Transcriptomic analysis reveals root metabolic alteration and induction of huanglongbing resistance by sulphonamide antibiotics in huanglongbing-affected citrus plants

Abstract

Huanglongbing (HLB) is a devastating disease that affects the entire citrus plant, including the root system. Previous studies have shown that sulphonamide antibiotics can suppress titres of the pathogen that causes HLB, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CLas), and affect root morphology in the plant through unknown mechanisms. To better understand the response of CLas-infected roots to sulphonamide antibiotics, hydroponic cultures of CLas-infected citrus roots were treated with sulfadimethoxine sodium (SDX), indole butyric acid (IBA), or water for 60 days to evaluate root metabolism and resistance against CLas via transcriptomic analysis. This study indicated that SDX and IBA treatments increased active root surface area in HLB-affected citrus, which may be due to root hair and lateral root growth. CLas titres in HLB-affected citrus roots treated with SDX were lower than those of IBA and control treatments. Function categorization indicated that plant hormone signal transduction and plant–pathogen interaction were the most markedly enriched pathways in the HLB-affected citrus root after SDX treatment. The expression of genes involved in biosynthesis of auxin and ethylene, which are related to root hair and lateral root growth, were up-regulated by SDX. Moreover, SDX also induced genes related to the metabolism of jasmonates, brassinosteroids, reactive oxygen species, and secondary metabolites, which are beneficial for resistance against HLB. In conclusion, we propose a model for SDX in regulating metabolic pathways in the root and resistance against CLas in HLB-affected citrus root, which is beneficial for recovering an HLB-affected citrus root system and combating CLas.