Differentially regulated genes in Solanum tuberosum in response to “Mexican potato purple top phytoplasma” infection

Potato plants infected by phytoplasmas exhibit an array of symptoms that suggest interference within the normal balance of plant metabolism. Suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), macroarray screening and real-time PCR were performed to identify differentially expressed genes in phytoplasma-infected in vitro potato plants. Gene expression analysis revealed the up-regulation of genes involved in several metabolic pathways, including ERF, WRKY, HSP90, SAP6, AN1-like ZFP, and an unknown protein; the down-regulation of genes encoding monodehydroascorbate reductase and a putative membrane protein was also observed. The results presented here provide the groundwork for addressing new questions to better understand the phytoplasma–plant interaction.

► We identify differentially expressed genes in MPPTP infected in vitro potato plants.
► MPPTP alters expression of genes involved in several metabolic pathways.
► Our results showed up regulation of genes ERF, WRKY, HSP90, SAP6, AN1-like ZFPs.