Lignin-based resistance to Cuscuta campestris in tomato

Parasitic angiosperms use specialized organs known as haustoria as physiological bridges to extract nutrients and water from their hosts. Cuscuta species (dodders) are common and agriculturally destructive parasitic plants. While most tomato cultivars can be parasitized by C. campestris, the Heinz hybrid cultivars 9492 and 9553 (H9492 and H9553) have been reported to exhibit resistance to dodders. However, another related Heinz hybrid cultivar 9775 (H9775) is susceptible. To identify the key resistance genes, we used RNA-Seq and DNA-Seq to identify the important regulators in resistant cultivars.

寄生被子植物会借助被称为吸器（haustoria）的特化器官作为生理桥梁，从宿主植株中汲取营养与水分。菟丝子属（Cuscuta）植物（俗称菟丝子dodders）是一类分布广泛且对农业生产具有破坏性的寄生植物。多数番茄栽培品种均可被田野菟丝子（C. campestris）寄生，但已有研究显示，亨氏（Heinz）杂交品种9492与9553（简称H9492、H9553）对菟丝子具有抗性。而另一款亲缘关系相近的亨氏杂交品种9775（简称H9775）则仍易感菟丝子。为鉴定关键的抗性基因，本研究通过RNA测序（RNA-Seq）与DNA测序（DNA-Seq）技术，对抗性栽培品种中的重要调控因子进行了筛选与鉴定。