Black pepper is an important commodity crop in Malaysia that generates millions of annual revenue for the country. However, black pepper yield is affected by slow decline disease caused by a soil-borne fungus Fusarium solani. RNA sequencing transcriptomics approach has been employed in this study to explore the differential gene expression in susceptible Piper nigrum L. and resistant Piper colubrinum Link. Gene expression comparative analysis of the two pepper species has yielded 2,361 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Among them, higher expression of 1,426 DEGs was detected in resistant plant. These DEGs practically demonstrated the major branches of plant-pathogen interaction pathway (Path: ko04626). We selected five groups of defence-related DEGs for downstream qRT-PCR analysis. Cf-9, the gene responsible for recognizing fungal avirulence protein activity was found inexpressible in susceptible plant. However, this gene exhibited promising expression in resistant plant. Inactivation of Cf-9 could be the factor that causes susceptible plant fail in recognition of F. solani and subsequently delay activation of adaptive response to fungal invasion. This vital study advance the understanding of pepper plant defence in response to F. solani and aid in identifying potential solution to manage slow decline disease in black pepper cultivation.

中文翻译：

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辣椒植物的转录组学分析提供了对寄主对茄镰刀菌侵染的响应的见解。

黑胡椒是马来西亚重要的商品作物，为该国创造了数百万的年收入。但是，黑胡椒的产量受土壤传播的真菌枯萎镰刀菌引起的慢衰病的影响。RNA测序转录组学方法已用于本研究中，以探讨易感Piper nigrum L.和耐药Piper colubrinum Link中差异基因的表达。两种辣椒的基因表达比较分析已产生2,361个差异表达基因（DEG）。其中，在抗性植物中检测到1,426个DEG的较高表达。这些DEG实际上证明了植物-病原体相互作用途径的主要分支（路径：ko04626）。我们选择了五组与国防相关的DEG进行下游qRT-PCR分析。Cf-9，在敏感植物中发现负责真菌无毒蛋白活性识别的基因无法表达。然而，该基因在抗性植物中表现出有希望的表达。Cf-9的失活可能是导致易感植物无法识别F. solani并随后延迟对真菌入侵的适应性反应的激活的因素。这项重要的研究提高了人们对辣椒对茄子的抗性的认识，并有助于确定潜在的解决方案来管理黑胡椒种植中的慢衰病。solani和随后延迟对真菌侵袭的适应性反应的激活。这项重要的研究提高了人们对辣椒对茄子防御能力的理解，并有助于确定潜在的解决方案来管理黑胡椒栽培中的慢衰病。solani和随后延迟对真菌侵袭的适应性反应的激活。这项重要的研究提高了人们对辣椒对茄子的抗性的认识，并有助于确定潜在的解决方案来管理黑胡椒种植中的慢衰病。