Identification and expression profiling of CLCuV-responsive transcripts in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Authors: BEENISH AFTAB, MUHAMMAD NAVEED SHAHID, SANIA RIAZ, ADIL JAMAL, BAHAELDEEN BABIKER MOHAMED, MUZNA ZAHUR, MAHWISH AFTAB, BUSHRA RASHID, TAYYAB HUSNAIN

Abstract: CLCuV is one of the most serious causes of cotton damage for which no adequate remedy is available. The possible solution to this problem may be the transfer of resistant genes into the background of agronomical CLCuV-tolerant varieties. In response to viral infection, several plants may show qualitative and quantitative variations in gene expression. To study gene expression between diseased and tolerant plants, DDRT-PCR was performed. Upregulated gene expression was observed among cDNA transcripts screened through random primers. Seven transcripts have significant homology with known proteins (ribosomal protein, photosystem protein unit, membrane protein, and a predicted hypothetical protein). Quantitative real-time PCR showed varied levels of expression in tolerant as compared to CLCuV-diseased leaf samples. The potential candidate transcript DET1 was generated full length as GhLCVR. The deduced amino acid sequence, with a molecular mass of 16.1 kDa, contains a single open reading frame of 142 amino acids. The predicted amino acid sequence shares 33%-80% identities with Glycine max, Populus trichocarpa, Vitis vinifera, Zea mays, Ricinus communis, Arabidopsis thaliana, Picea sitchensis, Physcomitrella patens, and Staphylococcus aureus in descending order. This gene and other identified DETs could provide a valuable resource for the future improvement of cotton varieties against CLCuV infection.

Keywords: Differential display, leaf curl virus, stress tolerance

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