The Pathogen and Wound Induces Expression of Genes Related to Proanthocyanidins (PAs) Synthesis in Cotton Leaves

Abstract

Responses to biotic and abiotic stress have been extensively studied in plants. In the current proteomic study, the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings were infected with Verticillium dahliae by root-dip inoculation using suspension of fungal conidia. The different proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional gel elactrophoresis (2-DE), and flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) showed a significantly up-regulation in cotton leaf after V. dahliae infection. Further research revealed F3H and the downstream genes of F3H in proanthocyanidins (PAs) biosynthesis were also significantly induced and showed coordinate expression patterns during wounding. The results indicate that PAs in cotton act an important role in response to infection V. dahliae and wounding.