Open AccessTissue‐specific gene expression in maize seeds during colonization by A spergillus flavus and F usarium verticillioides
Author(s) -
Shu Xiaomei,
Livingston David P.,
Franks Robert G.,
Boston Rebecca S.,
Woloshuk Charles P.,
Payne Gary A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
molecular plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.945
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1364-3703
pISSN - 1464-6722
DOI - 10.1111/mpp.12224
Subject(s) - scutellum , biology , aleurone , gene , colonization , in situ hybridization , inoculation , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , fumonisin , mycotoxin , aspergillus flavus , fungus , aflatoxin , botany , endosperm , genetics , horticulture
Summary A spergillus flavus and F usarium verticillioides are fungal pathogens that colonize maize kernels and produce the harmful mycotoxins aflatoxin and fumonisin, respectively. Management practice based on potential host resistance to reduce contamination by these mycotoxins has proven difficult, resulting in the need for a better understanding of the infection process by these fungi and the response of maize seeds to infection. In this study, we followed the colonization of seeds by histological methods and the transcriptional changes of two maize defence‐related genes in specific seed tissues by RNA in situ hybridization. Maize kernels were inoculated with either A . flavus or F . verticillioides 21–22 days after pollination, and harvested at 4, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h post‐inoculation. The fungi colonized all tissues of maize seed, but differed in their interactions with aleurone and germ tissues. RNA in situ hybridization showed the induction of the maize pathogenesis‐related protein , maize seed ( PRms ) gene in the aleurone and scutellum on infection by either fungus. Transcripts of the maize sucrose synthase‐encoding gene, shrunken‐1 ( S h1 ), were observed in the embryo of non‐infected kernels, but were induced on infection by each fungus in the aleurone and scutellum. By comparing histological and RNA in situ hybridization results from adjacent serial sections, we found that the transcripts of these two genes accumulated in tissue prior to the arrival of the advancing pathogens in the seeds. A knowledge of the patterns of colonization and tissue‐specific gene expression in response to these fungi will be helpful in the development of resistance.