A New MiRNA MiRm0002 in Eggplant Participates in the Regulation of Defense Responses to Verticillium Wilt

Abstract

Verticillium wilt is a major disease that severely affects eggplant production, and a new eggplant miRNA named miRm0002 identified through high-throughput sequencing was highly induced by Verticillium wilt infection. However, the miRm0002 function was still elusive. In this study, the sequence of the miRm0002 precursor was cloned and transgenic eggplants were constructed. In vivo inoculation test and in vitro fungistatic test showed that overexpressing miRm0002 lines were more resistant to Verticillium dahliae and inhibiting miRm0002 lines were more sensitive, compared to the wild-type (WT) control. Some physiological indicators were selected and the results showed that SOD, POD, and CAT activities were significantly increased in Verticillium wilt-infected overexpressing miRm0002 lines, indicating that the expression of miRm0002 activates the antioxidant system. QRT-PCR assay showed that the transcript expression of miRm0002 candidate target ARF8, a gene encoding auxin response factor was negatively related to miRm0002 in WT as well as transgenic eggplants. However, RLM-RACE mapping and degradome sequencing showed miRm0002 could not cleave the sequence of ARF8. Taken together, these data suggest that miRm0002 plays a positive role in the defense response of eggplant against Verticillium wilt.

Potential of Trichoderma virens HZA14 in Controlling Verticillium Wilt Disease of Eggplant and Analysis of Its Genes Responsible for Microsclerotial Degradation

“…Verticillium wilt disease, caused by V. dahliae, is a major disease that severely affects eggplant production in China [22]. The Trichoderma species has been widely used as a biological control agent against many important plant fungal pathogens [23].…”

Distinguishing friends from foes: Can smRNAs modulate plant interactions with beneficial and pathogenic organisms?

“…New miRNAs targeting auxin signalling were identified in eggplants in response to infection with the pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae [81]. Interestingly, preliminary functional results suggest that induction of miRm0002 enhances resistance to V. dahliae not by cleaving its putative target ARF8 but by inhibiting its translation [82]. However, this possibility awaits confirmation.…”

A novel eggplant AP2/ERF transcription factor StPti5 confers resistance to Verticillium wilt across different species

“…Ethylene signal activates the expression of many pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins and other genes that facilitate defence responses (Eyal et al 1993). Overexpression of ERF genes in A. thaliana, wheat, cotton, tomato can induce the expression of pathogenesis-related genes (PRs), enhance reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity and increase the resistance of plants to fungi, bacteria and viruses (He et al 2001;Pré et al 2008;Meng et al 2013;Guo et al 2016;Hawku et al 2021;Zhu et al 2021). The AP2/ERF, transcription factor superfamily also participates in several hormone signaling pathways, such as the ethylene, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid pathways (Fujimoto et al 2000;Mantiri et al 2008).…”