cDNA-AFLP analysis revealed genes potentially implicated in Catharanthus roseus flowers during wheat blue dwarf phytoplasma infection

•Using flowers with virescence of WBD phytoplasma-infected C. roseus as the material.•Gene expression of C. roseus was analyzed by cDNA-AFLP technique.•Two genes probably involved in greenish petals were firstly uncovered.•Some defense-related proteins were identified and discussed.

Wheat blue dwarf (WBD) phytoplasma is the etiological agent associated with the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) blue dwarf disease in arid and semiarid areas of northwestern China. To understand the molecular mechanisms of the plant–phytoplasma interactions, cDNA-AFLP technique was used to identify transcriptionally regulated genes in WBD phytoplasma-infected periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). 258 reliable differentially expressed transcript derived fragments (TDFs) were obtained, and 125 fragments had putative biological functions, such as metabolism, energy, disease/defense, transcription, and so on. Eight TDFs were selected to confirm their expression patterns using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. Two genes probably related to greenish petals were firstly uncovered, four genes encoding defense-related proteins were identified during infection. This study will provide further clues to identify genes involved in symptom development and defense responses of host to phytoplasma infection.