Identification of Pathways and Candidate Genes Associated with Resistance to Ascochyta Blight in a Mutant Chickpea Variety using RNA-Seq Analysis

Chickpea is involved in biotic and abiotic stresses during its growing period. Ascochyta blight is the most significant fungal disease that causes main yield defection in chickpea. Breeding to obtain resistant cultivars is the most important method for coping with Ascochyta blight. Evaluation of the pattern of gene expression and identification of resistant genes using RNA-Seq technique provides valuable information for breeders. In present research the transcriptome profile of a C-727 as sensitive variety and CM-88 as a resistance variety were investigated. RNA extracted from the leaves of the plants under Ascochyta infection. following by preparation of depleted RNA library from rRNA. Then, sequencing was performed by illumina genome analyzer deep sequencing. An approximately 84653468 (C-727) and 97400784 (CM-88) raw reads were generated. In total, 3106 genes were determined by differential expression. From 3106 genes in CM-88, 1546 genes showed the decrease in expression and 1560 genes showed the increase in expression than C-727. After KEGG analysis, 1285 genes were recognized in 122 biological pathways. from 1285 genes, 627 and 607 genes were down and up regulated in CM-88. The results of the KEGG analysis and the pattern of expression of the genes showed that the N-Glycan biosynthesis pathway and the pathway for the synthesis of amino acid arginine and a transcription factor that induced hormones related to defense signals was enriched with enhanced expression genes consequently they may play a role in resistance to ascochyta in the varieties studied.