Metabolomic profiling of sugarcane infected with Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli, the causal agent of ratoon stunting disease
F. CASTRO-MORETTI (1), J. Cocuron (2), A. Alonso (2), L. Camargo (3) (1) Center for Applied Plant Sciences/The Ohio State University, U.S.A.; (2) Department of Molecular Genetics/The Ohio State University, U.S.A.; (3) Plant Pathology and Nematology Department/Universidade de Sao Paulo, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Brazil

Ratoon stunting disease (RSD) is a devastating disease that affects all sugarcane producing countries. The major symptoms of RSD are shorter internodes and thinner stalks that develop in ratoon plants, causing up to 80% biomass reduction depending on environmental conditions. The disease is due to Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx), a gram-positive and nutritionally fastidious bacterium that so far has been found to specifically colonize the xylem vessels of sugarcane. However, the successful early detection of this pathogen is currently the main challenge for RSD prevention. The hypothesis of this study is that host metabolic changes can be an indication of early infection by Lxx. In order to identify metabolites differentially synthesized by the host during the interaction with the bacterium, metabolomic profiling of inoculated and non-inoculated sugarcane was performed. In this analysis, metabolites extracted from leaves were analyzed by Gas and Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry. Finally, statistical analyses − Principal Component Analysis and Clustering – were performed with MetaboAnalyst to pinpoint signature metabolites of RSD. These findings will complement proteomic and transcriptomic data that have already been described in previous studies. Because the mechanisms by which the bacteria colonize the host are not fully understood, these results will provide vital information about the host metabolism response during infection.

Abstract Number: P14-418
Session Type: Poster