Dynamics of defense-related genes expression in shallot after UV-B-induced resistance against Fusarium acutatum showed time difference

Abstract

The impact of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on the activation of key defense-related genes in shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum) is necessary to be investigated. The key resistance genes, i.e. Lipoxygenase 2 (LOX-2), Pathogenesis-related (PR), Peroxidase (PERX), Chitinase (CHIT), and Glucanase (GLU), were monitored at different time and linking them to plant defense pathways like salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) pathway and UV-B perception responses. We compared the response of UV-B exposure under intensity of 0,25 W/m² for 30 and 150 min. Our results showed increasing the expression levels of LOX-2, PR, PERX, CHIT and GLU in 150 min, while the incidence and intensity of F. acutatum infection was also suppressed when the duration was applied 3 times at night. The UV-B induced resistance is shown to prioritize JA production on the fifth day than SA, however SA accumulation also increased after the treatment. This study provides a novel insight that UV-B induced resistance against F. acutatum infection in shallot by activating key-defense genes and signal transduction pathways in different time which shows a dynamic defense mechanism. These findings underscore the potential of UV-B treatments as an eco-friendly approach to enhance crop resilience and reduce dependence on chemical pesticides in sustainable agriculture.