Transcriptome analysis of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal soybean root associated with F. virguliforme inoculation

Many of the microorganisms that are normally present in the soil, actually inhabit the rhizosphere and interact with plants. Those plant–microorganisms interactions may be beneficial or harmful. Among the first are the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). These soil fungi have been reported to improve plant resistance/tolerance to pests and diseases. On the other hand, soilborne pathogens represent a threat to agriculture generating important yield losses, depending upon the pathogen and the crop. One example is the “Sudden Death Syndrome” (SDS), a severe disease in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) caused by a complex of at least four species of Fusarium sp., among which Fusarium virguliforme and F. tuccumaniae are the most prevalent in Argentina. This study provides, under strict in vitro culture conditions, a global analysis of transcript modifications in mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal soybean root associated with F. virguliforme inoculation. Microarray results showed qualitative and quantitative changes in the expression of defense-related genes in mycorrhizal soybean, suggesting that AMF are good candidates for sustainable plant protection against F. virguliforme. Four-condition experiment. Biological replicates: 3 replicates per condition. Roots of two plantlets were randomly selected and pooled for analysis (i.e. three biological replicates)

多数天然栖息于土壤中的微生物，实则定殖于根际（rhizosphere）并与植物产生相互作用。
这类植物-微生物间的互作可分为有益与有害两类，其中有益互作的典型代表为丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi，AMF）。已有研究表明，这类土壤真菌可提升植物对病虫害的抗性与耐受性。
与之相对，土传病原菌则对农业生产构成严重威胁，依病原菌种类与作物类型的不同，可造成不同程度的产量损失。
典型案例为猝死综合征（Sudden Death Syndrome，SDS）：这是一种侵染大豆（Glycine max (L.) Merr）的毁灭性病害，由至少4种镰孢菌属（Fusarium sp.）复合群引发，其中弗吉尼亚镰孢菌（Fusarium virguliforme）与图卡镰孢菌（F. tuccumaniae）在阿根廷的分布最为广泛。
本研究在严格的体外培养条件下，针对接种弗吉尼亚镰孢菌后的菌根化与非菌根化大豆根系，开展了转录水平变化的全局分析。
基因芯片（microarray）检测结果显示，菌根化大豆体内防御相关基因的表达出现了定性与定量双重变化，这表明丛枝菌根真菌可作为抵御弗吉尼亚镰孢菌的可持续植物保护候选方案。
本实验共设置4种处理条件，每个条件设置3次生物学重复：随机选取2株幼苗的根系混合后用于分析，最终完成3组生物学重复。