Global changes in gene expression during compatible and incompatible interactions of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) with the root parasitic angiosperm Striga gesnerioides

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata L. Walp., is one of the most important food and forage legumesin the semi-arid tropics. While most domesticated forms of cowpea are susceptible to the rootparasitic weed Striga gesnerioides, several cultivars have been identified that show racespecificresistance. Cowpea cultivar B301 contains the RSG3-301 gene for resistance to S.gesnerioides race SG3, but is susceptible to race SG4z. When challenged by SG3, roots ofcultivar B301 develop a strong resistance response characterized by a hypersensitive reactionand cell death at the site of parasite attachment. In contrast, no visible response occurs inB301 roots parasitized by SG4z. RESULTS: Gene expression in the roots of the cowpea cultivar B301 during compatible (susceptible) andincompatible (resistant) interactions with S. gesnerioides races SG4z and SG3, respectively,were investigated at the early (6 days post-inoculation (dpi)) and late (13 dpi) stages of theresistance response using a Nimblegen custom design cowpea microarray. A total of 111genes were differentially expressed in B301 roots at 6 dpi; this number increased to 2102genes at 13 dpi. At 13 dpi, a total of 1944 genes were differentially expressed duringcompatible (susceptible) interactions of B301 with SG4z . Genes and pathways involved insignal transduction, programmed cell death and apoptosis, and defense response to biotic andbiotic stress were differentially expressed in the early resistance response; at the later timepoint, enrichment was primarily for defense-related gene expression, and genes encodingcomponents of lignifications and secondary wall formation. In compatible interactions (B301- SG4z), multiple defense pathways were repressed, including those involved in ligninbiosynthesis and secondary cell wall modifications, while cellular transport processes fornitrogen and sulfur were increased. CONCLUSION: Distinct changes in global gene expression profiles occur in host roots following successfuland unsuccessful attempted parasitism by Striga. Induction of specific defense related genesand pathways defines components of a unique resistance mechanism. Some genes andpathways up-regulated in the host resistance response to SG3 are repressed in the susceptibleinteractions, suggesting that the parasite is targeting specific components of the host'sdefense. These results add to our understanding of plant-parasite interactions and theevolution of resistance to parasitic weeds.     

Gene expression profile changes in cotton root and hypocotyl tissues in response to infection with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum

Microarray analysis of large-scale temporal and tissue-specific plant gene expression changes occurring during a susceptible plant-pathogen interaction revealed different gene expression profile changes in cotton root and hypocotyl tissues. In hypocotyl tissues infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, increased expression of defense-related genes was observed, whereas few changes in the expression levels of defense-related genes were found in infected root tissues. In infected roots, more plant genes were repressed than were induced, especially at the earlier stages of infection. Although many known cotton defense responses were identified, including induction of pathogenesis-related genes and gossypol biosynthesis genes, potential new defense responses also were identified, such as the biosynthesis of lignans. Many of the stress-related gene responses were common to both tissues. The repression of drought-responsive proteins such as aquaporins in both roots and hypocotyls represents a previously unreported response of a host to pathogen attack that may be specific to vascular wilt diseases. Gene expression results implicated the phytohormones ethylene and auxin in the disease process. Biochemical analysis of hormone level changes supported this observation.     

Diverse RNA viruses elicit the expression of common sets of genes in susceptible Arabidopsis thaliana plants

Systemic infections of plants by viruses require that viruses modify host cells in order to facilitate infections. These modifications include induction of host factors required for replication, propagation and movement, and suppression of host defense responses, which are likely to be associated with changes in host gene expression. Past studies of the effects of viral infection on gene expression in susceptible hosts have been limited to only a handful of genes. To gain broader insight into the responses elicited by viruses in susceptible hosts, high-density oligonucleotide probe microarray technology was used. Arabidopsis leaves were either mock inoculated or inoculated with cucumber mosaic cucumovirus, oil seed rape tobamovirus, turnip vein clearing tobamovirus, potato virus X potexvirus, or turnip mosaic potyvirus. Inoculated leaves were collected at 1, 2, 4, and 5 days after inoculation, total RNA was isolated, and samples were hybridized to Arabidopsis GeneChip microarrays (Affymetrix). Microarray hybridization revealed co-ordinated changes in gene expression in response to infection by diverse viruses. These changes include virus-general and virus-specific alterations in the expression of genes associated with distinct defense or stress responses. Analyses of the promoters of these genes further suggest that diverse RNA viruses elicit common responses in susceptible plant hosts through signaling pathways that have not been previously characterized.