Early responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to infection by Verticillium longisporum

Arabidopsis thaliana roots were infected with Verticillium longisporum conidia in a sterile hydroponic culture. The phosphorylation pattern of root and shoot proteins was transiently changed within 10 min after contact with the conidia. A transient burst of NO was observed in the root area and may be a signal transferred to the shoot. When tested at 50 min after the first contact with the pathogen, the expression of 732 genes in the roots and 474 genes in the shoot (change >2 fold, p-value < 0.05) was affected. Genes related to cell wall synthesis, proteolysis and transcription were induced in the roots. Genes linked to signaling, proteolysis and defense were up-regulated.