Metabolome profiling to understand the defense response of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) to Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-2 IIIB

Rhizoctonia crown and root rot (RCRR), caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn AG 2-2 IIIB, is an important disease of sugar beet. While RCRR can be managed by agronomic practices, plant resistance remains the primary method for control. However, the molecular processes that mediate resistance to R. solani are largely unknown. The metabolic changes that occurred during susceptible and resistant R. solani interactions were compared and characterized using nontargeted metabolomic profiling. Metabolites from infected and healthy, root and leaf tissue, were taken at 0 and 7 dai and detected using reversed-phase UHPLC-MS and GC-MS. There was a clear distinction in the metabolome between tissue type and genotype, and in response to R. solani. 143 compounds were annotated and several metabolites associated with plant defense to fungi were identified in both germplasm. Published by Elsevier Ltd.