<i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> Swiftly Manipulates the Transcriptional Regulation in <i>Citrus sinensis</i> During the Early Infection Stage

<i>Citrus</i> spp. represent an economically important fruit tree crop worldwide. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between citrus and the <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> remain largely unexplored. In this study, we analyzed the physiological and...

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Main Authors: Siyu Zhang, Xinyou Wang, Wei Zeng, Leijian Zhong, Xiaoyong Yuan, Zhigang Ouyang, Ruimin Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/11/805
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author Siyu Zhang
Xinyou Wang
Wei Zeng
Leijian Zhong
Xiaoyong Yuan
Zhigang Ouyang
Ruimin Li
author_facet Siyu Zhang
Xinyou Wang
Wei Zeng
Leijian Zhong
Xiaoyong Yuan
Zhigang Ouyang
Ruimin Li
author_sort Siyu Zhang
collection DOAJ
description <i>Citrus</i> spp. represent an economically important fruit tree crop worldwide. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between citrus and the <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> remain largely unexplored. In this study, we analyzed the physiological and transcriptomic changes in <i>Citrus sinensis</i> at different stages of incubation with <i>C. gloeosporioides</i>. The results indicated that <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> infection rapidly triggered necrosis in the epicarp of <i>C. sinensis</i> fruits, decreased the total flavonoid contents, and suppressed the activity of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase enzymes. Upon inoculation with <i>C. gloeosporioides</i>, there were 4600 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with 1754 down-regulated and 2846 up-regulated after six hours, while there were only 580 DEGs with 185 down-regulated and 395 up-regulated between six and twelve-hours post-inoculation. Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs, which exhibited consistent up-regulation, were associated with metabolic processes and stress responses. Through Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis, 11 key genes have been identified that could potentially play a role in the transcriptional regulation of this process, including the transcription factor bHLH189. Furthermore, the infection of <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> had a notable effect on both the flavonoid metabolism and the metabolic pathways related to reactive oxygen species. Our findings help to understand the interaction between citrus and <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> and unveil how new insights into how <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> circumvents citrus defense mechanisms.
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spelling doaj-art-c537c993f4de424a969eb6495434b45f2025-08-20T01:54:07ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2024-11-01101180510.3390/jof10110805<i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> Swiftly Manipulates the Transcriptional Regulation in <i>Citrus sinensis</i> During the Early Infection StageSiyu Zhang0Xinyou Wang1Wei Zeng2Leijian Zhong3Xiaoyong Yuan4Zhigang Ouyang5Ruimin Li6College of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China<i>Citrus</i> spp. represent an economically important fruit tree crop worldwide. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction between citrus and the <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> remain largely unexplored. In this study, we analyzed the physiological and transcriptomic changes in <i>Citrus sinensis</i> at different stages of incubation with <i>C. gloeosporioides</i>. The results indicated that <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> infection rapidly triggered necrosis in the epicarp of <i>C. sinensis</i> fruits, decreased the total flavonoid contents, and suppressed the activity of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase enzymes. Upon inoculation with <i>C. gloeosporioides</i>, there were 4600 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with 1754 down-regulated and 2846 up-regulated after six hours, while there were only 580 DEGs with 185 down-regulated and 395 up-regulated between six and twelve-hours post-inoculation. Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs, which exhibited consistent up-regulation, were associated with metabolic processes and stress responses. Through Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis, 11 key genes have been identified that could potentially play a role in the transcriptional regulation of this process, including the transcription factor bHLH189. Furthermore, the infection of <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> had a notable effect on both the flavonoid metabolism and the metabolic pathways related to reactive oxygen species. Our findings help to understand the interaction between citrus and <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> and unveil how new insights into how <i>C. gloeosporioides</i> circumvents citrus defense mechanisms.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/11/805<i>Citrus sinensis</i><i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i>ROSflavonoidtranscriptional regulation
spellingShingle Siyu Zhang
Xinyou Wang
Wei Zeng
Leijian Zhong
Xiaoyong Yuan
Zhigang Ouyang
Ruimin Li
<i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> Swiftly Manipulates the Transcriptional Regulation in <i>Citrus sinensis</i> During the Early Infection Stage
Journal of Fungi
<i>Citrus sinensis</i>
<i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i>
ROS
flavonoid
transcriptional regulation
title <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> Swiftly Manipulates the Transcriptional Regulation in <i>Citrus sinensis</i> During the Early Infection Stage
title_full <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> Swiftly Manipulates the Transcriptional Regulation in <i>Citrus sinensis</i> During the Early Infection Stage
title_fullStr <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> Swiftly Manipulates the Transcriptional Regulation in <i>Citrus sinensis</i> During the Early Infection Stage
title_full_unstemmed <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> Swiftly Manipulates the Transcriptional Regulation in <i>Citrus sinensis</i> During the Early Infection Stage
title_short <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> Swiftly Manipulates the Transcriptional Regulation in <i>Citrus sinensis</i> During the Early Infection Stage
title_sort i colletotrichum gloeosporioides i swiftly manipulates the transcriptional regulation in i citrus sinensis i during the early infection stage
topic <i>Citrus sinensis</i>
<i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i>
ROS
flavonoid
transcriptional regulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/10/11/805
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