Identification of the differentially expressed genes of wheat genotypes in response to powdery mildew infection

• Main Authors: Mehdi Zahravi, Panthea Vosough-Mohebbi, Mehdi Changizi, Shahab Khaghani, Zahra-Sadat Shobbar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Firenze University Press 2020-04-01
• Series: Caryologia
• Subjects: wheat; genotype; powdery mildew; microarray; qRT-PCR
• Online Access: https://riviste.fupress.net/index.php/caryologia/article/view/752
• ISSN: 0008-7114; 2165-5391

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most widely grown crop worldwide. Powdery mildew caused by fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat. The present study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes and investigate their expression in response to B. graminis in susceptible (Bolani) and resistant (KC2306) wheat genotypes, using publicly available microarray data set and qRT-PCR analysis. A total of 5760 and 5315 probe sets were detected which 5427 and 4630 by adjusted P-value < 0.05 and 168 and 144 genes based on e-value < 1 × 10–5 cut-off were differentially expressed in susceptible and resistant wheat genotypes, respectively. Among exclusively up regulated genes in the resistant genotype 12 hpi compared to its control, fifteen potential genes that may be responsible for B. graminis inoculation resistance were detected. The results of real time PCR for the candidate genes showed that the genes were upregulated in the resistant genotype 12 hpi compared to its control, which validated the results of microarray analysis. The bZIP, ERF, and ARF1 genes may play an important role in B. graminis resistance. The powdery mildew responsive genes identified in the present study will give us a better understanding on molecular mechanisms involved in B. graminis resistance in different wheat genotypes.