Korean Journal of Mycology (Kor. J. Mycol.)
Indexed in SCOPUS, KCI, DOAJ
OPEN ACCESS, PEER REVIEWED
pISSN 0253-651X
eISSN 2383-5249
RESEARCH NOTE

Early RLK–Calcium–Ethylene Defense Signature in Oak at 30 hours Post Powdery Mildew Inoculation

1RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Department of Biology, Kaiserslautern 67663, Germany
2Genomics & Transcriptomics Labor (BMFZ), Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
3Research Institute for Forest Ecology and Forestry Rheinland-Pfalz, Trippstadt 67705, Germany

*Correspondence to saeed@rptu.de

Korean Journal of Mycology (Kor J Mycol) 2026 March, Volume 54, Issue 1, pages 11-17.
https://doi.org/10.4489/kjm.2026.54.1.2
Received on November 19, 2025, Revised on February 02, 2026, Accepted on March 11, 2026, Published on March 31, 2026.
Copyright © The Korean Society of Mycology.
This is an Open Access article which is freely available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

ABSTRACT

Powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe alphitoides is a persistent constraint on European oaks, yet the host responses in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) that determine susceptibility or resistance remain poorly understood. We profiled transcriptomic changes at 30 hours post-inoculation in detached Q. robur leaves using RNA-seq, identifying 195 up- and 40 down-regulated genes. Up-regulated transcripts included receptor-like kinases (RLKs), ethylene-responsive factor (ERF)/ethylene components, calmodulin-like (CML) sensors, germin-like proteins, peroxidases, and phenylpropanoid pathway enzymes. Gene Ontology enrichment highlighted defense response and response to biotic stimulus, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes indicated plant–pathogen interaction. RT-qPCR experiments confirmed ERF017, mUCP5, CML37-like, and one of two CML19 prime targets. These data indicate the induction of RLK-linked, Ca2+/CML- and ethylene-associated defense response during early powdery mildew infection and suggest targeted time-course and functional tests of RLK/CML candidates.

Keywords

Calmodulin-like protein, Erysiphe alphitoides, ethylene, Quercus robur, RNA-seq

INTRODUCTION

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CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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REFERENCES

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