Identification of differentially expressed genes between Sclerotinia-resistant and its near-isogenic susceptible lines of Brassica napus infected with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

The gene-expression profiles between the Sclerotinia-resistant and its nearisogenic susceptible rapeseed lines(Brassica napus) infected with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were examined by microarray analysis. 102 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were successfully identified, including genes highly related to pathogen resistance. Among these DEGs, 46 were up-regulated and 56 were down-regulated. To verify the reliability of microarray, 2 up-regulated genes(NM＿130355 and NM＿126666) and 1 down-regulated gene(NM＿100191) were chosen and their expression level were detected by real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR analysis(RT-PCR). Subsequently, the 102 DEGs were GO(gene ontology) annotated, and to be classified into 22 categories, including enzymes,binding proteins, transcription factors, and proteins with unknown functions. Further subcellular localization prediction demonstrated that these DEGs might be located in/on intracellular region, cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplasts and mitochondria. The analysis of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathways revealed that 10 DEGs were participated in several known biological pathways, including lysine biosynthesis, sulfur assimilation, cysteine metabolism, carotenoid biosynthesis, glyoxylic acid and oxalic acid metabolism etc. Taken together, the preliminary results would provide important information for exploring the molecular basis of Sclerotinia-resistance in Brassica napus.