Project name: Musa acuminata AAA Group

Description: Bananas (Musa spp.) are the most important fruit crops worldwide due to their high nutrition value. Fusarium wilt of banana, caused by fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc 4), is considered as the most destructive disease in the world and results in extensive damage leading to productivity loss. The widespread use of plant resistance inducers (PRIs) is a novel strategy to stimulate defense responses in banana plants to protect against pathogens infection. However, there is very little known about the molecular mechanisms of specific PRIs-mediated resistance. Here, we have investigated the global transcriptional changes in banana leaves and roots of benzothiadiazole (BTH)-sprayed plants using transcriptomic approach. Comparative analyses have revealed that 6,689 and 3,624 differentially expressed genes were identified in leaves and roots, respectively, as compared to the control. Approximately 80% of these genes were differentially expressed in a tissue-specific manner. Further analysis showed that signaling perception and transduction, transcription factors, disease resistant proteins, plant hormones and cell wall organization-related genes were stimulated by BTH treatment, especially in roots. Interestingly, the ethylene and auxin biosynthesis and response genes were found to be up-regulated in leaves and roots, respectively, suggesting a choice among BTH-responsive phytohormone regulation. Our data suggests a role for BTH in enhancing banana plant defense responses to Foc 4 infection, and demonstrates that BTH selectively affect biological processes associated with plant defenses. The genes identified in the study could be further studied and exploited to develop Foc 4-resistant banana varieties.

Data type: transcriptome

Sample scope: Monoisolate

Last updated: 2017-11-06