Combination of iTRAQ proteomics and RNA-seq transcriptomics reveals multiple levels of regulation in phytoplasma-infected Ziziphus jujuba Mill

Jujube witches’ broom (JWB) is caused by infection with a phytoplasma. A multi-omics approach was taken during graft infection of jujube by JWB-infected scion through the analysis of the plant transcriptome, proteome and phytohormone levels. A high number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified 37 weeks after grafting (WAG), followed by observation of typical symptoms of JWB at 48 WAG. At 37 WAG, the majority of the upregulated DEGs and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were related to flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Two of the four upregulated proteins were similar to jasmonate-induced protein-like. Among the downregulated genes, the two most populated GO terms were plant–pathogen interaction and plant hormone signal transduction (mainly for tryptophan metabolism). Moreover, phytoplasma infection resulted in reduced auxin content and increased jasmonate content, indicating that auxin and jasmonic acid have important roles in regulating jujube responses during the first and second stages of phytoplasma infection. At 48 WAG, the two largest groups of upregulated genes were involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis. Both genes and proteins involved in carbon metabolism and carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms were downregulated, indicating that photosynthesis was affected by the third stage of phytoplasma infection.