(300-87) Investigating the potential of silicon in ameliorating clubroot symptoms in canola and its associated mechanisms using ‘omics’- based approach
Graduate Student, Ph.D. Candidate University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Body of Abstract: Clubroot disease caused by the soil-borne protist, Plasmodiophora brassicae, is a significant threat to canola production globally, resulting in 10-15% yield losses. Clubroot management faces challenges due to pathotype shifts and an integrated disease management strategy is essential for its control. Silicon (Si), an abundantly available element, is known to mitigate abiotic stresses and is also known to afford resistance to phytopathogens. However, there are no reports of Si in ameliorating clubroot symptoms in canola. We observed that the application of Si (0.5, 0.75 &1.0 g) reduced clubroot symptoms and improved plant growth parameters. We further investigated the P. brassicae-induced gene expression and endogenous phytohormone and metabolite profiles altered due to the application of 0.5 g and 1.0 g of Si using an ‘omics’ approach. Our findings led to the identification of several differentially expressed transcripts related to phytohormone biosynthesis and signaling, nitrogen metabolism as well as secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Endogenous levels of phytohormones (e.g., auxin, cytokinin), a majority of the amino acids, and secondary metabolites (e.g., glucosinolates) were also increased at 7 dpi, followed by a decrease at 14- and 21-dpi as a result of Si-treatment. Stress hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and jasmonic acid (JA) were also decreased at the later time points in the Si-treated plants. In conclusion, our results suggest that Si promotes plant growth and development even in the presence of the clubroot pathogen by modulating various metabolic pathways including those associated with nitrogen metabolism and secondary metabolite biosynthesis