Transcriptional time-course analysis during ash dieback infection
revealed different responses in tolerant and susceptible Fraxinus
excelsior genotypes
Abstract
Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, the causal agent of Ash Dieback (ADB),
has been introduced to eastern Europe in the 1990s from where it spread
causing decline in European ash populations. However, the genetic basis
of the molecular response in tolerant and susceptible ash trees to this
disease is still largely unknown. We performed RNA-sequencing to study
the transcriptomic response to the disease in four ash genotypes
(ADB-tolerant FAR3 and FS36, and ADB-susceptible UW1 and UW2), during a
time-course of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post-inoculation, including
mock-infected trees as control samples for each sampling time point. The
analysis yielded 395 and 500 Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) along
the response for ADB-tolerant FAR3 and FS36, respectively, while
ADB-susceptible UW1 and UW2 revealed 194 and 571 DEGs, respectively,
with most DEGs found exclusively in just one of the genotypes. DEGs
shared between tolerant genotypes FAR3 and FS36, included genes involved
in the production of phytoalexins and other secondary metabolites with
roles in plant defense. Moreover, we identified an earlier expression of
genes involved in both pattern- and effector-triggered immunity (PTI and
ETI) in ADB-tolerant genotypes, while in ADB-susceptible genotypes both
responses were delayed (late response). Overall, these results revealed
different transcriptomic expression patterns not only between
ADB-tolerant and ADB-susceptible genotypes, but also within these two
groups. This hints to individual response in the natural tolerance to
ADB, possibly revealing diversified strategies across ash genotypes.