AUTHOR=Yue Zhi-Liang , Tian Zhe-Juan , Zhang Jun-Wei , Zhang Sheng-Wei , Li Ya-Dong , Wu Zhi-Ming 

TITLE=Overexpression of Lectin Receptor-Like Kinase 1 in Tomato Confers Resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Radicis-Lycopersici

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2022.836269

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2022.836269

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<p>The disease <italic>Fusarium</italic> crown and root rot (FCRR), caused mainly by <italic>Fusarium oxysporum</italic> f. sp. <italic>radicis-lycopersici</italic> (<italic>FORL</italic>), seriously affects commercial tomato [<italic>Solanum lycopersicum</italic> (Sl)] yields. However, the genes that offer resistance to <italic>FORL</italic> are limited and the mechanism of resistance to FCRR is poorly understood. Lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRKs) play critical roles in defensive responses and immunity in many plant species; however, whether specific LecRKs are involved in the response of tomato plants to <italic>FORL</italic> is unclear. Here, we report that the expression of <italic>SlLecRK1/Solyc09g011070.1</italic> was obviously induced by the infection of <italic>FORL</italic>. Biochemical and cell biological data revealed that SlLecRK1 is an active kinase that is located at the cell membrane, while real-time quantitative PCR data suggested that <italic>SlLecRK1</italic> is mainly expressed in stems and roots. Genetic studies showed that overexpression of <italic>SlLecRK1</italic> significantly improved the resistance of tomato plants to <italic>FORL</italic> but did not cause visible changes in plant growth and development compared with wild-type control plants. RNA-Seq data suggested that the positive effects of SlLecRK1 on the resistance of tomato plants to <italic>FORL</italic> occur mainly by triggering the expression of <italic>ethylene-responsive transcription factor</italic> (<italic>ERF</italic>) genes. Together, our findings not only identify a new target for the development of FCRR-resistant tomato varieties, they also demonstrate a molecular mechanism linking SlLecRK1 and ERFs in regulating the immune responses of tomato plants to <italic>FORL</italic>.</p>