Eucalyptus grandis anomaly related to expression of defense genes

Abstract

In collaboration with the Suzano Papel and Celulose SA company, we identified an anomaly derived from a full-sib population in a controlled cross between two Eucalyptus grandis individuals. Abnormal seedlings died in a few months and showed significant phenotypic differences (P < 0.05), including seedling height, seedling stem-base diameter, and individual leaf area, compared with normal seedlings. Previous genetic analysis of the full-sib progeny showed a Mendelian segregation of 3 (normal): 1 (abnormal) (X2 = 2.32, P > 0.1), suggesting that the lethality phenotype is controlled by a recessive allele (Tambarussi 2006). To identify the genes associated with the anomaly detected, we compared the transcriptional profiles of leaf, stem, and root tissue of normal and abnormal plants by RNA-seq technology. RNA-seq analysis showed the most differentially expressed genes were upregulated in the anomalous plants in all tissues analyzed. Most of these upregulated genes belong to functional groups of defense response and metabolism. Functional and metabolic analysis also demonstrated gene ontology and pathways involved in defense response upregulated in the abnormal plants.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the IUFRO joint conference: Genetics of five-needle pines, rusts of forest trees, and Strobusphere; 2014 June 15–20; Fort Collins, CO

Citation

Fuchs-Ferraz, M. C. P.; Acencio, M. L.; Lemke, N.; Oda, S.; Gonzalez, E. R.; Marino, C. L. 2018. Eucalyptus grandis anomaly related to expression of defense genes. In: Schoettle, Anna W.; Sniezko, Richard A.; Kliejunas, John T., eds. Proceedings of the IUFRO joint conference: Genetics of five-needle pines, rusts of forest trees, and Strobusphere; 2014 June 15-20; Fort Collins, CO. Proc. RMRS-P-76. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 230.