Discussion
Results suggest that PVYN-Wi-induced necrosis may be mechanistically distinguishable from that of PVY-NTN. Our study provides a basis for understanding the mechanism underlying the development of PVY-induced tuber necrosis in potato.
Methods
To test this hypothesis, transcriptional responses of cv. Russet Burbank, a PVY susceptible cultivar, to three PVY strains PVY-O, PVY-NTN, and PVYN-Wi were studied using mRNA-Seq. A haploid-resolved genome assembly for tetraploid potato was used for bioinformatics analysis.
Results
The study revealed 36 GO terms and nine KEGG 24 pathways that overlapped across the three PVY strains, making them generic features of PVY susceptibility in potato. Ten GO terms and three KEGG pathways enriched for PVY-NTN and PVYN-Wi only, which made them candidate functional signatures associated with PVY-induced tuber necrosis in potato. In addition, five other pathways were enriched for PVYNTN or PVYN-Wi. One carbon pool by folate was enriched exclusively in response to PVY-NTN infection; PVYN-Wi infection specifically impacted cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, and monoterpenoid biosynthesis.