Deconstructing the Molecular Events Triggered by Potassium Phosphite in Potato Plants

GUZZO MC; FELDMAN ML; DI RIENZO J; TEN HAVE A; MACHINANDIARENA MF; DALEO GR; CALDIZ DO; ANDREU AB

Edimburgo

Congreso; 8th World Potato Congress; 2012

In Argentina and other regions of the world, potato production is not possible without fungicides. Their use not only increase production costs but also generates environmental and health damage. Therefore, the search for alternative substances which protect plants against pathogens has increased. Among them, the use of phosphites, low-toxicity compounds, has emerged. Previous results in our lab, have shown that potato plants from phosphite-treated seed tubers has increased the resistance against pathogens. Additionally, they promoted early emergency and tuber initiation, and they increased the stem number and number of tubers per plant. A protective effect against pathogens was also observed in phophite-treated potato leaves. Taken together, these results suggest that phosphites act both increasing plant defense responses and crop yield. However it remains unknown how they act at molecular level. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these responses, the aim of the present work was to study the differential gene expression in Potassium Phosphite (KPhi) treated potato leaves by microarray analysis. This analysis has shown the differential expression of 181 genes. Among them, 69 were upregulated in treated plants and classified in different groups according to the FunCat method. These genes shown to be involved in primary and secondary metabolism, information pathways and perception and responses to stimuli. A comprehensive analysis of the induced genes might lead to a better understanding of the molecular processes involved in KPhi beneficial effects and to the development of strategies for engineering novel traits for disease resistance and crop improvement in potato.