AUTHOR=Yu Yang , Tan Hao , Liu Tianhai , Liu Lixu , Tang Jie , Peng Weihong 

TITLE=Dual RNA-Seq Analysis of the Interaction Between Edible Fungus Morchella sextelata and Its Pathogenic Fungus Paecilomyces penicillatus Uncovers the Candidate Defense and Pathogenic Factors

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.760444

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2021.760444

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Morels (<italic>Morchella</italic> spp.) are economically important mushrooms cultivated in many countries. However, their production and quality are hindered by white mold disease because of <italic>Paecilomyces penicillatus</italic> infection. In this study, we aimed to understand the genetic mechanisms of interactions between <italic>P. penicillatus</italic> and <italic>Morchella</italic>. <italic>M. sextelata</italic>, the most prevalent species of <italic>Morchella</italic> in China, was inoculated with <italic>P. penicillatus</italic>; then, the expression profiles of both fungi were determined simultaneously at 3 and 6 days post-inoculation (dpi) using a dual RNA-Seq approach. A total of 460 and 313 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in <italic>P. penicillatus</italic> and <italic>M. sextelata</italic>, respectively. The CAZymes of β-glucanases and mannanases, as well as subtilase family, were upregulated in <italic>P. penicillatus</italic>, which might be involved in the degradation of <italic>M. sextelata</italic> cell walls. Chitin recognition protein, caffeine-induced death protein, and putative apoptosis-inducing protein were upregulated, while cyclin was downregulated in infected <italic>M. sextelata</italic>. This indicates that <italic>P. penicillatus</italic> could trigger programmed cell death in <italic>M. sextelata</italic> after infection. Laccase-2, tyrosinases, and cytochrome P450s were also upregulated in <italic>M. sextelata</italic>. The increased expression levels of these genes suggest that <italic>M. sextelata</italic> could detoxify the <italic>P. penicillatus</italic> toxins and also form a melanin barrier against <italic>P. penicillatus</italic> invasion. The potential pathogenic mechanisms of <italic>P. penicillatus</italic> on <italic>M. sextelata</italic> and the defense mechanisms of <italic>M. sextelata</italic> against <italic>P. penicillatus</italic> were well described.</p>