Integrated full-length transcriptome and metabolome analysis reveals the
defense response of melon to gummy stem blight
Abstract
Gummy stem blight (GSB), a severe and widespread disease causing great
losses to cucurbit production, is a major threat to melon production.
However, the melon-GSB interaction remains largely unknown, which
significantly impedes the genetic improvement of melon for GSB
resistance. Here, full-length transcriptome and widely targeted
metabolome were used to reveal the early defense responses of resistant
(PI511890) and susceptible (Payzawat) melon to GSB. Differentially
expressed genes were specifically enriched in the secondary metabolite
biosynthesis and MAPK signaling pathway in PI511890, while in
carbohydrate metabolism and amino acid metabolism in Payzawat. More than
1000 novel genes were identified in PI511890, which were enriched in the
MAPK signaling pathway. There were 11,793 alternative splicing events
identified and involved the defense response to GSB. A total of 910
metabolites were identified, with flavonoids as the dominant
metabolites. Integrated full-length transcriptome and metabolome
analysis showed that eriodictyol and oxalic acid may be used as marker
metabolites for GSB resistance in melon. Moreover, post-transcription
regulation was widely involved in the defense response of melon to GSB.
These results improve our understanding of the interaction between melon
and GSB and may facilitate the genetic improvement of GSB resistance of
melon.