Gene expression analysis of host–pathogen interaction between wheat and Fusarium graminearum

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium species is a devastating disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) worldwide. Mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) produced by Fusarium graminearum negatively affect plant and animal health, and cause significant reductions in grain quantity and quality. Resistant cultivars are the only effective way to control this disease; however, the molecular mechanisms of defense resistance are still unclear. To get a clear insight, transcriptional profiling of some subtracted differentially expressed host genes and some fungal expressed genes were carried out for the Sumai 3 wheat cultivar (resistant) and Caledonia (susceptible) at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 144 h post inoculation (hpi) using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). We document in this study the gene patterns of eight up-regulated host clones with significant matches to T. aestivum database and seven fungal clones with significant matches to F. graminearum sequences.