High-throughput gene-expression quantification of grapevine defense responses in the field using microfluidic dynamic
Marie-Cécile Dufour1, Noël Magnin2, Bernard Dumas3,4
1INRA, UMR Santé et Agroécologie du vignoble (SAVE-1065), CS 20032, ISVV, 33882, Villenave d'Ornon, CEDEX, France. dufour@bordeaux.inra.fr.
BMC Genomics
|November 24, 2016
Summary
A new microfluidic tool, NeoViGen96, efficiently monitors grapevine defense genes, aiding in developing sustainable disease management strategies against pathogens. This technology helps understand plant responses to defense inducers in vineyard conditions.
Area of Science:
- Plant Pathology
- Molecular Biology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Grapevine diseases caused by biotrophic pathogens necessitate extensive chemical fungicide use, posing environmental risks.
- Plant immune response stimulation offers an alternative strategy but requires field validation and reliable monitoring tools.
- Understanding plant defense mechanisms in natural settings is crucial for improving pest management programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel tool for profiling defense-related gene expression in grapevines under field conditions.
- To assess the efficacy and mode of action of plant defense inducers, benzothiadiazole (BTH) and fosetyl-aluminum (FOS), against downy mildew.
- To compare the performance of the developed tool with conventional methods for gene expression analysis.
Main Methods:
- Development of the NeoViGen96 chip, a microfluidic dynamic array platform for high-throughput gene expression profiling.
- Application of the NeoViGen96 chip to analyze the expression of 85 defense-related grapevine genes in response to BTH and FOS treatments in vineyards.
- Evaluation of grapevine resistance to downy mildew following treatments with BTH and FOS.
Main Results:
- The NeoViGen96 chip enabled rapid (4-hour run) and reproducible expression profiling of grapevine defense genes.
- Benzothiadiazole (BTH) treatment induced defense-related genes, including PR protein, phenylpropanoid pathway, GST, and ethylene pathway genes.
- Fosetyl-aluminum (FOS) provided better protection against downy mildew but did not significantly alter the expression of tested defense genes, suggesting a primary fungicide effect.
Conclusions:
- The NeoViGen96 chip is a highly efficient and cost-effective tool for assessing plant defense inducer effectiveness in vineyards.
- Grapevine responses to BTH in the field mirrored laboratory findings, validating the tool's reliability.
- The study suggests FOS acts mainly as a fungicide, while BTH activates plant defense mechanisms, offering insights for reduced chemical fungicide use.
