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

Trigonelline accumulation and BrNANMT gene expression are linked to increased clubroot susceptibility in Brassica rapa.

• Why it matters: Understanding the molecular basis of clubroot susceptibility can help develop resistant Brassica crops, addressing significant yield losses caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae.
• What they did: Metabolome and transcriptome analyses of infected Brassica rapa lines identified higher trigonelline levels in susceptible plants, with functional studies showing that overexpression of BrNANMT increases susceptibility, while its loss enhances resistance.
• The result: These findings suggest trigonelline and BrNANMT as markers and targets for breeding or gene editing strategies to improve clubroot resistance in Brassica crops.