Changes in maize transcriptome in response to maize Iranian mosaic virus infection

Area of Science:

• Plant Pathology
• Molecular Biology
• Genomics

Background:

• Maize Iranian mosaic virus (MIMV) causes significant crop losses in Iran.
• The molecular mechanisms of maize response to MIMV infection, including gene expression, remain largely unknown.
• While maize genome sequencing is advanced, some transcripts lack annotation, highlighting areas for further research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the molecular host cell responses of maize to MIMV infection.
• To identify differentially expressed genes and activated pathways in maize upon MIMV challenge.
• To provide a foundation for developing novel strategies for MIMV disease management.

Main Methods:

• RNA sequencing (Illumina HiSeq 2500) was performed on MIMV-infected and mock-inoculated maize leaves.
• Transcriptomic reads were mapped to a maize reference genome for differential expression analysis.
• Gene ontology and pathway analyses were used to characterize affected biological processes, with validation by real-time quantitative PCR.

Main Results:

• Approximately 42 million clean reads were generated per treatment.
• MIMV infection led to the up-regulation of 1689 transcripts and down-regulation of 213 transcripts in maize.
• Activated pathways included immune receptor signaling, RNA silencing, hormone-mediated pathways, and metabolic processes.

Conclusions:

• MIMV infection triggers significant changes in maize gene expression and activates specific molecular pathways.
• Identified up-regulated genes include those involved in protein RCI2B, transcription factors, and stress responses.
• These findings contribute to understanding plant-virus interactions and offer potential targets for enhancing maize disease resistance.