Wheat transcriptome: Effect of synergistic interaction between Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus and Triticum Mosaic Virus

The effect of synergistic interaction between Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV) and Triticum Mosaic Virus (TriMV) on wheat transcriptome was examined by performing RNA-Seq from singly and doubly infected wheat at collected at 9, 12, and 21 days postinoculation (dpi). A total of 31,754 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Gene ontology and domain enrichment analysis of commonly expressed DEGs revealed important genes related to photosynthesis, stress, and defense. Synergistic interactions between WSMV and TriMV induced wheat genes involved in the TCA cycle, stress responses, and increased expression of bZIP, B3, and NAC transcription factors while having detrimental effects on starch biosynthesis, photosynthesis, and MADS-box transcription factors.