RNA-Seq data from common bean leaves after induction of PvOFP7

Common bacterial blight of bean (CBB) is a devastating seed-transmitted disease caused by Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. phaseoli and Xanthomonas citri pv. fuscans on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The genes responsible for CBB resistance are largely unknown. moreover, the lack of reproducible and universal transformation protocol limits the study and improvement of genetic traits in common bean. We produced X. phaseoli pv. phaseoli strains expressing designer Transcription-Activator Like Effectors (dTALEs) to target 14 candidate genes and performed in planta assays in a susceptible common bean to analyse if the transcriptional induction of these genes genotype could confer resistance to CBB. Induction of PvOFP7, PvAP2_ERF71 and PvExpansinA17 resulted in CBB symptom reduction. In particular, PvOFP7 induction led to strong symptom reduction, linked to reduced bacterial growth in planta at the early stage of the colonisation. RNA-Seq analysis revealed up-regulation of cell wall formation and primary metabolism, and major down-regulation of Heat Shock Proteins. Our results demonstrate that PvOFP7 is a major contributor to CBB resistance, and underline the usefulness of dTALEs for highlighting genes of quantitative activity.