Lignin Synthesis Related Genes with Potential Significance in the Response of Upland Cotton to Fusarium Wilt Identified by Transcriptome Profiling

Abstract Fusarium wilt, caused by the fungus oxysporum Schlecht. f. sp. vasinfectum (Fov) is a destructive soil-borne cotton disease. To profile genes and pathways responding to Fov infection, we compared transcriptomic responses before after F. inoculation in highly resistant cultivar, Yumian21, susceptible Jimian11. Although overall gene expression pattern was downregulated both cultivars, global cultivar stronger than that cultivar. In addition, expressed of two cultivars mostly differed “cellular process,” “single-organism “metabolic “response stimulus” functional groups biological process Gene Ontology category: upregulated differentially (DEG) were largely enriched while DEGs Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis phenylalanine metabolism are key metabolic response Fov. We found lignin plays potential role resistance Two coding genes, caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase peroxidase2 , as well transcription factors MYB46 MYB86 possibly involved accumulation synthesis lignin. Furthermore, result showed quantification could be potentially used selection tool identify wilt cotton.