Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Reveal the Function of Trigonelline and Its Synthesis Gene BrNANMT in Clubroot Susceptibility of Brassica rapa.

Elevated trigonelline levels and BrNANMT gene activity increase clubroot susceptibility in Brassica rapa, with overexpression worsening disease and gene loss enhancing resistance.

• Why it matters: Understanding the molecular basis of clubroot susceptibility is crucial for developing resistant crops, as current control methods are limited and yield losses are severe.
• What they did: Metabolome and transcriptome analyses of Brassica rapa inoculated with resistant and susceptible Plasmodiophora brassicae strains identified higher trigonelline accumulation and BrNANMT activity in susceptible plants, with functional studies confirming their roles.
• The result: Findings suggest that trigonelline and BrNANMT serve as markers and targets for breeding or gene editing, enabling the development of Brassica crops with improved resistance to clubroot disease.