Characterization and expression of the wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) family in response to Botrytis cinerea infection in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa)
Abstract Background Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is a major threat to the production of strawberry. An increasing number of studies have reported that wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) played an important role in the recognition of oligogalacturonic acids (OGs) an...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Plant Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06405-0 |
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| author | Chenyang Xu Zhimin He Xiaoru Kang Yanwei Zhao Qingqing Peng Min Wen Jiaqi Yan |
| author_facet | Chenyang Xu Zhimin He Xiaoru Kang Yanwei Zhao Qingqing Peng Min Wen Jiaqi Yan |
| author_sort | Chenyang Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is a major threat to the production of strawberry. An increasing number of studies have reported that wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) played an important role in the recognition of oligogalacturonic acids (OGs) and the induction of plant defense, but there have been no systematic studies of FaWAK/FaWAKL in strawberry. Results In this study, we identified 167 FaWAK/FaWAKL gene family members within the strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) genome. The phylogenetic analysis showed the FaWAK/FaWAKL gene family has been divided into five groups, and they were unevenly distributed on 46 chromosomes. An analysis of the cis-regulatory elements suggested the FaWAK/FaWAKL gene family was more sensitive to abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate. A total of 36 FaWAK/FaWAKL genes were activated by B. cinerea according to an RNA-seq analysis, and 8 of them strongly responded to B. cinerea and exogenous treatment with OGs, particularly FaWAK35. Transient overexpression of FaWAK35 increased the strawberry resistance to B. cinerea. Conclusion This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of FaWAK/FaWAKL and provides foundational insights for further exploration of FaWAK/FaWAKL genes in strawberry resistance to B. cinerea. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-648f06ca57564550ba71b3f4cfa42a52 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-648f06ca57564550ba71b3f4cfa42a522025-08-20T01:51:38ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-05-0125111410.1186/s12870-025-06405-0Characterization and expression of the wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) family in response to Botrytis cinerea infection in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa)Chenyang Xu0Zhimin He1Xiaoru Kang2Yanwei Zhao3Qingqing Peng4Min Wen5Jiaqi Yan6College of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Horticulture, China Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea is a major threat to the production of strawberry. An increasing number of studies have reported that wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) played an important role in the recognition of oligogalacturonic acids (OGs) and the induction of plant defense, but there have been no systematic studies of FaWAK/FaWAKL in strawberry. Results In this study, we identified 167 FaWAK/FaWAKL gene family members within the strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) genome. The phylogenetic analysis showed the FaWAK/FaWAKL gene family has been divided into five groups, and they were unevenly distributed on 46 chromosomes. An analysis of the cis-regulatory elements suggested the FaWAK/FaWAKL gene family was more sensitive to abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate. A total of 36 FaWAK/FaWAKL genes were activated by B. cinerea according to an RNA-seq analysis, and 8 of them strongly responded to B. cinerea and exogenous treatment with OGs, particularly FaWAK35. Transient overexpression of FaWAK35 increased the strawberry resistance to B. cinerea. Conclusion This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of FaWAK/FaWAKL and provides foundational insights for further exploration of FaWAK/FaWAKL genes in strawberry resistance to B. cinerea.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06405-0Fragaria×ananassaBotrytis cinereaPlant-pathogen interactionWAK/WAKLOligogalacturonic acidsExpression analysis |
| spellingShingle | Chenyang Xu Zhimin He Xiaoru Kang Yanwei Zhao Qingqing Peng Min Wen Jiaqi Yan Characterization and expression of the wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) family in response to Botrytis cinerea infection in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) BMC Plant Biology Fragaria×ananassa Botrytis cinerea Plant-pathogen interaction WAK/WAKL Oligogalacturonic acids Expression analysis |
| title | Characterization and expression of the wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) family in response to Botrytis cinerea infection in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) |
| title_full | Characterization and expression of the wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) family in response to Botrytis cinerea infection in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) |
| title_fullStr | Characterization and expression of the wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) family in response to Botrytis cinerea infection in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization and expression of the wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) family in response to Botrytis cinerea infection in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) |
| title_short | Characterization and expression of the wall-associated kinase/wall-associated kinase-like (WAK/WAKL) family in response to Botrytis cinerea infection in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) |
| title_sort | characterization and expression of the wall associated kinase wall associated kinase like wak wakl family in response to botrytis cinerea infection in strawberry fragaria ananassa |
| topic | Fragaria×ananassa Botrytis cinerea Plant-pathogen interaction WAK/WAKL Oligogalacturonic acids Expression analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06405-0 |
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