AUTHOR=Ning Kang , Li Mengzhi , Wei Guangfei , Zhou Yuxin , Zhang Guozhuang , Huai Hao , Wei Fugang , Chen Zhongjian , Wang Yong , Dong Linlin , Chen Shilin 

TITLE=Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Provide Insights Into Root Rot Resistance in Panax notoginseng

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.775019

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2021.775019

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Panax notoginseng</italic> (<italic>Panax notoginseng</italic> (Burk.) F.H. Chen), a plant of high medicinal value, is severely affected by root rot during cultivation. Here, we generated a reference genome of <italic>P. notoginseng</italic>, with a contig N50 size of 241.268 kb, and identified 66 disease-resistance genes (R-genes) as candidate genes for breeding disease-resistant varieties. We then investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the responses of resistant and susceptible <italic>P. notoginseng</italic> genotypes to <italic>Fusarium oxysporum</italic> infection at six time points by RNA-seq. Functional analysis of the genes differentially expressed between the two genotypes indicated that genes involved in the defense response biological process like hormone transduction and plant-pathogen interaction are continuously and highly expressed in resistant genotype during infection. Moreover, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid levels gradually increased during infection in the resistant genotype. Coexpression analysis showed that <italic>PnWRKY22</italic> acts as a hub gene in the defense response of the resistant genotype. Finally, transiently overexpressing <italic>PnWRKY22</italic> increased salicylic acid levels in <italic>P. notoginseng</italic> leaves. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for studying root rot resistance in <italic>P. notoginseng</italic>.</p>