Transcriptome profiling of Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii -infected potato tubers provides evidence of an inducible defense response

Abstract

Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii is a phytopahtogenic fungus that causes dry rot in potato tubers. To analyze andcharacterize the transcriptomic profile of Solanum tuberosum cv. Spunta against F. solani f. sp. eumartiiinfection, a cDNA collection of genes differentially over expressed 24 h after F. solani f. sp. eumartii infectionwas generated. In this work, the identification and functional classification of over seven hundred potatocDNA clones up-regulated by F. solani f. sp. eumartii infection was reported. Statistically overrepresentedfunctional categories allowed the identification of bothwell known defense response gene groups aswell asother not typically related to biotic stress. A macroarray generated to validate the cDNA collection and toquantify gene expression confirmed that over 78% of the cDNA clones were significantly up-regulated intubers at 24 h after F. solani f. sp. eumartii infection. Identified genes and pathways evidenced the existence ofa comprehensive and complex inducible defense response of potato tubers to F. solani f. sp. eumartii infection.