Defining the interactome underlying Sudden Death Syndrome of soybean
J. B. RIDENOUR (1), T. Kazi (2), A. M. Fakhoury (2), B. H. Bluhm (1)
(1) University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, U.S.A.; (2) Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, U.S.A.
Phytopathology 101:S153

The soil-borne ascomycete Fusarium virguliforme is the causal agent of Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) of soybean, a devastating disease that has recently emerged as one of the most important diseases of soybean in the U.S. F. virguliforme colonizes the roots of soybean causing severe root rot, and also produces a potent phytotoxin that is translocated to leaf tissue leading to foliar necrosis. Despite the widespread importance of this disease, surprisingly little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying pathogenesis. The goal of this project was to identify plant and fungal genes involved in pathogenesis based on expression profiles. To this end, total RNA from infected roots was extracted, and digital gene expression data were acquired with next-generation sequencing techniques. Highly expressed fungal genes were predicted to regulate signal transduction, secondary metabolism, and carbohydrate hydrolysis. Selected candidate genes involved in pathogenesis and host defense were further evaluated with quantitative PCR. This study provides a molecular perspective on SDS and identifies candidate fungal genes for future functional studies.