes , which can resist against fungal disease. In this study, healthy and fungal diseased mature tubers of G. elata f. glauca from Changbai Mountain area were used as experimental materials to help us find the potential resistance genes against fungal disease. Results: A total of 7540 differentially expressed Unigenes (DEGs) were identified (FDR<0.01, log2FC>2). The current study screened 10 potential resistance genes. They were attached to transcription factors (TFs) in plant hormone signal transduction pathway and plant pathogen interaction pathway, including WRKY22, GH3, TIFY/JAZ, ERF1, WRKY33, TGA. In addition, four of these genes were closely related to jasmonic acid signaling pathway. Conclusions: The immune response mechanism of fungal disease in G. elata f. glauca is a complex biological process, involving plant hormones such as ethylene, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid and disease-resistant transcription factors such as WRKY, TGA.

Background: Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca S. Chow is a medicinal plant. G. elata f. glauca is unavoidably infected by pathogens in their growth process. In previous work, we have successfully isolated and identified Penicillium oxalicum from fungal diseased tubers of G. elata f. glauca. As a widespread epidemic, this fungal disease seriously affected the yield and quality of G. elata f. glauca. We speculate that the healthy G. elata f. glauca might carry resistance genes, which can resist against fungal disease. In this study, healthy and fungal diseased mature tubers of G. elata f. glauca from Changbai Mountain area were used as experimental materials to help us find the potential resistance genes against fungal disease.Results: A total of 7540 differentially expressed Unigenes (DEGs) were identified (FDR<0.01, log2FC>2). The current study screened 10 potential resistance genes. They were attached to transcription factors (TFs) in plant hormone signal transduction pathway and plant pathogen interaction pathway, including WRKY22, GH3, TIFY/JAZ, ERF1, WRKY33, TGA. In addition, four of these genes were closely related to jasmonic acid signaling pathway.Conclusions: The immune response mechanism of fungal disease in G. elata f. glauca is a complex biological process, involving plant hormones such as ethylene, jasmonic acid, salicylic acid and disease-resistant transcription factors such as WRKY, TGA.

Background Gastrodia elata Bl. f. glauca S. Chow is a rare medicinal plant. G. elata f. glauca is unavoidably infected by pathogens in their growth process, for they are usually grown in a semi-wild state. If it happens, that will seriously affect the yield and quality of their tubers. In previous work, we have successfully isolated and identified the pathogenic fungus from infected tubers in G. elata f. glauca. In this study, healthy and fungal diseased mature tubers of G. elata f. glauca from Changbai Mountain area were used as experimental materials. Results A total of 7540 differentially expressed Unigenes (DEGs) were identified (FDR < 0.01, log2FC > 2). Further analysis revealed that transcription factors (TFs) in plant hormone signal transduction pathway and plant pathogen interaction pathway, like WRKY22, GH3, TIFY/JAZ, ERF1, WRKY33, TGA, played vital role in fungal disease response. They mainly involved signal transduction, environmental adaptation, biosynthesis/metabolism of secondary metabolites. In addition, we found jasmonic acid/ethylene is the noteworthy signaling pathway in response to fungal disease in G. elata f. glauca. Conclusions The results reveal an underlying immune response mechanism of fungal disease in G. elata f. glauca and provide a novel insight into the breeding of disease resistant varieties of G. elata f. glauca.