Background: Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is the
most devastating disease in peanut. Planting resistant peanut cultivars
is deemed as the sole economically viable means for effective control
of the disease. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying
resistance and facilitate breeding process, differences in gene
expression between seeds of Rihua 1 (a Virginia type peanut variety
resistant to bacterial wilt) inoculated with the bacterial pathogen
suspension (109 cfu ml-1) and seeds of the same cultivar treated with
water (control), were studied using the GenefishingTM technology.
Results: A total of 25 differentially expressed genes were isolated.
Expression of genes encoding cyclophilin and ADP-ribosylation factor,
respectively, were further studied by real time RTPCR, and full length
cDNAs of both genes were obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends.
Conclusions: The study provided candidate genes potentially useful for
breeding peanut cultivars with both high yield and bacterial wilt
resistance, although confirmation of their functions through transgenic
studies is still needed