Xu Zhang, Yongli Hao, Xingxing Cai1 · Heng Zhang, Yiming Chen1, Ying Niu, Zongkuan Wang, Mengli Li1, Jia Liu, Haiyan Wang, Jin Xiao, Li Sun, Xiue Wang

Abstract

Wheat powdery mildew (Pm) caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) is a widespread epidemic disease in wheat.Haynaldia villosa, a diploid wild relative of wheat, has been widely utilized in wheat breeding for Pm resistance as a broadspectrum resistance (BSR) resource. A previous study reported a Serine/threonine protein kinase-V (Stpk-V) gene from H.villosa showing BSR to wheat Pm. To deduce the defense network regulated by Stpk-V, we performed temporal RNA-seq of Stpk-V transgenic line (OEStpk-V) and its receptor wheat variety Yangmai 158 during Bgt infection. Gene Ontology enrichment indicated ROS were rapidly activated in OEStpk-V at 1 h after inoculation (hai). The qRT-PCR confirmed the upregulated transcription of ROS related genes OxO and POD, and suppression of ROS scavenging genes SOD and CAT . Besides, four transcription factors genes (WRKY, MYB, ERF, NAC) related to the ROS defense pathway were also enriched. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment revealed a remarkable reprogramming of the Ca2+ signalling pathway in OEStpk-V at 1 and 3 hai. qRT-PCR confirmed significantly induced transcription of CDPKs, CALMs, CMLs, and CNGCSs in OEStpk-V. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis classified Stpk-V to the same module in which the Ca2+ signalling related genes were included. Our results indicated that the reprogramming of the ROS accumulation and Ca2+ signalling at initial infection stages plays a crucial role in the Stpk-V regulatory network during wheat-Bgt interaction.

Plant Growth Regulation, 29 September ,2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-021-00753-1