Integrative transcriptomics reveals association of abscisic acid and lignin pathways with cassava whitefly resistance

To investigate the genetic basis of whitefly resistance in cassava (Manihot esculenta), leaves of the whitefly-resistant cassava genotype ECU72 and the whitefly-susceptible cassava genotype COL2246 were subjected to whitefly (Aleurotrachelus socialis) infestation, with leaves collected over a 22 day time course. Cassava's responses to major defense hormones were also defined to characterize cassava's responses to whiteflies and other yield-limiting pests/pathogens. To this end, cassava genotypes ECU72 and COL2246 were treated with salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), ethylene (ET), or abscisic acid (ABA) foliar sprays, with leaves collected over a 24 hour time course. Similar SA and JA treatment time courses were conducted for comparison in Arabidopsis thaliana. RNAs were extracted from ECU72 and COL2246 whitefly-, SA-, JA-, ET-, or ABA-treated leaves and Arabidopsis SA- or JA-treated leaves for library preparation and RNA-sequencing.