AUTHOR=Sun Qingguo , Xu Zhongmin , Huang Wei , Li Dawei , Zeng Qi , Chen Lin , Li Baohua , Zhang Enhui 

TITLE=Integrated metabolome and transcriptome analysis reveals salicylic acid and flavonoid pathways’ key roles in cabbage’s defense responses to Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.1005764

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.1005764

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Xanthomonas campestris</italic> pv. <italic>campestris</italic> (<italic>Xcc</italic>) is a vascular bacteria pathogen causing black rot in cabbage. Here, the resistance mechanisms of cabbage against <italic>Xcc</italic> infection were explored by integrated metabolome and transcriptome analysis. Pathogen perception, hormone metabolisms, sugar metabolisms, and phenylpropanoid metabolisms in cabbage were systemically re-programmed at both transcriptional and metabolic levels after <italic>Xcc</italic> infection. Notably, the salicylic acid (SA) metabolism pathway was highly enriched in resistant lines following <italic>Xcc</italic> infection, indicating that the SA metabolism pathway may positively regulate the resistance of <italic>Xcc</italic>. Moreover, we also validated our hypothesis by showing that the flavonoid pathway metabolites chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid could effectively inhibit the growth of <italic>Xcc</italic>. These findings provide valuable insights and resource datasets for further exploring <italic>Xcc</italic>–cabbage interactions and help uncover molecular breeding targets for black rot-resistant varieties in cabbage.</p>