Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42919188›Full record

ArticleBMC plant biology2026

Integrated transcriptome and hormone dynamics uncover biphasic defense responses in sugar beet infected by Cercospora beticola.

Leonard Barnabas Ebinezer, Mari Natwick, Lorena I Rangel, Rajdeep Jaswal, Eric Branch, Gary Secor, Melvin D Bolton, Nathan A Wyatt

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Article in BMC plant biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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8 authors.

Leonard Barnabas EbinezerDepartment of Plant Pathology, Biotechnology, and Microbiology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, U.S.A.
Mari NatwickDepartment of Plant Pathology, Biotechnology, and Microbiology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, U.S.A.
Lorena I RangelSugarbeet Research Unit, Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Research Service, Fargo, ND, U.S.A.
Rajdeep JaswalDepartment of Plant Pathology, Biotechnology, and Microbiology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, U.S.A.
Eric BranchDepartment of Plant Pathology, Biotechnology, and Microbiology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, U.S.A.
Gary SecorDepartment of Plant Pathology, Biotechnology, and Microbiology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, U.S.A.
Melvin D BoltonDepartment of Plant Pathology, Biotechnology, and Microbiology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, U.S.A.. melvin.bolton@usda.gov.
Nathan A WyattDepartment of Plant Pathology, Biotechnology, and Microbiology, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, U.S.A.. nathan.wyatt@usda.gov.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8048-2027

Funding

USDA In-House Appropriated Project 3060-21000-045-000D
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Cercospora beticola, is a destructive foliar disease that threatens sugar beet production worldwide. Despite its economic significance, the molecular interaction between sugar beet and C. beticola is poorly understood.

resultsWe report integrated time-resolved transcriptomics and hormone profiling of CLS infection spanning the asymptomatic and symptomatic phases. Our data revealed broad transcriptional changes, with defense and hormone-related processes being most altered. We detected transcriptional signatures consistent with activation of pathogen-associated molecular pattern- and effector-triggered immunity, along with differential expression of genes encoding putative receptor-like kinases and receptor-like proteins as well as nucleotide-binding (NB) leucine‑rich repeat (LRR) receptors (NLRs). Defense activation was evident as early as 3 days post-inoculation (dpi), including upregulation of pathogenesis-related proteins, genes related to systemic acquired resistance, and the hypersensitive response (HR). At 7 dpi, several biological processes, including defense response, showed overall downregulation, suggesting a pathogen-mediated suppression of transcriptional responses. During the symptomatic phase, defense-related genes-particularly those associated with HR and numerous putative NLRs-were induced again, illustrating a bi-phasic regulation pattern. Cis-element enrichment analysis showed significant overrepresentation of defense-related WRKY and AT-hook motif nuclear-localized protein binding motifs within the protomers of genes upregulated from 11 to 25 dpi. Parallel quantification of major phytohormones demonstrated stage-dependent modulation of infection-related hormone groups across the infection cycle.

conclusionOur analysis revealed that a susceptible sugar beet genotype mounts an early and transient defense response against C. beticola, which appears to be pathogen-suppressed but later reactivated during symptom development. By integrating time-resolved transcriptome analysis and hormone profiling, our study links major defense transcriptional programs and phytohormone dynamics, providing a comprehensive view of sugar beet responses to CLS that complements and extends previous genotype-focused work.

Indexed as

Beta vulgarisCercosporaPlant DiseasesPlant Growth RegulatorsTranscriptomeGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression Regulation, PlantHost-Pathogen InteractionsPlant ProteinsPlant Growth RegulatorsPlant ProteinsCercospora beticolaCercospora leaf spotPhytohormonesPlant-pathogen interactionSugar beetTranscriptomics

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.