AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 16 (StARF16) regulates defense gene StNPR1 upon infection with necrotrophic pathogen in potato.

We demonstrate a new regulatory mechanism in the jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) mediated crosstalk in potato defense response, wherein, miR160 target StARF16 (a gene involved in growth and development) binds to the promoter of StNPR1 (a defense gene) and negatively regulates its expression to suppress the SA pathway. Overall, our study establishes the importance of StARF16 in regulation of StNPR1 during JA mediated defense response upon necrotrophic pathogen interaction. Plants employ antagonistic crosstalk between salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) to effectively defend them from pathogens.

BEL1-like protein (StBEL5) regulates CYCLING DOF FACTOR1 (StCDF1) through tandem TGAC core motifs in potato.

Tuberization in potato is governed by many intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Various molecular signals, such as red light photoreceptor (StPHYB), BEL1-like transcription factor (StBEL5), CYCLING DOF FACTOR1 (StCDF1), StCO1/2 (CONSTANS1/2) and StSP6A (Flowering Locus T orthologue), function as crucial regulators during the photoperiod-dependent tuberization pathway. StCDF1 induces tuberization by increasing StSP6A levels via StCO1/2 suppression.

MiRNA160 is associated with local defense and systemic acquired resistance against Phytophthora infestans infection in potato.

To combat pathogen infection, plants employ local defenses in infected sites and elicit systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in distant tissues. MicroRNAs have been shown to play a significant role in local defense, but their association with SAR is unknown. In addition, no such studies of the interaction between potato and Phytophthora infestans have been reported.