Investigation of the plant cell wall, membrane and apoplast molecular roles in the interaction Sporisorium scitamineum x sugarcane: mining altered pathways through -omics and data integration

Abstract

The smut disease is one of the most damaging to sugarcane crop with widespread occurrence, caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum, generating losses of up to 62%. Against this fungus, there are resistant, tolerant and susceptible sugarcane varieties. After infection, both plants and pathogens secrete proteins that will determine the disease progression. Pathogens secrete molecules involved with processes of infection and pathogenicity, while the plant host secretes molecules that play fundamental roles in resistance. Although the secreted molecular components play a predominant role, and recent advances have been made in the elucidation of the interaction sugarcane x S. scitamineum, molecular differences related to the cell membrane, wall and apoplast are not yet known. This project aims to generate information for the understanding of the interaction between sugarcane x S. scitamineum, detailing the modifications of the cell wall and relating them to the defense mechanisms, thus contributing to the generation of resistant varieties and new disease markers. The results will be obtained through omics: extraction and analysis of secreted proteins, analysis of specific transcripts, mining and integration of already existing and new data. The identification and functional analysis of proteins directed to the secretory pathway, as well as an integrative analysis, open up new possibilities that will contribute both to the understanding of plant metabolism and to the intrinsic responses of each variety and its resistance degree.