Transcriptome analysis of Picea schrenkiana to infection by Chrysomyxa deformans

This study conducted a transcriptomic analysis of in response to C. deformans infection in Picea schrenkiana, laying the foundation for future research into the molecular pathogenic mechanisms of C. deformans pathogenicity.

Using RNA-Seq technology to compare diseased and healthy current-year tissues of P. schrenkiana, this study explored the key genes, signaling pathways, and metabolic pathways involved in the P. schrenkiana - C. deformans interaction.

1) Transcriptome sequencing identifies 3 461 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 1 658 upregulated and 1 803 downregulated genes; 2) GO analysis shows that DEGs are mainly enriched in terms like transferase activity, sugar group transfer, heme binding, tetrapyrrole binding, ADP binding, coenzyme binding, iron ion binding, UDP-glycosyltransferase activity, and oxidoreductase activity; 3) KEGG analysis finds DEGs annotated in 124 KEGG pathways, with the most in metabolic pathways. DEGs are notably enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, and inositol phosphate metabolism pathways; 4) Terpene synthase-related genes LOC131073238, TPS-1, 8cin, TPS-Lin-2, PT5 (novel.5099) and PT5 (novel.5096) are downregulated, while LOC131042632 and ag5 are upregulated. Notably, DEGs LOC131042632, LOC131073238, and TPS-1,8cin are enriched in diterpenoid biosynthesis pathways; 5) In the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, DEGs CYP71AU50, PER12, PER53, PER65, 4CL, UGT84A2, and CCL7 are downregulated, while 36 DEGs are upregulated.

P. schrenkiana may respond to rust infection through strategies such as lignin synthesis, terpenoid compound production, and modulation of signaling transduction capabilities.