Comprehensive analysis of the WRKY gene family in Cucumis metuliferus and their expression profile in response to an early stage of root knot nematode infection

Jian Ling; Jian Ling; Rui Liu; Rui Liu; Yali Hao; Yali Hao; Yan Li; Yan Li; Xingxing Ping; Xingxing Ping; Qihong Yang; Qihong Yang; Yuhong Yang; Yuhong Yang; Xiaofei Lu; Xiaofei Lu; Bingyan Xie; Bingyan Xie; Jianlong Zhao; Jianlong Zhao; Zhenchuan Mao; Zhenchuan Mao

doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1143171

Frontiers in Plant Science (Mar 2023)

Comprehensive analysis of the WRKY gene family in Cucumis metuliferus and their expression profile in response to an early stage of root knot nematode infection

Jian Ling,
Jian Ling,
Rui Liu,
Rui Liu,
Yali Hao,
Yali Hao,
Yan Li,
Yan Li,
Xingxing Ping,
Xingxing Ping,
Qihong Yang,
Qihong Yang,
Yuhong Yang,
Yuhong Yang,
Xiaofei Lu,
Xiaofei Lu,
Bingyan Xie,
Bingyan Xie,
Jianlong Zhao,
Jianlong Zhao,
Zhenchuan Mao,
Zhenchuan Mao

Affiliations

Jian Ling: Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Jian Ling: State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Rui Liu: Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Rui Liu: State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Yali Hao: Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Yali Hao: State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Yan Li: Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Yan Li: State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Xingxing Ping: Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Xingxing Ping: State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Qihong Yang: Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Qihong Yang: State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Yuhong Yang: Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Yuhong Yang: State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Xiaofei Lu: Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Xiaofei Lu: State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Bingyan Xie: Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Bingyan Xie: State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Jianlong Zhao: Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Jianlong Zhao: State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Zhenchuan Mao: Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Zhenchuan Mao: State Key Laboratory of Vegetable Biobreeding, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1143171
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14

Abstract

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Root-knot nematode (RKN) is a major factor that limits the growth and productivity of important Cucumis crops, such as cucumber and melon, which lack RKN-resistance genes in their genome. Cucumis metuliferus is a wild Cucumis species that displays a high degree of RKN-resistance. WRKY transcription factors were involved in plant response to biotic stresses. However, little is known on the function of WRKY genes in response to RKN infection in Cucumis crops. In this study, Cucumis metuliferus 60 WRKY genes (CmWRKY) were identified in the C. metuliferus genome, and their conserved domains were classified into three main groups based on multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Synteny analysis indicated that the WRKY genes were highly conserved in Cucumis crops. Transcriptome data from of C. metuliferus roots inoculated with RKN revealed that 16 CmWRKY genes showed differential expression, of which 13 genes were upregulated and three genes were downregulated, indicating that these CmWRKY genes are important to C. metuliferus response to RKN infection. Two differentially expression CmWRKY genes (CmWRKY10 and CmWRKY28) were selected for further functional analysis. Both CmWRKY genes were localized in nucleus, indicating they may play roles in transcriptional regulation. This study provides a foundation for further research on the function of CmWRKY genes in RKN stress resistance and elucidation of the regulatory mechanism.

Published in Frontiers in Plant Science

ISSN: 1664-462X (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Agriculture: Plant culture
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science

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