Selection of reliable reference genes in Colletotrichum scovillei during different growth stages, host interactions, and plant extract treatment for qRT-PCR

Abstract Selection of a reliable internal control gene is critical for quantitative real-time PCR, which is a rapid, highly sensitive, and easy method for evaluating gene expression levels in different samples or tissues. Colletotrichum scovillei, which belongs to the C. acutatum species complex, is...

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Main Authors: Guo Geng Jia, Sun Ha Kim, Jiyoung Min, Nelson Villalobos Zamora, Silvia Soto Montero, Dong-Keun Yi, Soo-Yong Kim, Sang-Keun Oh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Plant Biology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06733-1
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author Guo Geng Jia
Sun Ha Kim
Jiyoung Min
Nelson Villalobos Zamora
Silvia Soto Montero
Dong-Keun Yi
Soo-Yong Kim
Sang-Keun Oh
author_facet Guo Geng Jia
Sun Ha Kim
Jiyoung Min
Nelson Villalobos Zamora
Silvia Soto Montero
Dong-Keun Yi
Soo-Yong Kim
Sang-Keun Oh
author_sort Guo Geng Jia
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Selection of a reliable internal control gene is critical for quantitative real-time PCR, which is a rapid, highly sensitive, and easy method for evaluating gene expression levels in different samples or tissues. Colletotrichum scovillei, which belongs to the C. acutatum species complex, is a common and aggressive species that can cause anthracnose in chili peppers. However, stable reference genes have not yet been identified for C. scovillei. In our study, reference genes were selected and validated in C. scovillei during different growth stages, including conidia, conidial germination, and mycelium growth, during host interactions, and after treatment with the common solvent 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and plant extracts with antifungal activity against C. scovillei. Eight candidate reference genes (CsUCE, CsCK, CsTBP, CsTIF, CsPP2A, CsTUB, CsCAL, and CsNADH) were selected from C. scovillei based on transcriptomic and genomic data. Several statistical methods, including the comparative quantification cycle threshold (Ct) method, geNorm, NormFinder, and Bestkeeper, were used to assess the stabilities of reference gene transcripts. The results indicated that CsPP2A had better stability during the C. scovillei growth stage, CsTUB had the best stability during host interactions, and CsUCE was more stable after treatment with the general solvent 0.5% DMSO and Cestrum glanduliferum kerber ex Francey extracts. Our study provides the most suitable reference gene for future studies to quantify target gene expression levels in C. scovillei under different conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-b1951a44e7384d349c8304e944e1bb5e2025-08-20T04:01:25ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-07-0125111210.1186/s12870-025-06733-1Selection of reliable reference genes in Colletotrichum scovillei during different growth stages, host interactions, and plant extract treatment for qRT-PCRGuo Geng Jia0Sun Ha Kim1Jiyoung Min2Nelson Villalobos Zamora3Silvia Soto Montero4Dong-Keun Yi5Soo-Yong Kim6Sang-Keun Oh7Department of Applied Biology, Chungnam National UniversityDepartment of Applied Biology, Chungnam National UniversityDepartment of Applied Biology, Chungnam National UniversityInstituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio)Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio)International Biological Material Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology (KRIBB)International Biological Material Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology (KRIBB)Department of Applied Biology, Chungnam National UniversityAbstract Selection of a reliable internal control gene is critical for quantitative real-time PCR, which is a rapid, highly sensitive, and easy method for evaluating gene expression levels in different samples or tissues. Colletotrichum scovillei, which belongs to the C. acutatum species complex, is a common and aggressive species that can cause anthracnose in chili peppers. However, stable reference genes have not yet been identified for C. scovillei. In our study, reference genes were selected and validated in C. scovillei during different growth stages, including conidia, conidial germination, and mycelium growth, during host interactions, and after treatment with the common solvent 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and plant extracts with antifungal activity against C. scovillei. Eight candidate reference genes (CsUCE, CsCK, CsTBP, CsTIF, CsPP2A, CsTUB, CsCAL, and CsNADH) were selected from C. scovillei based on transcriptomic and genomic data. Several statistical methods, including the comparative quantification cycle threshold (Ct) method, geNorm, NormFinder, and Bestkeeper, were used to assess the stabilities of reference gene transcripts. The results indicated that CsPP2A had better stability during the C. scovillei growth stage, CsTUB had the best stability during host interactions, and CsUCE was more stable after treatment with the general solvent 0.5% DMSO and Cestrum glanduliferum kerber ex Francey extracts. Our study provides the most suitable reference gene for future studies to quantify target gene expression levels in C. scovillei under different conditions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06733-1Colletotrichum scovilleiEvaluating gene expressionGrowth stagesStable reference genesQuantitative real-time PCR
spellingShingle Guo Geng Jia
Sun Ha Kim
Jiyoung Min
Nelson Villalobos Zamora
Silvia Soto Montero
Dong-Keun Yi
Soo-Yong Kim
Sang-Keun Oh
Selection of reliable reference genes in Colletotrichum scovillei during different growth stages, host interactions, and plant extract treatment for qRT-PCR
BMC Plant Biology
Colletotrichum scovillei
Evaluating gene expression
Growth stages
Stable reference genes
Quantitative real-time PCR
title Selection of reliable reference genes in Colletotrichum scovillei during different growth stages, host interactions, and plant extract treatment for qRT-PCR
title_full Selection of reliable reference genes in Colletotrichum scovillei during different growth stages, host interactions, and plant extract treatment for qRT-PCR
title_fullStr Selection of reliable reference genes in Colletotrichum scovillei during different growth stages, host interactions, and plant extract treatment for qRT-PCR
title_full_unstemmed Selection of reliable reference genes in Colletotrichum scovillei during different growth stages, host interactions, and plant extract treatment for qRT-PCR
title_short Selection of reliable reference genes in Colletotrichum scovillei during different growth stages, host interactions, and plant extract treatment for qRT-PCR
title_sort selection of reliable reference genes in colletotrichum scovillei during different growth stages host interactions and plant extract treatment for qrt pcr
topic Colletotrichum scovillei
Evaluating gene expression
Growth stages
Stable reference genes
Quantitative real-time PCR
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06733-1
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