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RXam2, a NLR from cassava (Manihot esculenta) contributes partially to the quantitative resistance to Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis

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Abstract

Key message

The overexpression of RXam2, a cassava NLR (nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat) gene, by stable transformation and gene expression induction mediated by dTALEs, reduce cassava bacterial blight symptoms.

Abstract

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is a tropical root crop affected by different pathogens including Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis (Xpm), the causal agent of cassava bacterial blight (CBB). Previous studies have reported resistance to CBB as a quantitative and polygenic character. This study sought to validate the functional role of a NLR (nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat) associated with a QTL to Xpm strain CIO151 called RXam2. Transgenic cassava plants overexpressing RXam2 were generated and analyzed. Plants overexpressing RXam2 showed a reduction in bacterial growth to Xpm strains CIO151, 232 and 226. In addition, designer TALEs (dTALEs) were developed to specifically bind to the RXam2 promoter region. The Xpm strain transformed with dTALEs allowed the induction of the RXam2 gene expression after inoculation in cassava plants and was associated with a diminution in CBB symptoms. These findings suggest that RXam2 contributes to the understanding of the molecular basis of quantitative disease resistance.

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Acknowledgements

PAD was supported with a scholarship for graduate students from Universidad Nacional de Colombia. This work was partially funded by the Colombian Administrative Department of Science and Technology, Colciencias (contract N° 0315-2013). Thanks to the Universidad Antonio Nariño Editorial Office for support in the English editing of this manuscript. The authors are grateful to Valerie Verdier for assisting the beginning of this project, Camilo Dorado for his support on the statistical analysis, Fabio Gómez for his support on the molecular cloning of RXam2, Tran Tu for guidance in the construction of dTALEs and Didier Marin for the assistance in the greenhouse inoculation experiments. PD and CL want to dedicate this manuscript to Amelia and Emilio younger sister and brother of RXAM2. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Author notes

  1. Juan C. Ochoa

    Present address: Department of Integrative Biology, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 34, 60-479, Poznan, Poland

  2. Catalina Rodríguez

    Present address: Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Biozentrum Martinsried, Grosshaderner Strasse 4, Martinsried, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Manihot Biotec, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cra30 #45-03, Bogotá D.C., Colombia

    Paula A. Díaz-Tatis, Juan C. Ochoa, Edgar M. Rico, Catalina Rodríguez & Camilo E. López

  2. Grupo de Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Antonio Nariño, Cra1 #47a15, Bogotá D.C., Colombia

    Paula A. Díaz-Tatis

  3. Transformation Platform, Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Km17 Cali-Palmira, Palmira, Colombia

    Adriana Medina & Paul Chavarriaga

  4. UMR Interactions Plantes Microorganismes Environnement (IPME), IRD-CIRAD-Université, Montpellier, France

    Boris Szurek

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  1. Paula A. Díaz-Tatis
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Contributions

PAD, AM and JCO developed cassava transgenic plants. PAD performed transgenic plants characterization experiments and dTALEs construction. PC and BS provided resources and orientation for transgenic plant development and dTALEs construction, respectively. MR and CR performed dTALEs inoculation assays. PAD and CEL conceived the study and wrote the manuscript. All the authors reviewed and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Camilo E. López.

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11103_2021_1211_MOESM3_ESM.xlsx

Supplementary file3 (XLSX 30 kb) Table S1 List of genes located near RXam2 (Manes.07G048100, 4853478-4857038) in a region that spans 4.8 Mb

Supplementary file4 (XLSX 11 kb) Table S2 Read count for RXam2 and Gapdh in three RNAseq experiments

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Díaz-Tatis, P.A., Ochoa, J.C., Rico, E.M. et al. RXam2, a NLR from cassava (Manihot esculenta) contributes partially to the quantitative resistance to Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis. Plant Mol Biol 109, 313–324 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-021-01211-2

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