RNA-seq analysis provides insight into reprogramming of culm development in Zizania latifolia induced by Ustilago esculenta

Abstract

We report a transcriptome assembly and expression profiles from RNA-Seq data and identify genes responsible for culm gall formation in Zizania latifolia induced by Ustilago esculenta. The smut fungus Ustilago esculenta can induce culm gall in Zizania latifolia, which is used as a vegetable in Asian countries. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of culm gall formation is still unclear. To characterize the processes underlying this host-fungus association, we performed transcriptomic and expression profiling analyses of culms from Z. latifolia infected by the fungus U. esculenta. Transcriptomic analysis detected U. esculenta induced differential expression of 19,033 and 17,669 genes in Jiaobai (JB) and Huijiao (HJ) type of gall, respectively. Additionally, to detect the potential gall inducing genes, expression profiles of infected culms collected at -7, 1 and 10 DAS of culm gall development were analyzed. Compared to control, we detected 8089 genes (4389 up-regulated, 3700 down-regulated) and 5251 genes (3121 up-regulated, 2130 down-regulated) were differentially expressed in JB and HJ, respectively. And we identified 376 host and 187 fungal candidate genes that showed stage-specific expression pattern, which are possibly responsible for gall formation at the initial and later phases, respectively. Our results indicated that cytokinins play more prominent roles in regulating gall formation than do auxins. Together, our work provides general implications for the understanding of gene regulatory networks for culm gall development in Z. latifolia, and potential targets for genetic manipulation to improve the future yield of this crop.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Symbiotic Mechanism of Ustilago esculenta induced Gall formation of Zizania latifolia

“…Many catalytically active DEGs in infected gall were abundantly expressed throughout the formation of gall formation, which may be related to the survival and gall cell proliferation of pathogenic fungi in host tissues [35]. Among 25 DEGs (Table S6) esculenta infection and gall expanse, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that most DEGs were classified into response to an endophytic fungal infection pathways including plant hormone signal transduction (Ko04075), phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (Ko00940), starch and sucrose metabolism (Ko00500) consistent with the results of Wang [36]. In our study, we paid close attention to the changes in biological processes and found that U. esculenta can cause plants to respond to stimulus (Fig.…”

Genome-Wide Characterization and Expression of Two-Component System Genes in Cytokinin-Regulated Gall Formation in Zizania latifolia

“…A higher level of cis-zeatin riboside was detected in the Z. latifolia gall compared to the uninfected shoot [ 8 ]. Furthermore, ZlIPT , the most important enzyme to catalyze cytokinins synthesis, was more highly expressed in gall tissue compared to the uninfected shoot [ 31 ]. Collectively, cytokinins may play a key role in Z. latifolia gall formation and the cytokinins produced by Z. latifolia and/or Ustilago esculenta could stimulate cell division and enlargement, facilitating gall formation.…”

Morphological Characteristics, Nutrients, and Bioactive Compounds of Zizania latifolia, and Health Benefits of Its Seeds

“…Similar to other endophytic fungi, U. esculenta infection does not cause leaf chlorosis or death [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. During the period of culm gall formation, U. esculenta secretes plant hormones, such as auxin and cytokinin, to stimulate gall formation [ 20 , 21 ]. Environmental factors such as temperature, sunlight, and fertilizer use affect the swollen culm yield [ 16 , 22 ].…”