Cell wall remodeling mediated by specific PME genes plays a role in grapevine response to Botrytis cinerea
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea (Bc) is one of the main pathogens affecting the cultivated grapevine. A key role in grapevine tissue colonization is played by cell wall (CW) remodeling driven by CW Modifying Enzymes (CWMEs), expressed both by the host and the pathogen. Their action can impact CW integrity and trigger specific immune signaling, thus influencing Bc infection outcome. To further characterize the role of the CW in the grapevine response to Bc, two contrasting genotypes in their resistance to the fungus were artificially inoculated at full bloom. RNA-seq analysis and biochemical characterization of the CW and its modification in samples collected at 24 hours post-inoculation highlighted significant differences between genotypes. A gene set enrichment analysis indicated several over-represented categories upon infection, with a general down-regulation of those genes related to CW organization and pectin modification, mostly in the resistant genotype. Within the down-regulated CWMEs, Pectin Methyl-Esterase (PME) genes were found highly represented. Unlike, VviPME10 was significantly induced upon infection and was further characterized since its putative ortholog in Arabidopsis was associated with resistance to Bc. VviPME10promoter hosts several predicted binding sites for VviWRKY3, a defense-associated transcription factor, as highlighted by DAP-seq analysis. This evidence is under confirmation by luciferase assays. In addition, the artificial inoculation with Bc of leaves from six VviPME10 knock-out (KO) edited lines showed significantly larger lesion areas when compared to control plants at 5 dpi. Together, these results suggest that pectin modification, mediated by VviPME10, plays an important role in the grapevine response to Bc.
DOI:
Issue: Open GPB 2024
Type: Article
Authors
1 Center Agriculture Food Environment (C3A), University of Trento/Fondazione Edmund Mach, via E. Mach 1, 38098, San Michele all’Adige (TN), Italy
2 Research and Innovation Center, E. Mach Foundation, Via E. Mach 1, 38098, San Michele all’Adige (Trento), Italy
3 Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Universitat de València-CSIC, Paterna, 46980, Valencia, Spain
4 Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
5 Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, Viale dell’Università 16 – 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy
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Keywords
Botrytis cinerea, transcriptomics, DAP-seq analysis, Cell wall, grapevine pectin methyl-esterase