This study integrated 13 transcriptomic datasets, representing seven major Southeast Asian crops (banana, rice, wheat, garlic, chickpea, tomato, and common bean) challenged by six Fusarium lineages to identify conserved resistance mechanisms. Harmonizing gene expression profiles into six functional defense modules was successful before evaluation using a diversity-weighted recurrence approach. A conserved defense core’s identification consisted of salicylic acid-jasmonic acid (SA-JA) signaling (score = 11.5), phenylpropanoid-lignin metabolism (10.0), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification (9.5), consistently enriched in resistant interactions. These modules coordinated key regulatory genes, including WRKY, ERF, MYB, and NPR1, together with downstream defense effectors involved in lignification, antioxidant activity, and pathogenesis-related responses. Additional contributions from RNA interference and cell wall-apoplast remodeling indicated adaptive, context-dependent defense layers operating across specific host-pathogen systems. Based on cross-system recurrence patterns, NPR1, WRKY33/70, ERF071, PAL, SOD, and PR genes emerged as promising candidate markers for resistance breeding. This study provides the first cross-crop meta-transcriptomic synthesis of Fusarium resistance in Southeast Asian cropping systems and establishes a conserved defense framework with potential applications in marker-assisted breeding and transcript-based diagnostics.
Fusarium disease, crop improvement, plant resistance, defense modules, marker-assisted breeding, meta-transcriptomic
Meta-transcriptomic integration across the seven main crops revealed a conserved Fusarium resistance framework in Southeast Asia. A core triad—SA-JA signaling, phenylpropanoid-lignin metabolism, and ROS detoxification—dominates the resistant responses. Central gene families (NPR1, WRKY, ERF, MYB, PAL, and PR) act as key regulatory nodes. A robust candidate marker panel could support marker-assisted breeding and transcript-based diagnostics.