DEVELOPING TRANSCRIPTIONAL PROFILES AND GENE EXPRESSION ANALYSIS OF GRAPE PLANT RESPONSE TO XYLELLA FASTIDIOSA

• Author(s): Lin, Hong; Walker, Andrew;
• Abstract: The goal of the project is to characterize the molecular events in the grape / Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) interaction. We used highly resistant and susceptible genotypes from a Vitis rupestris x V. arizonica population segregating for Pierces disease (PD) resistance. We developed a functional genomic approach to specifically identify PD-related transcriptional profiles from susceptible and resistant responses. About 5,000 expressed clones have been sequenced and annotated from forward and reverse subtractions of cDNA libraries. These expression profiles derived from the stem, leaf and shoot tissues of resistant and susceptible genotypes throughout the course of disease development provide informative details of molecular events associated with PD. Currently we have identified 63 up/down regulated genes in response to Xf infection in both genotypes. To further characterize genes involved in the host-pathogen interaction at different tissues and stages of disease development, we are constructing a set of genes for microarray-based global gene expression analysis. Currently, we are analyzing the first 20 candidate genes using the Taq-Man gene expression assay method. These research efforts will help identify spatial and temporal gene expression involved in the defense response and signaling recognition in PD susceptible and resistant grapes.
• Publication Date: Dec 2004
• Journal: 2004 Pierce's Disease Research Symposium