Genome-Wide Transcriptomic Identification and Functional Insight of Lily <i>WRKY</i> Genes Responding to <i>Botrytis</i> Fungal Disease

• Main Authors: Shipra Kumari, Bashistha Kumar Kanth, Ju young Ahn, Jong Hwa Kim, Geung-Joo Lee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-04-01
• Series: Plants
• Subjects: Botrytis disease; <i>Lilium longiflorum</i>; qRT-PCR; transcription factor; <i>WRKY family</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/4/776

Genome-wide transcriptome analysis using RNA-Seq of <i>Lilium longiflorum</i> revealed valuable genes responding to biotic stresses. WRKY transcription factors are regulatory proteins playing essential roles in defense processes under environmental stresses, causing considerable losses in flower quality and production. Thirty-eight <i>WRKY</i> genes were identified from the transcriptomic profile from lily genotypes, exhibiting leaf blight caused by <i>Botrytis elliptica</i>. Lily WRKYs have a highly conserved motif, WRKYGQK, with a common variant, WRKYGKK. Phylogeny of <i>LlWRKY</i>s with homologous genes from other representative plant species classified them into three groups- I, II, and III consisting of seven, 22, and nine genes, respectively. Base on functional annotation, 22 <i>LlWRKY</i> genes were associated with biotic stress, nine with abiotic stress, and seven with others. Sixteen unique <i>LlWRKY</i> were studied to investigate responses to stress conditions using gene expression under biotic and abiotic stress treatments. Five genes—<i>LlWRKY3</i>, <i>LlWRKY4</i>, <i>LlWRKY5</i>, <i>LlWRKY10</i>, and <i>LlWRKY12</i>—were substantially upregulated, proving to be biotic stress-responsive genes in vivo and in vitro conditions. Moreover, the expression patterns of <i>LlWRKY</i> genes varied in response to drought, heat, cold, and different developmental stages or tissues. Overall, our study provides structural and molecular insights into <i>LlWRKY</i> genes for use in the genetic engineering in <i>Lilium</i> against <i>Botrytis</i> disease.