Comparative analysis of protein and differential responses of defense-related gene and enzyme activity reveals the long-term molecular responses of sugarcane inoculated with <i>Sporisorium scitamineum</i>

Smut, the most important sugarcane fungal disease in China, is caused by Sporisorium scitamineum. Smut infection causes severe cane and sugar yield loss. Whole-plant resistance response characterized expression of a large number pathogenesis-related proteins genes. Here, proteomic analysis isobaric tag for relative absolute quantification was conducted to identify differentially expressed two varieties with contrasting smut, i.e. Yacheng71-374 (smut-susceptible) GT29 (smut-resistant) following S. scitamineum infection. A total 125 290 were found after whip appearance varieties. Increased up-regulation peroxidase catalase involved photosynthesis, calcium signaling, abscisic acid biosynthesis, protein metabolism, observed as compared Yacheng71-374, suggesting their potential involvement smut defense mechanism(s) sugarcane. The level five defense-related enzymes chitinase, glucanase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase analyzed RT-qPCR. these enhanced considerably up six months pathogen These results provide new molecular insights into long-term responses infection, much over-looked aspect disease.