Sugarcane Transcript Profiling Assessed by cDNA-AFLP Analysis during the Interaction with <i>Sugarcane Mosaic Virus</i>

Abstract

Sugarcane mosaic caused by Sugarcane Mosaic Virus (SCMV) is one of the most important virus diseases of sugarcane. In the present study, changes in the transcription profile obtained by cDNA-AFLP analysis were investigated in two sugarcane varieties contrasting to SCMV resistance, when challenged with a severe virus strain. Healthy plants derived from meristem tip tissue culture were mechanically inoculated under greenhouse controlled conditions and sampled at 24, 48 and 72 hours after inoculation. A total of 392 transcript-derived fragments (TDFs) were verified in the resistant variety against 380 in the susceptible one. The two sugarcane genotypes showed differential behavior in the number of induced and repressed TDFs along the time-course samplings. Ten out of 23 sequenced TDFs (unique from the resistance variety), showed identity with known plant sequences, mostly related to plant defense mechanisms against pathogens. The cDNA-AFLP technique was effective in revealing changes in the transcription profile within and between contrasting varieties when challenged by SCMV.