{
  "abstract": "Background Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Cercospora beticola, is a destructive foliar disease that threatens sugar beet production worldwide. Despite its economic significance, the molecular interaction between sugar beet and C. beticola is poorly understood. Results We report integrated time-resolved transcriptomics and hormone profiling of CLS infection spanning the asymptomatic and symptomatic phases. Our data revealed broad transcriptional changes, with defense and hormone-related processes being most altered. We detected transcriptional signatures consistent with activation of pathogen-associated molecular pattern- and effector-triggered immunity, along with differential expression of genes encoding putative receptor-like kinases and receptor-like proteins as well as nucleotide-binding (NB) leucine‑rich repeat (LRR) receptors (NLRs). Defense activation was evident as early as 3 days post-inoculation (dpi), including upregulation of pathogenesis-related proteins, genes related to systemic acquired resistance, and the hypersensitive response (HR). At 7 dpi, several biological processes, including defense response, showed overall downregulation, suggesting a pathogen-mediated suppression of transcriptional responses. During the symptomatic phase, defense-related genes—particularly those associated with HR and numerous putative NLRs—were induced again, illustrating a bi-phasic regulation pattern. Cis-element enrichment analysis showed significant overrepresentation of defense-related WRKY and AT-hook motif nuclear-localized protein binding motifs within the protomers of genes upregulated from 11 to 25 dpi. Parallel quantification of major phytohormones demonstrated stage-dependent modulation of infection-related hormone groups across the infection cycle. Conclusion Our analysis revealed that a susceptible sugar beet genotype mounts an early and transient defense response against C. beticola, which appears to be pathogen-suppressed but later reactivated during symptom development. By integrating time-resolved transcriptome analysis and hormone profiling, our study links major defense transcriptional programs and phytohormone dynamics, providing a comprehensive view of sugar beet responses to CLS that complements and extends previous genotype-focused work.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Plant Pathology, Biotechnology, and Microbiology, North Dakota State University",
    "Sugarbeet Research Unit, Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Research Service"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Leonard Barnabas Ebinezer"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Mari Natwick"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Lorena I. Rangel"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Rajdeep Jaswal"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Eric Branch"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Gary Secor"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Melvin D. Bolton"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Nathan A. Wyatt"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/40d25afbjdnwb.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1186/s12870-026-09498-3",
  "fulltext_url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-09498-3",
  "id": "40d25afbjdnwb",
  "issns": [
    "1471-2229"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-09498-3",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "QK1-989"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1110|Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7171498902",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-07-01",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/40d25afbjdnwb.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:45:44Z",
      "native_id": "53bb0dece39c4ae4ac4807946f45766d",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-09498-3"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:1110|Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity",
      "subfield": "plant-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Integrated transcriptome and hormone dynamics uncover biphasic defense responses in sugar beet infected by Cercospora beticola",
  "title_text": "Integrated transcriptome and hormone dynamics uncover biphasic defense responses in sugar beet infected by Cercospora beticola",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:45:44Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/40d25afbjdnwb",
  "venue": "BMC Plant Biology",
  "versions": []
}