Identification and characterization of known and novel microRNAs in strawberry fruits induced by Botrytis cinerea

Abstract

MicroRNAs are endogenous small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate mRNAs, mainly at the post-transcriptional level, and play an important role in resistance response of plants. To date, there are few reports on resistance response of strawberry miRNAs to pathogens. In this study, using high-throughput sequencing, 134 conserved and 35 novel miRNAs were identified in six libraries within the treatment of Botrytis cinerea. A total 497 potential target genes were predicted using Fragaria vesca genome. Most of the differential expressed miRNAs in strawberry fruits were up-regulated in early libraries and down-regulated in late libraries. PIRL, the target gene of miR5290a, showed the opposite expressed trend compared with miR5290 from T1 to T3 libraries, and functional analysis of the PIRL gene shows that it has obvious resistance to B. cinerea in the strawberry fruits with overexpressed PIRL gene. We speculate that miR5290a negatively regulates its target gene PIRL to increase resistance to pathogen infection, and further analysis of PIRL function is meaningful for studying the plant-pathogen relationship and improving strawberry fruit quality and yield.

Deciphering the Molecular Signatures Associated With Resistance to Botrytis cinerea in Strawberry Flower by Comparative and Dynamic Transcriptome Analysis

“…Although little attention has been focused on the calcium signaling pathway genes in the interaction between strawberry and B . cinerea , our knowledge on the Ca 2+ dependent-immunity mechanisms advanced recently (Liang et al, 2018 ; Xiong et al, 2018 ; Haile et al, 2019 ). Considering the model plant Arabidopsis as an example, active BOTRYTIS-INDUCED KINASE1 (BIK1) and CPKs phosphorylate Ca 2+ -bound RBOHD to boost ROS production.…”

“…Studies have demonstrated that B. cinerea inoculum primarily enters the strawberry flower organs; the infected petals, stamens, and calyxes and then facilitate primary infection in fruits (Petrasch et al, 2019 ). The previous studies have focused primarily on the interaction of on B. cinerea with strawberry fruit (Liang et al, 2018 ; Xiong et al, 2018 ; Haile et al, 2019 ) while paying little attention to its interaction with the flower.…”

Grey mould of strawberry, a devastating disease caused by the ubiquitous necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea

“…B. cinerea can suppress the expression of plant defence responses by hijacking the host sRNA regulatory pathways (Weiberg et al , ). In strawberry fruits, B. cinerea infections can alter the expression of microRNAs involved in the regulation of defence genes, including the plant intracellular Ras group‐related LRR protein 9‐like gene (Liang et al ). Interestingly, B. cinerea can also take up plant sRNAs during its interaction with the host.…”

Strawberry Grey Mould, a Devastating Disease Caused by the Airborne Fungal Pathogen Botrytis cinerea

“…•Botrytis cinerea Species Newly expanding young leaves may be infected by this pathogen but don't illustrate symptoms because the fungus remains dormant in these tissues (Liang et al, 2018). When the leaves are mature and beginning to senesce and decline, B. cinerea can become active and construct the characteristic grey, velvety growth on the dead parts of the leaf (Williamson et al, 2007).…”