Open AccessGenome‐wide gene expression dynamics of the fungal pathogen D othistroma septosporum throughout its infection cycle of the gymnosperm host P inus radiata
Author(s) -
Bradshaw Rosie E.,
Guo Yanan,
Sim Andre D.,
Kabir M. Shahjahan,
Chettri Pranav,
Ozturk Ibrahim K.,
Hunziker Lukas,
Ganley Rebecca J.,
Cox Murray P.
Publication year - 2016
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.12273
Subject(s) - biology , gymnosperm , gene , transcriptome , genome , pinus radiata , host (biology) , pathogen , fungal protein , gene expression , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , mutant
Summary We present genome‐wide gene expression patterns as a time series through the infection cycle of the fungal pine needle blight pathogen, D othistroma septosporum , as it invades its gymnosperm host, P inus radiata . We determined the molecular changes at three stages of the disease cycle: epiphytic/biotrophic (early), initial necrosis (mid) and mature sporulating lesion (late). Over 1.7 billion combined plant and fungal reads were sequenced to obtain 3.2 million fungal‐specific reads, which comprised as little as 0.1% of the sample reads early in infection. This enriched dataset shows that the initial biotrophic stage is characterized by the up‐regulation of genes encoding fungal cell wall‐modifying enzymes and signalling proteins. Later necrotrophic stages show the up‐regulation of genes for secondary metabolism, putative effectors, oxidoreductases, transporters and starch degradation. This in‐depth through‐time transcriptomic study provides our first snapshot of the gene expression dynamics that characterize infection by this fungal pathogen in its gymnosperm host.