Unraveling Pinus massoniana’s defense mechanisms against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus under aseptic conditions: A transcriptomic analysis

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is caused by pine wood nematode (PWN, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) and significantly impacts pine forest ecosystems globally. This study focuses on Pinus massoniana, an important timber and oleoresin resource in China, and is highly susceptible to PWN. However, the defense mechanism of pine trees in response to PWN remains unclear. Addressing the complexities of PWD, influenced by diverse factors like bacteria, fungi, and environment, we established a reciprocal system between PWN and P. massoniana seedlings under aseptic conditions. Utilizing combined second and third-generation sequencing technologies, we identified 3,718 differentially expressed genes post-PWN infection. Transcript analysis highlighted the activation of defense mechanisms via stilbenes, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid pathways, terpene synthesis, and induction of pathogenesis-related proteins and resistance genes, predominantly at 72 hours post-infection. Notably, terpene synthesis pathways, particularly the mevalonate pathway, were crucial in defense, suggesting their significance in P. massoniana's response to PWN. This comprehensive transcriptome profiling offers insights into P. massoniana's intricate defense strategies against PWN under aseptic conditions laid a foundation for future functional analyses of key resistance genes.