Estimating Plasmodiophora brassicae gene expression in lines of B. rapa by RT-PCR

Clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae is one of the most damaging diseases within the Brassicaceae family. To find landmarks for specific clubroot development stages, expression of several P. brassicae genes was analyzed during the infection process in a universally susceptible Brassica rapa line (cv. Granaat, ECD 05). The results revealed that the genes Pb-YPT, Pb-Brip9 and Pb-PSA were regulated during infection of P. Brassicae, Pb-Brip9 and Pb-PSA were expressed in early stages of infection.This study provides evidence that semi-quantitative RT-PCR could be used for discriminating developmental stages of P. brassicae in B. rapa. Stage-specific gene expression of P. brassicae should be studied in B. rapa roots due to longer disease development in comparison to Arabidopsis thaliana.

► This study provides evidence that semi-quantitative RT-PCR can be used to investigate expression of Plasmodiophora brassicae genes in Brassica rapa.
► It also provides data that P. brassicae gene expression might differ among host plants.
► B. rapa appeared to be more feasible for studying expression of P. brassicae genes due to longer disease development in the root and more homogeneous developmental stages of plasmodia in comparison to Arabidopsis thaliana.