Histological and proteomics analysis of apple defense responses to the development of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on leaves

Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc. is an important fungal pathogen known to cause glomerella leaf spot (GLS). The objective of this study was to analyze the infection of C. gloeosporioides on leaves of apple cv. Fuji (resistant) and cv. Gala (susceptible) and apply proteomics techniques to study the apple defense responses 48 h after inoculation (h.a.i.). On both of cultivars, C. gloeosporioides started to germinate at 3 h.a.i. on adaxial surface and produced appressoria adhering to epidermal cell juxtapositions. Histological analysis showed more stratified parenchyma in leaves of cv. Fuji than cv. Gala associated with differences in the chemical composition of cell walls. Total and unique proteins expressed by cvs. Fuji and Gala at 3, 12, 24 and 48 h.a.i. were detected by comparative proteomes analysis. A total of 42 unique proteins expressed at 24 and 48 h.a.i. were identified by MALDI/TOF mass spectrometry, and most of these proteins were identified as directly involved in defense responses.