Transcriptome profiling analysis revealed co-regulation of multiple pathways in jujube during infection by ‘ Candidatus Phytoplasma ziziphi ’

Phytoplasma Infection Influences Gene Expression in American Cranberry

“…The stage of infection by phytoplasma, as well as the plant tissue collected and timing of collection of those tissues, can influence the differences in quality and quantity of gene expression detected. In Jujube witches' broom, the stage wherein the plant showed weak symptoms had the greatest number of DEGs, whereas the primary and late stage of phytoplasma infection had a fewer number of DEGs (Wang et al, 2018). In this study, the plants were approximately 4 months old when the leaf tissue was collected for the experiments.…”

“…The effect of phytoplasma infection on the expression of genes related to JA and SA signaling in plants is quite variable. Some studies show upregulation in both hormones (Mou et al, 2013;Mardi et al, 2015;Wang et al, 2018), whereas others show upregulation in SA and downregulation in JA (Sugio et al, 2011;Musetti et al, 2013), or vice versa (i.e., suppression of SA and induction of JA; Lu et al, 2014).…”

“…Lower ABA levels were shown in phytoplasma-infected Euphorbia coerulescens and Orbea gigantea plants (Omar et al, 2014). In the Jujube plant, the genes related to ABA synthesis were also downregulated (Wang et al, 2018). It has been suggested that ABA is involved in the growth of axillary buds due to the loss of apical dominance (Dewir et al, 2015).…”

“…Only two genes involved in photosynthesis, cytochrome b599, an important component of photosystem II, and photosystem II reaction center I protein, were highly influenced by phytoplasma infection in cranberry. Phytoplasma infection causes an inhibition of the entire electron transport chain in photosystem II in grape leaves (Bertamini and Nedunchezhian, 2001), significantly depresses photosystem I activity in Paulownia leaves (Mou et al, 2013), and downregulates the genes associated with the electron transport chain, such as ferredoxin, photosystem I, and photosystem II, in jujube (Wang et al, 2018). The grana and stroma lamellae, structures of chloroplasts, were destroyed, and original lamellae were formed in the infected jujube leaves (Xue et al, 2018).…”

“…Our results show the suppression of photosystem II reaction center I protein gene expression, while the gene for cytochrome b599 showed induction, so the effects of CFBD on photosynthesis are unclear. The stage of infection is important in the expression levels of photosyntheticand chlorophyll-related genes (Wang et al, 2018). Chlorophyll degradation in the later infection stages contributes to the yellowing and/or reddening symptoms of phytoplasma infection.…”