Fusarium crown rot, caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fp), frequently occurs and severely threatens wheat yield and food security. Identifying resistance genes and elucidating the resistance mechanisms are crucial for breeding resistant varieties. To investigate the defense response mechanisms of wheat to Fp infection, this study employed RNA sequencing to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in varieties Ruihuamai 520 (DI=37.67) and Heshangtou (DI=93.35). The results showed that the number of DEGs in both varieties increased continuously with the duration of fungal infection, with a significantly higher number observed in the resistant variety Ruihuamai 520. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that chitinase activity, glutathione metabolism, and O-methyl transferase activity were significantly enriched in both varieties after inoculation. These findings indicate that genes related to cell wall composition, phytohormones, and redox processes play key roles in the defense response against Fp. Notably, the number of enriched genes in these pathways differed between resistant and susceptible varieties. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathyway analysis showed that 13 of the top 20 enriched pathways in Ruihuamai 520 were also enriched in Heshangtou. However, the number of genes involved in most of these pathways was greater in Ruihuamai 520. These findings suggest that Ruihuamai 520 may enhance resistance to Fp by regulating of pathways involved in the synthesis of defense compounds, maintenance of redox homeostasis, and activation of immune responses.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |