Crosstalk of DNA Methylation Triggered by Pathogen in Poplars With Different Resistances

Dandan Xiao; Dandan Xiao; Dandan Xiao; Ke Zhou; Ke Zhou; Ke Zhou; Ke Zhou; Xiaoqian Yang; Xiaoqian Yang; Xiaoqian Yang; Yuzhang Yang; Yuzhang Yang; Yuzhang Yang; Yudie Ma; Yudie Ma; Yudie Ma; Yanwei Wang; Yanwei Wang; Yanwei Wang

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.750089

Frontiers in Microbiology (Dec 2021)

Crosstalk of DNA Methylation Triggered by Pathogen in Poplars With Different Resistances

Dandan Xiao,
Dandan Xiao,
Dandan Xiao,
Ke Zhou,
Ke Zhou,
Ke Zhou,
Ke Zhou,
Xiaoqian Yang,
Xiaoqian Yang,
Xiaoqian Yang,
Yuzhang Yang,
Yuzhang Yang,
Yuzhang Yang,
Yudie Ma,
Yudie Ma,
Yudie Ma,
Yanwei Wang,
Yanwei Wang,
Yanwei Wang

Affiliations

Dandan Xiao: National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Dandan Xiao: Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Dandan Xiao: The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Ke Zhou: National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Ke Zhou: Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Ke Zhou: The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Ke Zhou: School of Landscape Architecture, Chengdu Agricultural College, Chengdu, China
Xiaoqian Yang: National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Xiaoqian Yang: Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Xiaoqian Yang: The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Yuzhang Yang: National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Yuzhang Yang: Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Yuzhang Yang: The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Yudie Ma: National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Yudie Ma: Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Yudie Ma: The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Yanwei Wang: National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Yanwei Wang: Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
Yanwei Wang: The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.750089
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12

Abstract

Read online

DNA methylation plays crucial roles in responses to environmental stimuli. Modification of DNA methylation during development and abiotic stress responses has been confirmed in increasing numbers of plants, mainly annual plants. However, the epigenetic regulation mechanism underlying the immune response to pathogens remains largely unknown in plants, especially trees. To investigate whether DNA methylation is involved in the response to infection process or is related to the resistance differences among poplars, we performed comprehensive whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of the infected stem of the susceptible type Populus × euramerican ‘74/76’ and resistant type Populus tomentosa ‘henan’ upon Lonsdalea populi infection. The results revealed that DNA methylation changed dynamically in poplars during the infection process with a remarkable decrease seen in the DNA methylation ratio. Intriguingly, the resistant P. tomentosa ‘henan’ had a much lower basal DNA methylation ratio than the susceptible P. × euramerican ‘74/76’. Compared to mock-inoculation, both poplar types underwent post-inoculation CHH hypomethylation; however, significant decreases in mC and mCHH proportions were found in resistant poplar. In addition, most differentially CHH-hypomethylated regions were distributed in repeat and promoter regions. Based on comparison of DNA methylation modification with the expression profiles of genes, DNA methylation occurred in resistance genes, pathogenesis-related genes, and phytohormone genes in poplars during pathogen infection. Additionally, transcript levels of genes encoding methylation-related enzymes changed during pathogen infection. Interestingly, small-regulator miRNAs were subject to DNA methylation in poplars experiencing pathogen infection. This investigation highlights the critical role of DNA methylation in the poplar immune response to pathogen infection and provides new insights into epigenetic regulation in perennial plants in response to biotic stress.

Published in Frontiers in Microbiology

ISSN: 1664-302X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: http://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords