Differentially expressed gene transcripts related to the Cf-19-mediated resistance response to Cladosporium fulvum infection in tomato

Tomato leaf mold is an important disease caused by Cladosporium fulvum. The Cf-19 gene, which has been shown to confer resistance to this disease in the field, can serve as a new candidate gene in breeding, but the lack of understanding about this gene restricts its application. In this study, we utilized the cDNA-AFLP technique combined with bulk segregant analysis (BSA) to isolate tomato genes related to the Cf-19-mediated resistance response. Twenty-six differentially expressed transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) were successfully isolated based on four expression patterns. Expression patterns of six TDFs were further investigated by qRT-PCR, and the results were consistent with the results of the cDNA-AFLP analysis. Most of the genes detected by transcript profiling of the Cf-19-mediated defense response showed similar expression patterns in the Cf-4 and Cf-9-mediated defense responses. Two genes, SAMDC (TDF35) and Eli3 (TDF49), were first detected in the Cf/Avr interaction. TDF16 showed similarity with a receptor-like protein and the gene cluster Hcr9 where Cf-4 and Cf-9 were located. The genes detected in this study may play important roles in Cf-19-mediated resistance response.