Avaliação da expressão de genes do fungo >i<Sporisorium scitamineum>/i< durante a interação com plantas de cana-energia com diferentes níveis de resistência ao carvão

Gene expression evaluation of the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum genes during interaction with energy cane plants with different levels of resistance to smut diseaseSugarcane (Saccharum spp.) represents a crop of world importance and has been genetically improved by several programs and in many ways due to its versatility of use.This plant was primarily used for the production of sugar and considering the proposal to use more sustainable energy sources, the "energy cane" has been developed with a higher fiber content, biomass and robustness, attributes for the production of cellulosic ethanol.In addition, energy cane withstands conditions of water and nutrient scarcity, and can be cultivated in places with lower agricultural suitability.One of the factors that affect crop productivity is the incidence of diseases.The disease called "sugarcane smut" caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum is considered one of the most important and occurs in almost all sugarcane producing countries in the world.Its severity varies widely, from negligible proportions to serious losses.Resistance to this disease stands out as a key attribute in the selection of new energy cane cultivars in genetic improvement programs.The present study reviewed the smut disease introducing aspects of the pathogen, the host plant and the interaction between both.It also presented an analysis of selected genes of the pathogen in terms of expression during the initial time of infection of energy cane varieties with contrasting disease susceptibility profiles.Variations in the expression pattern were observed among the set of selected genes that reflect their performance and importance for the phytopathological dynamics.The results obtained in this work can contribute to the expansion of knowledge about the interaction of the pathogen with energy cane and to promote new studies about the mechanisms of susceptibility/resistance and virulence, serving as a basis for decision-making in genetic improvement programs .