Molecular studies on the interaction sugarcane x Sporisorium scitamineum, the smut causal agent

• Grant number: 12/09524-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2012
• End date: June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Maria Lúcia Carneiro Vieira
• Grantee: Alessandra Carolina Palhares
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp) is a species of high economic importance, and Brazil is the world's largest producer. Diseases are some of the important causes that limit crop yield and quality of sugarcane's products. Smut sugarcane, caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum, is a specific disease of historical significance because of its widespread occurrence in Brazil. Cultivating resistant varieties is the main control measure to avoid the spread of this disease. However, the existence of optimal conditions for its spread has led to its occurrence in the years 2010 and 2011. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms of the interaction during the establishment, development and distribution of smut with the plant. During the life cycle of the fungus, the interaction with the plant is essential for its development. Studies have been conducted to identify genes differentially expressed in sugarcane infected with S. scitamineum using cDNA-AFLP, and by identification of proteins that differ in abundance under pathogens's infection. However, due to technical limitations, these studies do not cover the entire gene repertoire involved in the response to infection. Studies of host-pathogen interaction are important because they can reveal a set of mechanisms by which plants reduce the pathogenicity's efficiency. Therefore, the purpose of this study is the identification and characterization of genes expressed in sugarcane plants after infection with S. scitamineum using the RNAseq technique. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

TANIGUTI, LUCAS M.; SCHAKER, PATRICIA D. C.; BENEVENUTO, JULIANA; PETERS, LEILA P.; CARVALHO, GISELLE; PALHARES, ALESSANDRA; QUECINE, MARIA C.; NUNES, FILIPE R. S.; KMIT, MARIA C. P.; WAI, ALVAN; et al. Complete Genome Sequence of Sporisorium scitamineum and Biotrophic Interaction Transcriptome with Sugarcane. PLoS One, v. 10, n. 6, JUN 12 2015. (10/05591-9, 08/52074-0, 12/09524-0, 13/15014-7, 14/21802-0, 13/25599-2)

SCHAKER, PATRICIA D. C.; PALHARES, ALESSANDRA C.; TANIGUTI, LUCAS M.; PETERS, LEILA P.; CRESTE, SILVANA; AITKEN, KAREN S.; VAN SLUYS, MARIE-ANNE; KITAJIMA, JOAO P.; VIEIRA, MARIA L. C.; MONTEIRO-VITORELLO, CLAUDIA B.. RNAseq Transcriptional Profiling following Whip Development in Sugarcane Smut Disease. PLoS One, v. 11, n. 9, SEP 1 2016. (10/05591-9, 15/07112-4, 12/09524-0, 13/25599-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PALHARES, Alessandra Carolina. RNAseq based transcriptome analysis and identification of sugarcane genes expressed in response to Sporisorium scitamineum, the causal agent of smut. 2014. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) Piracicaba.