The elicitor VP2 from Verticillium dahliae triggers defence response in cotton

Abstract

SummaryVerticillium dahliae is a widespread and destructive soilborne vascular pathogenic fungus that causes serious diseases in dicot plants. Here, comparative transcriptome analysis showed that the number of genes upregulated in defoliating pathotype V991 was significantly higher than in the non‐defoliating pathotype 1cd3‐2 during the early response of cotton. Combined with analysis of the secretome during the V991–cotton interaction, an elicitor VP2 was identified, which was highly upregulated at the early stage of V991 invasion, but was barely expressed during the 1cd3‐2‐cotton interaction. Full‐length VP2 could induce cell death in several plant species, and which was dependent on NbBAK1 but not on NbSOBIR1 in N. benthamiana. Knock‐out of VP2 attenuated the pathogenicity of V991. Furthermore, overexpression of VP2 in cotton enhanced resistance to V. dahliae without causing abnormal plant growth and development. Several genes involved in JA, SA and lignin synthesis were significantly upregulated in VP2‐overexpressing cotton. The contents of JA, SA, and lignin were also significantly higher than in the wild‐type control. In summary, the identified elicitor VP2, recognized by the receptor in the plant membrane, triggers the cotton immune response and enhances disease resistance.

Genetic Mapping and Characterization of Verticillium Wilt Resistance in a Recombinant Inbred Population of Upland Cotton

“…Only 3.6% (fifty) of the unique DEGs from the time series were found to be in common between MCU-5 and Siokra 1-4, highlighting the different transcriptional responses of these two cultivars. Previous transcriptome and cytological investigations comparing resistant and susceptible cotton varieties to VW have been performed [59][60][61][62][63][64][65] and found that resistant lines often contain more terpenoids and phenolics than susceptible varieties that are detected earlier in roots of the resistant as compared to the susceptible line. Guo et al [66] found that the expression of an ethylene response-related factor (GbERF1) improved VW resistance in cotton via activation of lignin synthesis.…”