Table_6_Comparative transcriptome provides insights into gene regulation network associated with the resistance to Fusarium wilt in grafted wax gourd Benincasa hispida.xlsx

IntroductionWilt is a soil-borne disease caused by Fusarium that has become a serious threat to wax gourd production. Disease-resistant graft wax gourds are an effective treatment for Fusarium wilt. However, there are few reports on the defense mechanism of graft wax gourd against wilt diseases.
MethodsIn the present study, disease and growth indices were compared between grafted and original wax gourds after infection with Fusarium. High level of disease resistance was observed in the grafted wax gourd, with a lower disease index and low impacts on growth after infection. RNA-seq was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the adjacent treatment time points in the grafted and original wax gourds, respectively. Then a comparative temporal analysis was performed and a total of 1,190 genes were identified to show different gene expression patterns between the two wax gourd groups during Fusarium infection.
Result and discussionHere, high level of disease resistance was observed in the grafted wax gourd, with a lower disease index and low impacts on growth after infection. The DEG number was higher in grafted group than original group, and the enriched functional categories and pathways of DEGs were largely inconsistent between the two groups. These genes were enriched in multiple pathways, of which the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway enhanced the early defense response, and cutin, suberin, and wax biosynthesis signaling pathways enhanced surface resistance in grafted wax gourd in comparison to original group. Our study provides insights into the gene regulatory mechanisms underlying the resistance of grafted wax gourds to Fusarium wilt infection, which will facilitate the breeding and production of wilt-resistant rootstocks.

引言
枯萎病是由镰孢菌（Fusarium）引发的土传病害，现已对冬瓜生产构成严重威胁。采用抗病嫁接冬瓜是防治镰孢枯萎病的有效手段，但目前针对嫁接冬瓜抵御枯萎病的防御机制相关研究报道仍较为匮乏。

方法
本研究针对接种镰孢菌后的嫁接冬瓜与自根冬瓜，对比分析其病情与生长指标。结果显示，嫁接冬瓜表现出较高的抗病性，接种后病情指数更低，且对生长的影响显著更弱。本研究分别对嫁接冬瓜与自根冬瓜的相邻处理时间点样本进行RNA测序（RNA-seq），以筛选差异表达基因（DEGs）；随后开展比较时间序列分析，最终共鉴定出1190个基因，在镰孢菌侵染过程中，两类冬瓜群体的基因表达模式存在显著差异。

结果与讨论
本研究再次证实嫁接冬瓜具有较高的抗病性，接种镰孢菌后病情指数更低，且对植株生长的抑制作用更弱。嫁接组的差异表达基因数量显著多于自根组，且两类群体的差异表达基因富集功能类别与通路亦存在较大差异。富集分析显示，这些差异基因参与多条通路：相较于自根冬瓜，嫁接冬瓜中的丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）信号通路可激活早期防御反应，而角质、木栓质与蜡质生物合成通路则增强了植株的表面抗性。本研究揭示了嫁接冬瓜抵御镰孢枯萎病的基因调控机制，可为抗病砧木的育种与生产应用提供理论参考。