Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1
Plant Protection Department, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
2
Department of Agroecology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Darab, Shiraz University, Shiraz,, Iran
3
Plant Protection Research Department, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO), Darab, Iran.
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC), is one of the most destructive diseases of wheat in warm and humid regions, particularly when anthesis coincides with heavy rainfall. This study aimed to systematically analyze time-series microarray data to identify co-expression modules, key hub genes, and elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying wheat's response to FGSC. Gene expression data from two FHB-resistant wheat cultivars, Nyubai and Wuhan 1, were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. After normalization, batch effects were removed using the ComBat algorithm. Through Gene Correlation Network Analysis (GCNA), 850 genes with significant condition × time interaction (FDR < 0.05) were identified and clustered into two distinct modules containing 448 and 402 genes, respectively, based on stress expression patterns using the k-means algorithm. For each cluster, ten hub genes with the highest connectivity were selected. Cluster 1, characterized by activation of ABC transporters, glutathione metabolism, and MAPK signaling pathways, plays a crucial role in direct defense through chitinase, glucanase, and protease inhibitor genes. Cluster 2 mediates secondary defense responses via kinase and glucosidase genes through involvement in hormonal and systemic signaling pathways. Validation using an independent RNA-Seq dataset confirmed the reliability of these results. These results provide valuable insights into wheat defense mechanisms against FHB and offer candidate genes for future functional studies and resistance marker development.
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