Systematic Analysis and Functional Validation of Citrus Pectin Acetylesterases (CsPAEs) Reveals that CsPAE2 Negatively Regulates Citrus Bacterial Canker Development

The present study was designed to serve as a comprehensive analysis of Citrus sinensis (C. sinensis) pectin acetylesterases (CsPAEs), and to assess the roles of these PAEs involved in the development of citrus bacterial canker (CBC) caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc) infection. A total of six CsPAEs were identified in the genome of C. sinensis, with these genes being unevenly distributed across chromosomes 3, 6, and 9, and the unassembled scaffolds. A subset of CsPAEs were found to be involved in responses to Xcc infection. In particular, CsPAE2 was identified to be associated with such infections, as it was upregulated in CBC-susceptible variety Wanjincheng and inversely in CBC-resistant variety Calamondin. Transgenic citrus plants overexpressing CsPAE2 were found to be more susceptible to CBC, whereas the silencing of this gene was sufficient to confer CBC resistance. Together, these findings provide evolutionary insights into and functional information about the CsPAE family. This study also suggests that CsPAE2 is a potential candidate gene that negatively contributes to bacterial canker disease and can be used to breed CBC-resistant citrus plants.