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Gressel J, Mbogo P, Kanampiu F, Christou P. Maize yields have stagnated in sub-Sahara Africa: a possible transgenic solution to weed, pathogen and insect constraints. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:4156-4162. [PMID: 38843468 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Despite major breeding efforts by various national and international agencies, yields for the ~40 million hectares of maize, the major food crop in sub-Saharan Africa, have stagnated at <2 tons/ha/year for the past decade, one-third the global average. Breeders have succeeded in breeding increased yield with a modicum of tolerance to some single-weed or pathogen stresses. There has been minimal adoption of these varieties because introgressing polygenic yield and tolerance traits into locally adapted material is very challenging. Multiple traits to deal with pests (weeds, pathogens, and insects) are needed for farmer acceptance, because African fields typically encounter multiple pest constraints. Also, maize has no inherent resistance to some of these pest constraints, rendering them intractable to traditional breeding. The proposed solution is to simultaneously engineer multiple traits into one genetic locus. The dominantly inherited multi-pest resistance trait single locus can be bred simply into locally adapted, elite high-yielding material, and would be valuable for farmers, vastly increasing maize yields, and allowing for more than regional maize sufficiency. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Gressel
- Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | | | - Paul Christou
- University of Lleida & Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Lleida, Spain
- ICREA, Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain
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2
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Chen X, Liu C, Wang H, Liu Q, Yue Y, Duan Y, Wang Z, Zheng L, Chen X, Wang Y, Huang J, Xu Q, Pan Y. Ustilaginoidea virens-secreted effector Uv1809 suppresses rice immunity by enhancing OsSRT2-mediated histone deacetylation. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 22:148-164. [PMID: 37715970 PMCID: PMC10754013 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Rice false smut caused by Ustilaginoidea virens is a devastating rice (Oryza sativa) disease worldwide. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying U. virens-rice interactions are largely unknown. In this study, we identified a secreted protein, Uv1809, as a key virulence factor. Heterologous expression of Uv1809 in rice enhanced susceptibility to rice false smut and bacterial blight. Host-induced gene silencing of Uv1809 in rice enhanced resistance to U. virens, suggesting that Uv1809 inhibits rice immunity and promotes infection by U. virens. Uv1809 suppresses rice immunity by targeting and enhancing rice histone deacetylase OsSRT2-mediated histone deacetylation, thereby reducing H4K5ac and H4K8ac levels and interfering with the transcriptional activation of defence genes. CRISPR-Cas9 edited ossrt2 mutants showed no adverse effects in terms of growth and yield but displayed broad-spectrum resistance to rice pathogens, revealing a potentially valuable genetic resource for breeding disease resistance. Our study provides insight into defence mechanisms against plant pathogens that inactivate plant immunity at the epigenetic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Chen
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest ManagementAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Chen Liu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest ManagementAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Hailin Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest ManagementAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Qi Liu
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest ManagementAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Yaping Yue
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yuhang Duan
- The Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei ProvinceHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Zhaoyun Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest ManagementAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
| | - Lu Zheng
- The Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei ProvinceHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Xiaolin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yaohui Wang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest ManagementAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Junbin Huang
- The Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei ProvinceHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Qiutao Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic ImprovementHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yuemin Pan
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Crop Integrated Pest ManagementAnhui Agricultural UniversityHefeiChina
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3
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Moonjely S, Ebert M, Paton-Glassbrook D, Noel ZA, Roze L, Shay R, Watkins T, Trail F. Update on the state of research to manage Fusarium head blight. Fungal Genet Biol 2023; 169:103829. [PMID: 37666446 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2023.103829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most devastating diseases of cereal crops, causing severe reduction in yield and quality of grain worldwide. In the United States, the major causal agent of FHB is the mycotoxigenic fungus, Fusarium graminearum. The contamination of grain with mycotoxins, including deoxynivalenol and zearalenone, is a particularly serious concern due to its impact on the health of humans and livestock. For the past few decades, multidisciplinary studies have been conducted on management strategies designed to reduce the losses caused by FHB. However, effective management is still challenging due to the emergence of fungicide-tolerant strains of F. graminearum and the lack of highly resistant wheat and barley cultivars. This review presents multidisciplinary approaches that incorporate advances in genomics, genetic-engineering, new fungicide chemistries, applied biocontrol, and consideration of the disease cycle for management of FHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumya Moonjely
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Malaika Ebert
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Drew Paton-Glassbrook
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA; Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Zachary A Noel
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Ludmila Roze
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Rebecca Shay
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Tara Watkins
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA; Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA
| | - Frances Trail
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA; Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA.
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4
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McRae AG, Taneja J, Yee K, Shi X, Haridas S, LaButti K, Singan V, Grigoriev IV, Wildermuth MC. Spray-induced gene silencing to identify powdery mildew gene targets and processes for powdery mildew control. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2023; 24:1168-1183. [PMID: 37340595 PMCID: PMC10423327 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) is an emerging tool for crop pest protection. It utilizes exogenously applied double-stranded RNA to specifically reduce pest target gene expression using endogenous RNA interference machinery. In this study, SIGS methods were developed and optimized for powdery mildew fungi, which are widespread obligate biotrophic fungi that infect agricultural crops, using the known azole-fungicide target cytochrome P450 51 (CYP51) in the Golovinomyces orontii-Arabidopsis thaliana pathosystem. Additional screening resulted in the identification of conserved gene targets and processes important to powdery mildew proliferation: apoptosis-antagonizing transcription factor in essential cellular metabolism and stress response; lipid catabolism genes lipase a, lipase 1, and acetyl-CoA oxidase in energy production; and genes involved in manipulation of the plant host via abscisic acid metabolism (9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase, xanthoxin dehydrogenase, and a putative abscisic acid G-protein coupled receptor) and secretion of the effector protein, effector candidate 2. Powdery mildew is the dominant disease impacting grapes and extensive powdery mildew resistance to applied fungicides has been reported. We therefore developed SIGS for the Erysiphe necator-Vitis vinifera system and tested six successful targets identified using the G. orontii-A. thaliana system. For all targets tested, a similar reduction in powdery mildew disease was observed between systems. This indicates screening of broadly conserved targets in the G. orontii-A. thaliana pathosystem identifies targets and processes for the successful control of other powdery mildew fungi. The efficacy of SIGS on powdery mildew fungi makes SIGS an exciting prospect for commercial powdery mildew control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda G. McRae
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jyoti Taneja
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kathleen Yee
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Xinyi Shi
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sajeet Haridas
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome InstituteLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kurt LaButti
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome InstituteLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Vasanth Singan
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome InstituteLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Igor V. Grigoriev
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome InstituteLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Mary C. Wildermuth
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
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Kleber A, Gruber-Dorninger C, Platzer A, Payet C, Novak B. Effect of Fungicide Treatment on Multi-Mycotoxin Occurrence in French Wheat during a 4-Year Period. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:443. [PMID: 37505712 PMCID: PMC10467151 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15070443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Wheat represents one of the most widely consumed cereals worldwide. Cultivated in winter and spring, it is vulnerable to an array of different pathogens, including fungi, which are managed largely through the in-field application of fungicides. During this study, a 4-year field investigation (2018-2021) was performed in France, aiming to assess the efficacy of fungicide treatment to reduce mycotoxin contamination in common and durum wheat. Several different commercially available fungicides were applied via sprayers. Concentrations of mycotoxins and fungal metabolites in wheat were determined using a multi-analyte liquid-chromatography-tandem-mass-spectrometry-based method. The highest contamination levels and strongest effects of fungicides were observed in 2018, followed by 2021. A significant fungicide-mediated reduction was observed for the trichothecenes deoxynivalenol, deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside, nivalenol, and nivalenol-3-glucoside. Furthermore, fungicide treatment also reduced levels of culmorin and its hydroxy metabolites 5- and 15-hydroxy-culmorin, as well as aurofusarin. Interestingly, the Alternaria metabolite infectopyron was increased following fungicide treatment. In conclusion, fungicide treatment was effective in reducing mycotoxin levels in wheat. However, as complete prevention of mycotoxin contamination was not achieved, fungicide treatment should always be combined with other pre- and post-harvest mycotoxin mitigation strategies to improve food and feed safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Kleber
- DSM-BIOMIN Research Center, 3430 Tulln, Austria; (C.G.-D.); (A.P.); (B.N.)
| | | | - Alexander Platzer
- DSM-BIOMIN Research Center, 3430 Tulln, Austria; (C.G.-D.); (A.P.); (B.N.)
| | | | - Barbara Novak
- DSM-BIOMIN Research Center, 3430 Tulln, Austria; (C.G.-D.); (A.P.); (B.N.)
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Ghosh S, Patra S, Ray S. A Combinatorial Nanobased Spray-Induced Gene Silencing Technique for Crop Protection and Improvement. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:22345-22351. [PMID: 37396279 PMCID: PMC10308407 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Recent research reports have shown that plant pests and pathogens have depleted the crop yield widely, which has led to an increased dependence on commercial pesticides and fungicides. Increased usage of these pesticides has also shown adverse effects on the environment, therefore many techniques have been implemented for solving the issue, some of which include using nanobioconjugates, RNA(i), which put into use double-stranded RNAs to inhibit gene expression. A more innovative and eco-friendly strategy includes spray induced gene silencing, which is being increasingly implemented. This review delves into the eco-friendly approach of spray induced gene silencing (SIGS) in combination with nanobioconjugates, which have been used concerning various plant hosts and their pathogens to provide improved protection. Furthermore, nanotechnological advancements have been understood by addressing the scientific gaps to provide a rationale for the development of updated techniques in crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snigdha Ghosh
- Amity
Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University,
Kolkata, Plot No: 36, 37, and 38 Major Arterial Road, Action Area II, Kadampukur
Village, Rajarhat, Newtown, Kolkata, West Bengal-700135, India
| | - Snehanjana Patra
- Amity
Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University,
Kolkata, Plot No: 36, 37, and 38 Major Arterial Road, Action Area II, Kadampukur
Village, Rajarhat, Newtown, Kolkata, West Bengal-700135, India
| | - Sarmistha Ray
- Amity
Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University,
Kolkata, Plot No: 36, 37, and 38 Major Arterial Road, Action Area II, Kadampukur
Village, Rajarhat, Newtown, Kolkata, West Bengal-700135, India
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7
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Tiwari RK, Lal MK, Kumar R, Sharma S, Sagar V, Kumar A, Singh B, Aggarwal R. Impact of Fusarium Infection on Potato Quality, Starch Digestibility, In Vitro Glycemic Response, and Resistant Starch Content. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9040466. [PMID: 37108920 PMCID: PMC10144655 DOI: 10.3390/jof9040466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Potato dry rot disease caused by multiple Fusarium species is a major global concern in potato production. In this investigation, the tubers of cultivars Kufri Jyoti and Kufri Frysona were artificially inoculated with an individual or combined inoculum of Fusarium sambucinum and Fusarium solani. Fusarium sambucinum caused a significantly higher lesion development (p < 0.01) than Fusarium solani, irrespective of cultivars. The combined inoculum of both the Fusarium species caused significantly higher rot development (p < 0.005) in inoculated tubers. Analyses of starch and amylose content revealed that individual or mixed infection of fungi caused a significant reduction (p < 0.005) in these parameters compared to healthy tubers. The increased starch digestibility due to fungal infection caused a higher glycemic index and glycemic load. The resistant starch also deteriorated in the infected potato tubers as compared to the control. Kufri Jyoti showed a higher starch and amylose content reduction in response to the treatments compared to Kufri Frysona. The correlation analysis demonstrated a negative correlation in lesion diameter and rot volume with starch and amylose content (p < -0.80). However, the glycemic index and resistant starch were positively correlated with lesion development. Altogether, these findings highlight the progressive deterioration of quality parameters, which will be a critical concern for processing industry stakeholders and consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Kumar Tiwari
- Division of Plant Protection, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla 171001, India
- Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
| | - Milan Kumar Lal
- Division of Crop Physiology, Biochemistry and Postharvest Technology, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla 171001, India
| | - Ravinder Kumar
- Division of Plant Protection, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla 171001, India
| | - Sanjeev Sharma
- Division of Plant Protection, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla 171001, India
| | - Vinay Sagar
- Division of Plant Protection, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla 171001, India
| | - Awadhesh Kumar
- Division of Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack 753006, India
| | - Brajesh Singh
- Division of Crop Physiology, Biochemistry and Postharvest Technology, ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla 171001, India
| | - Rashmi Aggarwal
- Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Agriculture Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
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8
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Mycotoxin risks are lower in biotech corn. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 78:102792. [PMID: 36088737 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mycotoxins are food contaminants that occur when toxigenic fungi colonize crops. Unfortunately, corn, a major staple crop worldwide, is highly susceptible to mycotoxin contamination. Some mycotoxins, most notably aflatoxin, cause human cancer and other harmful effects such as immunotoxicity and growth impairment. Hence, many nations have set food-safety standards on mycotoxins. Aside from regulations, good agricultural and manufacturing practices lower mycotoxin risks. Agricultural biotechnology has made notable advances in reducing mycotoxins recently. While transgenic Bt corn has been known for years to reduce the mycotoxin fumonisin, new studies have shown its benefit in reducing aflatoxin as well. Other transgenic and RNA-interference corn hybrids target mycotoxin reduction specifically, and gene editing through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat systems has focused on preventing mycotoxin biosynthesis.
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9
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Ma H, Liu Y, Zhao X, Zhang S, Ma H. Exploring and applying genes to enhance the resistance to Fusarium head blight in wheat. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1026611. [PMID: 36388594 PMCID: PMC9647131 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1026611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a destructive disease in wheat worldwide. Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC) is the main causal pathogen causing severe damage to wheat with reduction in both grain yield and quality. Additionally, mycotoxins produced by the FHB pathogens are hazardous to the health of human and livestock. Large numbers of genes conferring FHB resistance to date have been characterized from wheat and its relatives, and some of them have been widely used in breeding and significantly improved the resistance to FHB in wheat. However, the disease spreads rapidly and has been severe due to the climate and cropping system changes in the last decade. It is an urgent necessity to explore and apply more genes related to FHB resistant for wheat breeding. In this review, we summarized the genes with FHB resistance and mycotoxin detoxication identified from common wheat and its relatives by using forward- and reverse-genetic approaches, and introduced the effects of such genes and the genes with FHB resistant from other plant species, and host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) in enhancing the resistance to FHB in wheat. We also outlined the molecular rationale of the resistance and the application of the cloned genes for FHB control. Finally, we discussed the future challenges and opportunities in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haigang Ma
- *Correspondence: Haigang Ma, ; Hongxiang Ma,
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10
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Host-induced gene silencing of PcCesA3 and PcOSBP1 confers resistance to Phytophthora capsici in Nicotiana benthamiana through NbDCL3 and NbDCL4 processed small interfering RNAs. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 222:1665-1675. [PMID: 36167102 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.09.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) is a RNA-based system depend on the biological macromolecules generated in plants to control diseases. However, the effector proteins active in the HIGS are uncertain, which impedes its further application, especially for oomycete that lack efficient HIGS targets. Phytophthora capsici is an important oomycete causes blight in over 70 crops. Here, we comprehensively screened efficient HIGS vectors targeting PcCesA3 or PcOSBP1 in P. capsici to better control it and explore the characteristics of efficient HIGS vectors. Among the 26 vectors with different lengths and structures, we found that hairpin vectors with a 70 nt loop and ~ 500 bp stem showed the highest control efficacy, with the expressing of the screened vectors, the infection and fertility of P. capsici were greatly inhibited in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana. Based on these efficient vectors, we demonstrated that the amount of HIGS vector generated small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) was positively related to gene silencing efficiency and resistance, and that NbDCL3 and NbDCL4 were the key effectors producing siRNAs. This work discovers the principles for efficient HIGS vectors design, and elucidates the molecular mechanism of HIGS, which could benefit the control of many other plant diseases based on HIGS.
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Chen X, Duan Y, Qiao F, Liu H, Huang J, Luo C, Chen X, Li G, Xie K, Hsiang T, Zheng L. A secreted fungal effector suppresses rice immunity through host histone hypoacetylation. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 235:1977-1994. [PMID: 35592995 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Histone acetylation is a critical epigenetic modification that regulates plant immunity. Fungal pathogens secrete effectors that modulate host immunity and facilitate infection, but whether fungal pathogens have evolved effectors that directly target plant histone acetylation remains unknown. Here, we identified a secreted protein, UvSec117, from the rice false smut fungus, Ustilaginoidea virens, as a key effector that can target the rice histone deacetylase OsHDA701 and negatively regulates rice broad-spectrum resistance against rice pathogens. UvSec117 disrupts host immunity by recruiting OsHDA701 to the nucleus and enhancing OsHDA701-modulated deacetylation, thereby reducing histone H3K9 acetylation levels in rice plants and interfering with defense gene activation. Host-induced gene silencing of UvSec117 promotes rice resistance to U. virens, thus providing an alternative way for developing rice false smut-resistant plants. This is the first direct evidence demonstrating that a fungal effector targets a histone deacetylase to suppress plant immunity. Our data provided insight into a counter-defense mechanism in a plant pathogen that inactivates host defense responses at the epigenetic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yuhang Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Fugang Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Hao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Junbin Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Chaoxi Luo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xiaolin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Guotian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Kabin Xie
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Tom Hsiang
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Lu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
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12
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Breeding Tools for Assessing and Improving Resistance and Limiting Mycotoxin Production by Fusarium graminearum in Wheat. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11151933. [PMID: 35893637 PMCID: PMC9330798 DOI: 10.3390/plants11151933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The recently adopted conservation and minimum tillage practices in wheat-production systems coupled with the concomitant warming of the Earth are believed to have caused the upsurges in Fusarium head blight (FHB) prevalence in major wheat-producing regions of the world. Measures to counter this effect include breeding for resistance to both initial infection of wheat and spread of the disease. Cases of mycotoxicosis caused by ingestion of wheat by-products contaminated with FHB mycotoxins have necessitated the need for resistant wheat cultivars that can limit mycotoxin production by the dominant causal pathogen, Fusarium graminearum. This manuscript reviews breeding tools for assessing and improving resistance as well as limiting mycotoxin contamination in wheat to reflect on the current state of affairs. Combining these aspects in wheat research and development promotes sustainable quality grain production and safeguards human and livestock health from mycotoxicosis.
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Shi W, Ye H, Roderick G, Cao J, Kerdelhué C, Han P. Role of Genes in Regulating Host Plants Expansion in Tephritid Fruit Flies (Diptera) and Potential for RNAi-Based Control. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2022; 22:10. [PMID: 35983691 PMCID: PMC9389179 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieac047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Host plant expansion is an important survival strategy for tephritids as they expand their range. Successful host expansion requires tephritids to adapt to the chemical and nonchemical properties of a novel host fruit, such as fruit color, phenology, and phytochemicals. These plant properties trigger a series of processes in tephritids, with each process having its own genetic basis, which means that various genes are involved in regulating host plant expansion by tephritids. This review summarizes current knowledge on the categories and roles of genes involved in host plant expansion in several important tephritid species, including genes related to chemoreception (olfactory and gustation), vision, digestion, detoxification, development, ribosomal and energy metabolism. Chemoreception- and detoxification- and digestion-related genes are stimulated by volatile chemicals and secondary chemicals of different hosts, respectively, which are involved in the regulation of nervous signal transduction that triggers behavioral, physical, and chemical responses to the novel host fruit. Vision-, nerve-, and development-related genes and metabolism-associated genes are activated in response to nonchemical stimuli from different hosts, such as color and phenology, to regulate a comprehensive adaptation of the extending host for tephritids. The chemical and nonchemical signals of hosts activate ribosomal and energy-related genes that result in the basic regulation of many processes of host expansion, including detoxification and development. These genes do not regulate novel host use individually, but multiple genes regulate multilevel adaptation to novel host fruits via multiple mechanisms. These genes may also be potential target genes for RNAi-based control of tephritid pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shi
- School of Ecology and Environment Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Hui Ye
- School of Ecology and Environment Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - George Roderick
- Department of Environmental Science Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jun Cao
- School of Ecology and Environment Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Carole Kerdelhué
- INRAE, CBGP (INRAE, CIRAD, RD, Montpellier Supagro, University Montpellier), Montpellier, France
| | - Peng Han
- School of Ecology and Environment Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
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14
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Biocontrol Methods in Avoidance and Downsizing of Mycotoxin Contamination of Food Crops. Processes (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/pr10040655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
By increasing the resistance of seeds against abiotic and biotic stress, the possibility of cereal mold contamination and hence the occurrence of secondary mold metabolites mycotoxins decreases. The use of biological methods of seed treatment represents a complementary strategy, which can be implemented as an environmental-friendlier approach to increase the agricultural sustainability. Whereas the use of resistant cultivars helps to reduce mold growth and mycotoxin contamination at the very beginning of the production chain, biological detoxification of cereals provides additional weapons against fungal pathogens in the later stage. Most efficient techniques can be selected and combined on an industrial scale to reduce losses and boost crop yields and agriculture sustainability, increasing at the same time food and feed safety. This paper strives to emphasize the possibility of implementation of biocontrol methods in the production of resistant seeds and the prevention and reduction in cereal mycotoxin contamination.
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15
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Hao G, McCormick S, Vaughan MM. Effects of Double-Stranded RNAs Targeting Fusarium graminearum TRI6 on Fusarium Head Blight and Mycotoxins. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2021; 111:2080-2087. [PMID: 33823648 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-10-20-0468-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB), which reduces crop yield and contaminates grains with poisonous trichothecene mycotoxins, including deoxynivalenol (DON). DON functions as an important virulence factor that promotes FHB spread in wheat; therefore, reducing DON production will decrease yield losses to FHB and increase food safety. Recent progress in the topical application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to reduce F. graminearum infection has provided encouraging results. In this study, we designed and synthesized dsRNA targeting the transcription factor TRI6 (TRI6-dsRNA), which is a key regulator of DON biosynthesis. The expression of F. graminearum TRI6 was significantly lower in detached wheat heads treated with TRI6-dsRNA solution compared with the controls. Furthermore, TRI6-dsRNA treatments reduced disease and DON accumulation in inoculated detached wheat heads. Therefore, topical applications of TRI6-dsRNA on wheat heads of intact plants were assessed for their ability to reduce FHB and DON under growth chamber and greenhouse conditions. When wheat heads were treated with TRI6-dsRNA solution in growth chamber conditions, TRI6-dsRNA treatments failed to prevent FHB spread. However, when wheat heads were treated with TRI6-dsRNA solution under greenhouse conditions, FHB and DON were significantly reduced, and infection was restricted to the inoculated floret. In addition, addition of TRI6-dsRNA to toxin induction liquid media had no effect on F. graminearum 15-ADON production. Our study demonstrates that the efficacy of dsRNA applications is strongly dependent on application methods and environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guixia Hao
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, Peoria, IL 61604
| | - Susan McCormick
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, Peoria, IL 61604
| | - Martha M Vaughan
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, Peoria, IL 61604
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16
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Rodriguez MC, Sautua F, Scandiani M, Carmona M, Asurmendi S. Current recommendations and novel strategies for sustainable management of soybean sudden death syndrome. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2021; 77:4238-4248. [PMID: 33942966 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The increase in food production requires reduction of the damage caused by plant pathogens, minimizing the environmental impact of management practices. Soil-borne pathogens are among the most relevant pathogens that affect soybean crop yield. Soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS), caused by several distinct species of Fusarium, produces significant yield losses in the leading soybean-producing countries in North and South America. Current management strategies for SDS are scarce since there are no highly resistant cultivars and only a few fungicide seed treatments are available. Because of this, innovative approaches for SDS management need to be developed. Here, we summarize recently explored strategies based on plant nutrition, biological control, priming of plant defenses, host-induced gene silencing, and the development of new SDS-resistance cultivars using precision breeding techniques. Finally, sustainable management of SDS should also consider cultural control practices with minimal environmental impact. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Rodriguez
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular, CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Francisco Sautua
- Fitopatología, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mercedes Scandiani
- Centro de Referencia de Micología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Marcelo Carmona
- Fitopatología, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Asurmendi
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular, CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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17
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Ntui VO, Uyoh EA, Ita EE, Markson AA, Tripathi JN, Okon NI, Akpan MO, Phillip JO, Brisibe EA, Ene‐Obong EE, Tripathi L. Strategies to combat the problem of yam anthracnose disease: Status and prospects. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:1302-1314. [PMID: 34275185 PMCID: PMC8435233 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Yam (Dioscorea spp.) anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum alatae, is the most devastating fungal disease of yam in West Africa, leading to 50%-90% of tuber yield losses in severe cases. In some instances, plants die without producing any tubers or each shoot may produce several small tubers before it dies if the disease strikes early. C. alatae affects all parts of the yam plant at all stages of development, including leaves, stems, tubers, and seeds of yams, and it is highly prevalent in the yam belt region and other yam-producing countries in the world. Traditional methods adopted by farmers to control the disease have not been very successful. Fungicides have also failed to provide long-lasting control. Although conventional breeding and genomics-assisted breeding have been used to develop some level of resistance to anthracnose in Dioscorea alata, the appearance of new and more virulent strains makes the development of improved varieties with broad-spectrum and durable resistance critical. These shortcomings, coupled with interspecific incompatibility, dioecy, polyploidy, poor flowering, and the long breeding cycle of the crop, have prompted researchers to explore biotechnological techniques to complement conventional breeding to speed up crop improvement. Modern biotechnological tools have the potential of producing fungus-resistant cultivars, thereby bypassing the natural bottlenecks of traditional breeding. This article reviews the existing biotechnological strategies and proposes several approaches that could be adopted to develop anthracnose-resistant yam varieties for improved food security in West Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentine Otang Ntui
- Department of Genetics and BiotechnologyUniversity of CalabarCalabarNigeria
- International Institute of Tropical AgricultureNairobiKenya
| | - Edak Aniedi Uyoh
- Department of Genetics and BiotechnologyUniversity of CalabarCalabarNigeria
| | - Effiom Eyo Ita
- Department of Genetics and BiotechnologyUniversity of CalabarCalabarNigeria
| | | | | | - Nkese Ime Okon
- Department of Genetics and BiotechnologyUniversity of CalabarCalabarNigeria
| | - Mfon Okon Akpan
- Department of Genetics and BiotechnologyUniversity of CalabarCalabarNigeria
| | | | | | | | - Leena Tripathi
- International Institute of Tropical AgricultureNairobiKenya
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18
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Chen X, Li P, Liu H, Chen X, Huang J, Luo C, Li G, Hsiang T, Collinge DB, Zheng L. A novel transcription factor UvCGBP1 regulates development and virulence of rice false smut fungus Ustilaginoidea virens. Virulence 2021; 12:1563-1579. [PMID: 34348597 PMCID: PMC8344781 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1936768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ustilaginoidea virens, causing rice false smut (RFS) is an economically important ascomycetous fungal pathogen distributed in rice-growing regions worldwide. Here, we identified a novel transcription factor UvCGBP1 (Cutinase G-box binding protein) from this fungus, which is unique to ascomycetes. Deletion of UvCGBP1 affected development and virulence of U. virens. A total of 865 downstream target genes of UvCGBP1 was identified using ChIP-seq and the most significant KEGG enriched functional pathway was the MAPK signaling pathway. Approximately 36% of target genes contain the AGGGG (G-box) motif in their promoter. Among the targets, deletion of UvCGBP1 affected transcriptional and translational levels of UvPmk1 and UvSlt2, both of which were important in virulence. ChIP-qPCR, yeast one-hybrid and EMSA confirmed that UvCGBP1 can bind the promoter of UvPmk1 or UvSlt2. Overexpression of UvPmk1 in the ∆UvCGBP1-33 mutant restored partially its virulence and hyphae growth, indicating that UvCGBP1 could function via the MAPK pathway to regulate fungal virulence. Taken together, this study uncovered a novel regulatory mechanism of fungal virulence linking the MAPK pathway mediated by a G-box binding transcription factor, UvCGBP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Pingping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaolin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Junbin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chaoxi Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Guotian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Tom Hsiang
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - David B Collinge
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Lu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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19
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de Oliveira Filho JG, Silva GDC, Cipriano L, Gomes M, Egea MB. Control of postharvest fungal diseases in fruits using external application of RNAi. J Food Sci 2021; 86:3341-3348. [PMID: 34272735 DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.15816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Contamination with a variety of filamentous fungi can cause deterioration of food and agricultural products. Fungal contaminations reduce the quality and the shelf life of fresh fruits and are one of the main causes of economic loss in the global fresh fruit industry. Although chemical fungicides are effective and traditionally used to control postharvest fungal diseases, they are harmful to human health. In this context, use of RNA interference (RNAi)-based fungicides is a promising alternative strategy. Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) is an innovative RNAi-based approach for silencing target genes in phytopathogens. This review aims to discuss the recent findings on the use of RNAi-based fungicides to control the postharvest spoilage of fresh fruits. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Control of postharvest fungal diseases is one of the most important strategies to make food available to consumers longer. In this sense, the external application of RNAi seems to be technologically advantageous and efficient as it helps to maintain the characteristics of plant products. In this sense, this review discussed what is possible to find in the literature regarding this new technology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guilherme da Cruz Silva
- Department of Genetic and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lavínia Cipriano
- Center for Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Gomes
- Department of Genetic and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Buranelo Egea
- Goiano Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology, Campus Rio Verde, Rio Verde, Goiás, Brazil
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20
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Yang P, Yi SY, Nian JN, Yuan QS, He WJ, Zhang JB, Liao YC. Application of Double-Strand RNAs Targeting Chitin Synthase, Glucan Synthase, and Protein Kinase Reduces Fusarium graminearum Spreading in Wheat. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:660976. [PMID: 34305830 PMCID: PMC8299488 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.660976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Controlling the devastating fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum (Fg) is a challenge due to inadequate resistance in nature. Here, we report on the identification of RNAi molecules and their applications for controlling Fg in wheat through silencing chitin synthase 7 (Chs7), glucan synthase (Gls) and protein kinase C (Pkc). From transgenic Fg strains four RNAi constructs from Chs7 (Chs7RNAi−1, −2, −3, and −4), three RNAi constructs from Gls (GlsRNAi−2, −3, and −6), and one RNAi construct from Pkc (PkcRNAi−5) were identified that displayed effective silencing effects on mycelium growth in medium and pathogenicity in wheat spikes. Transcript levels of Chs7, Gls and Pkc were markedly reduced in those strains. Double-strand RNAs (dsRNAs) of three selected RNAi constructs (Chs7RNAi-4, GlsRNAi-6 and PkcRNA-5) strongly inhibited mycelium growth in vitro. Spray of those dsRNAs on detached wheat leaves significantly reduced lesion sizes; the independent dsRNAs showed comparable effects on lesions with combination of two or three dsRNAs. Expression of three targets Chs7, Gls, and Pkc was substantially down-regulated in Fg-infected wheat leaves. Further application of dsRNAs on wheat spikes in greenhouse significantly reduced infected spikelets. The identified RNAi constructs may be directly used for spray-induced gene silencing and stable expression in plants to control Fusarium pathogens in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shu-Yuan Yi
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Forestry and Fruit Tree Research Institute, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun-Na Nian
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing-Song Yuan
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Resource Institute for Chinese & Ethnic Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Wei-Jie He
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing-Bo Zhang
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu-Cai Liao
- Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory of Triticeae Crops, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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21
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Habschied K, Krstanović V, Zdunić Z, Babić J, Mastanjević K, Šarić GK. Mycotoxins Biocontrol Methods for Healthier Crops and Stored Products. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:348. [PMID: 33946920 PMCID: PMC8145935 DOI: 10.3390/jof7050348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Contamination of crops with phytopathogenic genera such as Fusarium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Penicillium usually results in mycotoxins in the stored crops or the final products (bread, beer, etc.). To reduce the damage and suppress the fungal growth, it is common to add antifungal substances during growth in the field or storage. Many of these antifungal substances are also harmful to human health and the reduction of their concentration would be of immense importance to food safety. Many eminent researchers are seeking a way to reduce the use of synthetic antifungal compounds and to implement more eco-friendly and healthier bioweapons against fungal proliferation and mycotoxin synthesis. This paper aims to address the recent advances in the effectiveness of biological antifungal compounds application against the aforementioned fungal genera and their species to enhance the protection of ecological and environmental systems involved in crop growing (water, soil, air) and to reduce fungicide contamination of food derived from these commodities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Habschied
- Faculty of Food Technology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia; (V.K.); (J.B.)
| | - Vinko Krstanović
- Faculty of Food Technology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia; (V.K.); (J.B.)
| | - Zvonimir Zdunić
- Agricultural Institute Osijek, Južno predgrađe 17, 31000 Osijek, Croatia;
| | - Jurislav Babić
- Faculty of Food Technology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia; (V.K.); (J.B.)
| | - Krešimir Mastanjević
- Faculty of Food Technology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia; (V.K.); (J.B.)
| | - Gabriella Kanižai Šarić
- Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 1, 31000 Osijek, Croatia;
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22
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Quantitative Proteomics Analysis Reveals the Function of the Putative Ester Cyclase UvEC1 in the Pathogenicity of the Rice False Smut Fungus Ustilaginoidea virens. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084069. [PMID: 33920773 PMCID: PMC8071170 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rice false smut is a fungal disease distributed worldwide and caused by Ustilaginoidea virens. In this study, we identified a putative ester cyclase (named as UvEC1) as being significantly upregulated during U. virens infection. UvEC1 contained a SnoaL-like polyketide cyclase domain, but the functions of ketone cyclases such as SnoaL in plant fungal pathogens remain unclear. Deletion of UvEC1 caused defects in vegetative growth and conidiation. UvEC1 was also required for response to hyperosmotic and oxidative stresses and for maintenance of cell wall integrity. Importantly, ΔUvEC1 mutants exhibited reduced virulence. We performed a tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomic analysis to identify differentially accumulating proteins (DAPs) between the ΔUvEC1-1 mutant and the wild-type isolate HWD-2. Proteomics data revealed that UvEC1 has a variety of effects on metabolism, protein localization, catalytic activity, binding, toxin biosynthesis and the spliceosome. Taken together, our findings suggest that UvEC1 is critical for the development and virulence of U. virens.
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23
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Changenet V, Macadré C, Boutet-Mercey S, Magne K, Januario M, Dalmais M, Bendahmane A, Mouille G, Dufresne M. Overexpression of a Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenase Involved in Orobanchol Biosynthesis Increases Susceptibility to Fusarium Head Blight. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:662025. [PMID: 33868356 PMCID: PMC8048717 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.662025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is a cereal disease caused primarily by the ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum with public health issues due to the production of mycotoxins including deoxynivalenol (DON). Genetic resistance is an efficient protection means and numerous quantitative trait loci have been identified, some of them related to the production of resistance metabolites. In this study, we have functionally characterized the Brachypodium distachyon BdCYP711A29 gene encoding a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP). We showed that BdCYP711A29 belongs to an oligogenic family of five members. However, following infection by F. graminearum, BdCYP711A29 is the only copy strongly transcriptionally induced in a DON-dependent manner. The BdCYP711A29 protein is homologous to the Arabidopsis thaliana MAX1 and Oryza sativa MAX1-like CYPs representing key components of the strigolactone biosynthesis. We show that BdCYP711A29 is likely involved in orobanchol biosynthesis. Alteration of the BdCYP711A29 sequence or expression alone does not modify plant architecture, most likely because of functional redundancy with the other copies. B. distachyon lines overexpressing BdCYP711A29 exhibit an increased susceptibility to F. graminearum, although no significant changes in defense gene expression were detected. We demonstrate that both orobanchol and exudates of Bd711A29 overexpressing lines stimulate the germination of F. graminearum macroconidia. We therefore hypothesize that orobanchol is a susceptibility factor to FHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Changenet
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, University of Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Catherine Macadré
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, University of Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Stéphanie Boutet-Mercey
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Kévin Magne
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, University of Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Mélanie Januario
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, University of Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Marion Dalmais
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, University of Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Abdelhafid Bendahmane
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, University of Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Grégory Mouille
- Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Versailles, France
| | - Marie Dufresne
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, University of Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
- Université de Paris, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
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Niño-Sánchez J, Chen LH, De Souza JT, Mosquera S, Stergiopoulos I. Targeted Delivery of Gene Silencing in Fungi Using Genetically Engineered Bacteria. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7020125. [PMID: 33572197 PMCID: PMC7914413 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Exploiting RNA interference (RNAi) in disease control through non-transformative methods that overcome the hurdle of producing transgenic plants has attracted much attention over the last years. Here, we explored such a method and used non-pathogenic bacteria as a versatile system for delivering RNAi to fungi. Specifically, the RNaseIII-null mutant strain of Escherichia coli HT115(DE3) was transformed with two plasmid vectors that enabled the constitutive or IPTG-inducible production of double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) against genes involved in aflatoxins production in Aspergillus flavus (AflC) or virulence of Botrytis cinerea (BcSAS1). To facilitate the release of the dsRNAs, the bacterial cells were further genetically engineered to undergo a bacteriophage endolysin R-mediated autolysis, following a freeze-thaw cycle. Exposure under in vitro conditions of A. flavus or B. cinerea to living bacteria or their whole-cell autolysates induced silencing of AflC and BcSAS1 in a bacteria concentration-dependent manner, and instigated a reduction in aflatoxins production and mycelial growth, respectively. In planta applications of the living bacteria or their crude whole-cell autolysates produced similar results, thus creating a basis for translational research. These results demonstrate that bacteria can produce biologically active dsRNA against target genes in fungi and that bacteria-mediated RNAi can be used to control fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonatan Niño-Sánchez
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (J.N.-S.); (L.-H.C.); (J.T.D.S.); (S.M.)
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Li-Hung Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (J.N.-S.); (L.-H.C.); (J.T.D.S.); (S.M.)
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Jorge Teodoro De Souza
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (J.N.-S.); (L.-H.C.); (J.T.D.S.); (S.M.)
- Department of Plant Pathology, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Lavras, MG 37200-000, Brazil
| | - Sandra Mosquera
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (J.N.-S.); (L.-H.C.); (J.T.D.S.); (S.M.)
- Department of Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad EAFIT, Medellín 050022, Colombia
| | - Ioannis Stergiopoulos
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (J.N.-S.); (L.-H.C.); (J.T.D.S.); (S.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-530-400-9802
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Kumari A, Joshua R, Kumar R, Ahlawat P, Sindhu SC. Fungal Mycotoxins: Occurrence and Detection. Fungal Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-68260-6_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Wang M, Wu L, Mei Y, Zhao Y, Ma Z, Zhang X, Chen Y. Host-induced gene silencing of multiple genes of Fusarium graminearum enhances resistance to Fusarium head blight in wheat. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2020; 18:2373-2375. [PMID: 32436275 PMCID: PMC7680546 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Minhui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and InsectsInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Rice BiologyInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Lei Wu
- Provincial Key Laboratory of AgrobiologyInstitute of Food CropsJiangsu Academy of Agricultural SciencesNanjingChina
| | - Yuzhen Mei
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and InsectsInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Rice BiologyInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Youfu Zhao
- Department of Crop SciencesUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and InsectsInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Rice BiologyInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xu Zhang
- Provincial Key Laboratory of AgrobiologyInstitute of Food CropsJiangsu Academy of Agricultural SciencesNanjingChina
| | - Yun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and InsectsInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Rice BiologyInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
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Sridhar PS, Trofimova D, Subramaniam R, González-Peña Fundora D, Foroud NA, Allingham JS, Loewen MC. Ste2 receptor-mediated chemotropism of Fusarium graminearum contributes to its pathogenicity against wheat. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10770. [PMID: 32612109 PMCID: PMC7329813 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67597-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusarium Head Blight of wheat, caused by the filamentous fungus Fusarium graminearum, leads to devastating global food shortages and economic losses. While many studies have addressed the responses of both wheat and F. graminearum during their interaction, the possibility of fungal chemotropic sensing enabling pathogenicity remains unexplored. Based on recent findings linking the pheromone-sensing G-protein-coupled receptor Ste2 to host-directed chemotropism in Fusarium oxysporum, we investigated the role of the Ste2 receptor and its downstream signaling pathways in mediating chemotropism of F. graminearum. Interestingly, a chemotropic response of growing hyphae towards catalytically active Triticum aestivum ‘Roblin’ cultivar secreted peroxidases was detected, with deletion of STE2 in F. graminearum leading to loss of the observed response. At the same time, deletion of STE2 significantly decreased infection on germinating wheat coleoptiles, highlighting an association between Ste2, chemotropism and infection by F. graminearum. Further characterization revealed that the peroxidase-directed chemotropism is associated with stimulation of the fungal cell wall integrity mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling cascade. Altogether, this study demonstrates conservation of Ste2-mediated chemotropism by Fusarium species, and its important role in mediating pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja S Sridhar
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, 18 Stuart St., Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Daria Trofimova
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, 18 Stuart St., Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | | | | | - Nora A Foroud
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 5403, 1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada
| | - John S Allingham
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, 18 Stuart St., Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Michele C Loewen
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, 18 Stuart St., Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada. .,National Research Council of Canada, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada.
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Arpaia S, Christiaens O, Giddings K, Jones H, Mezzetti B, Moronta-Barrios F, Perry JN, Sweet JB, Taning CNT, Smagghe G, Dietz-Pfeilstetter A. Biosafety of GM Crop Plants Expressing dsRNA: Data Requirements and EU Regulatory Considerations. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:940. [PMID: 32670333 PMCID: PMC7327110 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The use of RNA interference (RNAi) enables the silencing of target genes in plants or plant-dwelling organisms, through the production of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) resulting in altered plant characteristics. Expression of properly synthesized dsRNAs in plants can lead to improved crop quality characteristics or exploit new mechanisms with activity against plant pests and pathogens. Genetically modified (GM) crops exhibiting resistance to viruses or insects via expression of dsRNA have received authorization for cultivation outside Europe. Some products derived from RNAi plants have received a favourable opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for import and processing in the European Union (EU). The authorization process in the EU requires applicants to produce a risk assessment considering food/feed and environmental safety aspects of living organisms or their derived food and feed products. The present paper discusses the main aspects of the safety assessment (comparative assessment, molecular characterization, toxicological assessment, nutritional assessment, gene transfer, interaction with target and non-target organisms) for GM plants expressing dsRNA, according to the guidelines of EFSA. Food/feed safety assessment of products from RNAi plants is expected to be simplified, in the light of the consideration that no novel proteins are produced. Therefore, some of the data requirements for risk assessment do not apply to these cases, and the comparative compositional analysis becomes the main source of evidence for food/feed safety of RNAi plants. During environmental risk assessment, the analysis of dsRNA expression levels of the GM trait, and the data concerning the observable effects on non-target organisms (NTO) will provide the necessary evidence for ensuring safety of species exposed to RNAi plants. Bioinformatics may provide support to risk assessment by selecting target gene sequences with low similarity to the genome of NTOs possibly exposed to dsRNA. The analysis of these topics in risk assessment indicates that the science-based regulatory process in Europe is considered to be applicable to GM RNAi plants, therefore the evaluation of their safety can be effectively conducted without further modifications. Outcomes from the present paper offer suggestions for consideration in future updates of the EFSA Guidance documents on risk assessment of GM organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Arpaia
- ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Rotondella, Italy
| | - Olivier Christiaens
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Kara Giddings
- Bayer, Crop Science R&D Regulatory Science, Chesterfield, MO, United States
| | - Huw Jones
- Translational Genomics for Plant Breeding, Aberystwyth University, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno Mezzetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Clauvis N. T. Taning
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Antje Dietz-Pfeilstetter
- Institute for Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology, Julius Kühn-Institut, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Braunschweig, Germany
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Ali M, Javaid A, Naqvi SH, Batcho A, Kayani WK, Lal A, Sajid IA, Nwogwugwu JO. Biotic stress triggered small RNA and RNAi defense response in plants. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:5511-5522. [PMID: 32562176 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05583-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The yield of crops is largely affected by different types of biotic stresses. To minimize the damage, crop plants adapted themselves to overcome the stress conditions through gene expression reprogramming at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. With a better knowledge of plants' responses in adverse environments, new methodologies and strategies have been applied to develop better stress-tolerant plants. In this manner, small RNAs (micro RNA and small-interfering RNA) are reported to play a central role to combat biotic stresses in plants. Depending upon the stress stimuli, these small RNAs can up or down regulate the genes expression, that indicate their potential role in overcoming the stress. These stress-induced small RNAs may reduce the expression of the target gene(s) that might negatively influence plants' response to the adverse conditions. Contrariwise, miRNA, a class of small RNA, can downregulate its expression to upregulate the expression of the target gene(s), which might positively aid to the stress adaptation. Along with this, benefits of RNA interference (RNAi) have also been stated in functional genomic research on insects, fungi and plant pathogens. RNAi is involved in the safe transport of dsRNA to the targeted mRNA(s) in the biotic stress-causing agents (for example fungi and insects) and saves the plant from damage, which is a safer approach compared to use of chemical pesticides. The current review summarizes the role of small RNAs and the use of RNAi to save the plants from biotic stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsin Ali
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei, 230027, Anhui, China.
- Department of Bioinformatics & Biotechnology, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan.
| | - Ayesha Javaid
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Hefei, 230027, Anhui, China
| | - Sajid Hassan Naqvi
- Department of Bioinformatics & Biotechnology, International Islamic University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan
| | - Anicet Batcho
- Division of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Catholic University of the West Africa, Cotonou, Benin
| | - Waqas Khan Kayani
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 101, 23053, Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Aamir Lal
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University Natural Sciences Campus, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16419, South Korea
| | - Imtiaz Ahmad Sajid
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Joy O Nwogwugwu
- Pathology Section, Department of Forest Conservation and Protection, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Nigeria
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Ma Z, Xie Q, Li G, Jia H, Zhou J, Kong Z, Li N, Yuan Y. Germplasms, genetics and genomics for better control of disastrous wheat Fusarium head blight. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2020; 133:1541-1568. [PMID: 31900498 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-019-03525-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB), or scab, for its devastating nature to wheat production and food security, has stimulated worldwide attention. Multidisciplinary efforts have been made to fight against FHB for a long time, but the great progress has been achieved only in the genomics era of the past 20 years, particularly in the areas of resistance gene/QTL discovery, resistance mechanism elucidation and molecular breeding for better resistance. This review includes the following nine main sections, (1) FHB incidence, epidemic and impact, (2) causal Fusarium species, distribution and virulence, (3) types of host resistance to FHB, (4) germplasm exploitation for FHB resistance, (5) genetic control of FHB resistance, (6) fine mapping of Fhb1, Fhb2, Fhb4 and Fhb5, (7) cloning of Fhb1, (8) omics-based gene discovery and resistance mechanism study and (9) breeding for better FHB resistance. The advancements that have been made are outstanding and exciting; however, judged by the complicated nature of resistance to hemi-biotrophic pathogens like Fusarium species and lack of immune germplasm, it is still a long way to go to overcome FHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengqiang Ma
- Crop Genomics and Bioinformatics Center and National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Quan Xie
- Crop Genomics and Bioinformatics Center and National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guoqiang Li
- Crop Genomics and Bioinformatics Center and National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haiyan Jia
- Crop Genomics and Bioinformatics Center and National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiyang Zhou
- Crop Genomics and Bioinformatics Center and National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhongxin Kong
- Crop Genomics and Bioinformatics Center and National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Na Li
- Crop Genomics and Bioinformatics Center and National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang Yuan
- Crop Genomics and Bioinformatics Center and National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Pathogenomics and Management of Fusarium Diseases in Plants. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9050340. [PMID: 32369942 PMCID: PMC7281180 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgency to supplant the heavy reliance on chemical control of Fusarium diseases in different economically important, staple food crops due to development of resistance in the pathogen population, the high cost of production to the risk-averse grower, and the concomitant environmental impacts. Pathogenomics has enabled (i) the creation of genetic inventories which identify those putative genes, regulators, and effectors that are associated with virulence, pathogenicity, and primary and secondary metabolism; (ii) comparison of such genes among related pathogens; (iii) identification of potential genetic targets for chemical control; and (iv) better characterization of the complex dynamics of host–microbe interactions that lead to disease. This type of genomic data serves to inform host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) technology for targeted disruption of transcription of select genes for the control of Fusarium diseases. This review discusses the various repositories and browser access points for comparison of genomic data, the strategies for identification and selection of pathogenicity- and virulence-associated genes and effectors in different Fusarium species, HIGS and successful Fusarium disease control trials with a consideration of loss of RNAi, off-target effects, and future challenges in applying HIGS for management of Fusarium diseases.
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Werner BT, Gaffar FY, Schuemann J, Biedenkopf D, Koch AM. RNA-Spray-Mediated Silencing of Fusarium graminearum AGO and DCL Genes Improve Barley Disease Resistance. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:476. [PMID: 32411160 DOI: 10.1101/821868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, several studies have revealed the enormous potential of RNA-silencing strategies as a potential alternative to conventional pesticides for plant protection. We have previously shown that targeted gene silencing mediated by an in planta expression of non-coding inhibitory double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) can protect host plants against various diseases with unprecedented efficiency. In addition to the generation of RNA-silencing (RNAi) signals in planta, plants can be protected from pathogens, and pests by spray-applied RNA-based biopesticides. Despite the striking efficiency of RNA-silencing-based technologies holds for agriculture, the molecular mechanisms underlying spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) strategies are virtually unresolved, a requirement for successful future application in the field. Based on our previous work, we predict that the molecular mechanism of SIGS is controlled by the fungal-silencing machinery. In this study, we used SIGS to compare the silencing efficiencies of computationally-designed vs. manually-designed dsRNA constructs targeting ARGONAUTE and DICER genes of Fusarium graminearum (Fg). We found that targeting key components of the fungal RNAi machinery via SIGS could protect barley leaves from Fg infection and that the manual design of dsRNAs resulted in higher gene-silencing efficiencies than the tool-based design. Moreover, our results indicate the possibility of cross-kingdom RNA silencing in the Fg-barley interaction, a phenomenon in which sRNAs operate as effector molecules to induce gene silencing between species from different kingdoms, such as a plant host and their interacting pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Timo Werner
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Schuemann
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Dagmar Biedenkopf
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Aline Michaela Koch
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Abstract
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of microscopic fungi, which commonly contaminate cereal grains. Contamination of small-grain cereals and maize with toxic metabolites of fungi, both pathogenic and saprotrophic, is one of the particularly important problems in global agriculture. Fusarium species are among the dangerous cereal pathogens with a high toxicity potential. Secondary metabolites of these fungi, such as deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisin B1 are among five most important mycotoxins on a European and world scale. The use of various methods to limit the development of Fusarium cereal head diseases and grain contamination with mycotoxins, before and after harvest, is an important element of sustainable agriculture and production of safe food. The applied strategies utilize chemical and non-chemical methods, including agronomic, physical and biological treatments. Biological methods now occupy a special place in plant protection as an element of biocontrol of fungal pathogens by inhibiting their development and reducing mycotoxins in grain. According to the literature, Good Agricultural Practices are the best line of defense for controlling Fusarium toxin contamination of cereal and maize grains. However, fluctuations in weather conditions can significantly reduce the effectiveness of plants protection methods against infection with Fusarium spp. and grain accumulation of mycotoxins.
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Koduru L, Kim HY, Lakshmanan M, Mohanty B, Lee YQ, Lee CH, Lee D. Genome-scale metabolic reconstruction and in silico analysis of the rice leaf blight pathogen, Xanthomonas oryzae. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2020; 21:527-540. [PMID: 32068953 PMCID: PMC7060145 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a vascular pathogen that causes leaf blight in rice, leading to severe yield losses. Since the usage of chemical control methods has not been very promising for the future disease management, it is of high importance to systematically gain new insights about Xoo virulence and pathogenesis, and devise effective strategies to combat the rice disease. To do this, we reconstructed a genome-scale metabolic model of Xoo (iXOO673) and validated the model predictions using culture experiments. Comparison of the metabolic architecture of Xoo and other plant pathogens indicated that the Entner-Doudoroff pathway is a more common feature in these bacteria than previously thought, while suggesting some of the unique virulence mechanisms related to Xoo metabolism. Subsequent constraint-based flux analysis allowed us to show that Xoo modulates fluxes through gluconeogenesis, glycogen biosynthesis, and degradation pathways, thereby exacerbating the leaf blight in rice exposed to nitrogenous fertilizers, which is remarkably consistent with published experimental literature. Moreover, model-based interrogation of transcriptomic data revealed the metabolic components under the diffusible signal factor regulon that are crucial for virulence and survival in Xoo. Finally, we identified promising antibacterial targets for the control of leaf blight in rice by using gene essentiality analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lokanand Koduru
- Bioprocessing Technology InstituteAgency for Science, Technology and ResearchSingapore
| | - Hyang Yeon Kim
- Department of Bioscience and BiotechnologyKonkuk UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Meiyappan Lakshmanan
- Bioprocessing Technology InstituteAgency for Science, Technology and ResearchSingapore
| | - Bijayalaxmi Mohanty
- Bioprocessing Technology InstituteAgency for Science, Technology and ResearchSingapore
| | - Yi Qing Lee
- School of Chemical EngineeringSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonRepublic of Korea
| | - Choong Hwan Lee
- Department of Bioscience and BiotechnologyKonkuk UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Dong‐Yup Lee
- Bioprocessing Technology InstituteAgency for Science, Technology and ResearchSingapore
- School of Chemical EngineeringSungkyunkwan UniversitySuwonRepublic of Korea
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Khan MK, Pandey A, Athar T, Choudhary S, Deval R, Gezgin S, Hamurcu M, Topal A, Atmaca E, Santos PA, Omay MR, Suslu H, Gulcan K, Inanc M, Akkaya MS, Kahraman A, Thomas G. Fusarium head blight in wheat: contemporary status and molecular approaches. 3 Biotech 2020; 10:172. [PMID: 32206506 PMCID: PMC7080935 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-020-2158-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease that occurs in wheat is caused by Fusarium graminearum and is a major risk to wheat yield. Although several research efforts focusing on FHB have been conducted in the past several decades, conditions have become more critical due to the increase in its virulent forms. In such a scenario, conferring complete resistance in plants seems to be difficult for handling this issue. The phenotyping for FHB and finding a solution for it at the genetic level comprises a long-term process as FHB infection is largely affected by environmental conditions. Modern molecular strategies have played a crucial role in revealing the host-pathogen interaction in FHB. The integration of molecular biology-based methods such as genome-wide association studies and marker-based genomic selection has provided potential cultivars for breeding programs. In this review, we aim at outlining the contemporary status of the studies conducted on FHB in wheat. The influence of FHB in wheat on animals and human health is also discussed. In addition, a summary of the advancement in the molecular technologies for identifying and developing the FHB-resistant wheat genetic resources is provided. It also suggests the future measures that are required to reduce the world's vulnerability to FHB which was one of the main goals of the US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd. Kamran Khan
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Anamika Pandey
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Tabinda Athar
- Faculty of Agriculture, Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, 38040 Pakistan
| | - Saumya Choudhary
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, 211007 India
- Biomedical Informatics Centre, National Institute of Pathology–Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, 110029 India
| | - Ravi Deval
- Department of Biotechnology, Invertis University, Bareilly, India
| | - Sait Gezgin
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Mehmet Hamurcu
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Ali Topal
- Department of Field Crops, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Emel Atmaca
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Pamela Aracena Santos
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Makbule Rumeysa Omay
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Hatice Suslu
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Kamer Gulcan
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Merve Inanc
- Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Selcuk University, Konya, 42079 Turkey
| | - Mahinur S. Akkaya
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116023 Liaoning China
| | - Abdullah Kahraman
- Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Harran University, Sanliurfa, 63300 Turkey
| | - George Thomas
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, 211007 India
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Höfle L, Biedenkopf D, Werner BT, Shrestha A, Jelonek L, Koch A. Study on the efficiency of dsRNAs with increasing length in RNA-based silencing of the Fusarium CYP51 genes. RNA Biol 2020. [PMID: 31814508 DOI: 10.1101/824953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously, we have demonstrated that transgenic Arabidopsis and barley plants, expressing a 791 nucleotide (nt) dsRNA (CYP3RNA) that targets all three CYP51 genes (FgCYP51A, FgCYP51B, FgCYP51C) in Fusarium graminearum (Fg), inhibited fungal infection via a process designated as host-induced gene silencing (HIGS). More recently, we have shown that spray applications of CYP3RNA also protect barley from fungal infection via a process termed spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS). Thus, RNAi technology may have the potential to revolutionize plant protection in agriculture. Therefore, successful field application will require optimization of RNAi design necessary to maximize the efficacy of the RNA silencing construct for making RNAi-based strategies a realistic and sustainable approach in agriculture. Previous studies indicate that silencing is correlated with the number of siRNAs generated from a dsRNA precursor. To prove the hypothesis that silencing efficiency is correlated with the number of siRNAs processed out of the dsRNA precursor, we tested in a HIGS and SIGS approach dsRNA precursors of increasing length ranging from 400 nt to 1500 nt to assess gene silencing efficiency of individual FgCYP51 genes. Concerning HIGS-mediated disease control, we found that there is no significant correlation between the length of the dsRNA precursor and the reduction of Fg infection on CYP51-dsRNA-expressing Arabidopsis plants. Importantly and in clear contrast to HIGS, we measured a decrease in SIGS-mediated Fg disease resistance that significantly correlates with the length of the dsRNA construct that was sprayed, indicating that the size of the dsRNA interferes with a sufficient uptake of dsRNAs by the fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Höfle
- Institute of Phytopathology, Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - D Biedenkopf
- Institute of Phytopathology, Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - B T Werner
- Institute of Phytopathology, Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - A Shrestha
- Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Julius Kühn-Institute, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - L Jelonek
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - A Koch
- Institute of Phytopathology, Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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Islam MT, Sherif SM. RNAi-Based Biofungicides as a Promising Next-Generation Strategy for Controlling Devastating Gray Mold Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062072. [PMID: 32197315 PMCID: PMC7139463 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is one of the most critical agro-economic phytopathogens and has been reported to cause gray mold disease in more than 1000 plant species. Meanwhile, small interfering RNA (siRNA), which induce RNA interference (RNAi), are involved in both host immunity and pathogen virulence. B. cinerea has been reported to use both siRNA effectors and host RNAi machinery to facilitate the progression of gray mold in host species. Accordingly, RNAi-based biofungicides that use double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to target essential fungal genes are considered an emerging approach for controlling devastating gray mold diseases. Furthermore, spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), in which the foliar application of dsRNA is used to silence the pathogen virulence genes, holds great potential as an alternative to host-induced gene silencing (HIGS). Recently, SIGS approaches have attracted research interest, owing to their ability to mitigate both pre- and post-harvest B. cinerea infections. The RNAi-mediated regulation of host immunity and susceptibility in B. cinerea–host interactions are summarized in this review, along with the limitations of the current knowledge of RNAi-based biofungicides, especially regarding SIGS approaches for controlling gray mold diseases under field conditions.
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Pathogenicity and Virulence Factors of Fusarium graminearum Including Factors Discovered Using Next Generation Sequencing Technologies and Proteomics. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8020305. [PMID: 32098375 PMCID: PMC7075021 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8020305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is a devasting mycotoxin-producing pathogen of grain crops. F. graminearum has been extensively studied to understand its pathogenicity and virulence factors. These studies gained momentum with the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and proteomics. NGS and proteomics have enabled the discovery of a multitude of pathogenicity and virulence factors of F. graminearum. This current review aimed to trace progress made in discovering F. graminearum pathogenicity and virulence factors in general, as well as pathogenicity and virulence factors discovered using NGS, and to some extent, using proteomics. We present more than 100 discovered pathogenicity or virulence factors and conclude that although a multitude of pathogenicity and virulence factors have already been discovered, more work needs to be done to take advantage of NGS and its companion applications of proteomics.
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Guo H, Ji J, Wang J, Sun X. Deoxynivalenol: Masked forms, fate during food processing, and potential biological remedies. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2020; 19:895-926. [DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science, National Engineering Research Center for Functional Foods, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and NutritionJiangnan University Wuxi China
| | - Jian Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science, National Engineering Research Center for Functional Foods, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and NutritionJiangnan University Wuxi China
| | - Jia‐sheng Wang
- Department of Environmental ToxicologyUniversity of Georgia Athens Georgia
| | - Xiulan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, School of Food Science, National Engineering Research Center for Functional Foods, Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and NutritionJiangnan University Wuxi China
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Silencing Dicer-Like Genes Reduces Virulence and sRNA Generation in Penicillium italicum, the Cause of Citrus Blue Mold. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020363. [PMID: 32033176 PMCID: PMC7072147 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Dicer protein is one of the most important components of RNAi machinery because it regulates the production of small RNAs (sRNAs) in eukaryotes. Here, Dicer1-like gene (Pit-DCL1) and Dicer2-like gene (Pit-DCL2) RNAi transformants were generated via pSilent-1 in Penicillium italicum (Pit), which is the causal agent of citrus blue mold. Neither transformant showed a change in mycelial growth or sporulation ability, but the pathogenicity of the Pit-DCL2 RNAi transformant to citrus fruits was severely impaired, compared to that of the Pit-DCL1 RNAi transformant and the wild type. We further developed a citrus wound-mediated RNAi approach with a double-stranded fragment of Pit-DCL2 generated in vitro, which achieved an efficiency in reducing Pi-Dcl2 expression and virulence that was similar to that of protoplast-mediated RNAi in P. italicum, suggesting that this approach is promising in the exogenous application of dsRNA to control pathogens on the surface of citrus fruits. In addition, sRNA sequencing revealed a total of 69.88 million potential sRNAs and 12 novel microRNA-like small RNAs (milRNAs), four of which have been predicated on target innate immunity or biotic stress-related genes in Valencia orange. These data suggest that both the Pit-DCL1 and Pit-DCL2 RNAi transformants severely disrupted the biogenesis of the potential milRNAs, which was further confirmed for some milRNAs by qRT-PCR or Northern blot analysis. These data suggest the sRNAs in P. italicum that may be involved in a molecular virulence mechanism termed cross-kingdom RNAi (ck-RNAi) by trafficking sRNA from P. italicum to citrus fruits.
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Höfle L, Biedenkopf D, Werner BT, Shrestha A, Jelonek L, Koch A. Study on the efficiency of dsRNAs with increasing length in RNA-based silencing of the Fusarium CYP51 genes. RNA Biol 2020; 17:463-473. [PMID: 31814508 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2019.1700033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we have demonstrated that transgenic Arabidopsis and barley plants, expressing a 791 nucleotide (nt) dsRNA (CYP3RNA) that targets all three CYP51 genes (FgCYP51A, FgCYP51B, FgCYP51C) in Fusarium graminearum (Fg), inhibited fungal infection via a process designated as host-induced gene silencing (HIGS). More recently, we have shown that spray applications of CYP3RNA also protect barley from fungal infection via a process termed spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS). Thus, RNAi technology may have the potential to revolutionize plant protection in agriculture. Therefore, successful field application will require optimization of RNAi design necessary to maximize the efficacy of the RNA silencing construct for making RNAi-based strategies a realistic and sustainable approach in agriculture. Previous studies indicate that silencing is correlated with the number of siRNAs generated from a dsRNA precursor. To prove the hypothesis that silencing efficiency is correlated with the number of siRNAs processed out of the dsRNA precursor, we tested in a HIGS and SIGS approach dsRNA precursors of increasing length ranging from 400 nt to 1500 nt to assess gene silencing efficiency of individual FgCYP51 genes. Concerning HIGS-mediated disease control, we found that there is no significant correlation between the length of the dsRNA precursor and the reduction of Fg infection on CYP51-dsRNA-expressing Arabidopsis plants. Importantly and in clear contrast to HIGS, we measured a decrease in SIGS-mediated Fg disease resistance that significantly correlates with the length of the dsRNA construct that was sprayed, indicating that the size of the dsRNA interferes with a sufficient uptake of dsRNAs by the fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Höfle
- Institute of Phytopathology, Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - D Biedenkopf
- Institute of Phytopathology, Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - B T Werner
- Institute of Phytopathology, Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - A Shrestha
- Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Julius Kühn-Institute, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - L Jelonek
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - A Koch
- Institute of Phytopathology, Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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Ramachandran SR, Mueth NA, Zheng P, Hulbert SH. Analysis of miRNAs in Two Wheat Cultivars Infected With Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 10:1574. [PMID: 31998329 PMCID: PMC6965360 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are small RNAs that regulate gene expression in eukaryotes. In this study, we analyzed the small RNA profiles of two cultivars that exhibit different reactions to stripe rust infection: one susceptible, the other partially resistant. Using small RNA libraries prepared from the two wheat cultivars infected with stripe rust fungus (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici), we identified 182 previously known miRNAs, 91 variants of known miRNAs, and 163 candidate novel wheat miRNAs. Known miRNA loci were usually copied in all three wheat sub-genomes, whereas novel miRNA loci were often specific to a single sub-genome. DESeq2 analysis of differentially expressed microRNAs revealed 23 miRNAs that exhibit cultivar-specific differences. TA078/miR399b showed cultivar-specific differential regulation in response to infection. Using different target prediction algorithms, 145 miRNAs were predicted to target wheat genes, while 69 miRNAs were predicted to target fungal genes. We also confirmed reciprocal expression of TA078/miR399b and tae-miR9664 and their target genes in different treatments, providing evidence for miRNA-mediated regulation during infection. Both known and novel miRNAs were predicted to target fungal genes, suggesting trans-kingdom regulation of gene expression. Overall, this study contributes to the current repository of wheat miRNAs and provides novel information on the yet-uncharacterized roles for miRNAs in the wheat-stripe rust pathosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicholas A. Mueth
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Ping Zheng
- Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Scot H. Hulbert
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
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Werner BT, Gaffar FY, Schuemann J, Biedenkopf D, Koch AM. RNA-Spray-Mediated Silencing of Fusarium graminearum AGO and DCL Genes Improve Barley Disease Resistance. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:476. [PMID: 32411160 PMCID: PMC7202221 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, several studies have revealed the enormous potential of RNA-silencing strategies as a potential alternative to conventional pesticides for plant protection. We have previously shown that targeted gene silencing mediated by an in planta expression of non-coding inhibitory double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) can protect host plants against various diseases with unprecedented efficiency. In addition to the generation of RNA-silencing (RNAi) signals in planta, plants can be protected from pathogens, and pests by spray-applied RNA-based biopesticides. Despite the striking efficiency of RNA-silencing-based technologies holds for agriculture, the molecular mechanisms underlying spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) strategies are virtually unresolved, a requirement for successful future application in the field. Based on our previous work, we predict that the molecular mechanism of SIGS is controlled by the fungal-silencing machinery. In this study, we used SIGS to compare the silencing efficiencies of computationally-designed vs. manually-designed dsRNA constructs targeting ARGONAUTE and DICER genes of Fusarium graminearum (Fg). We found that targeting key components of the fungal RNAi machinery via SIGS could protect barley leaves from Fg infection and that the manual design of dsRNAs resulted in higher gene-silencing efficiencies than the tool-based design. Moreover, our results indicate the possibility of cross-kingdom RNA silencing in the Fg-barley interaction, a phenomenon in which sRNAs operate as effector molecules to induce gene silencing between species from different kingdoms, such as a plant host and their interacting pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Timo Werner
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Schuemann
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Dagmar Biedenkopf
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Aline Michaela Koch
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Aline Michaela Koch,
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Słomińska-Durdasiak KM, Kollers S, Korzun V, Nowara D, Schweizer P, Djamei A, Reif JC. Association mapping of wheat Fusarium head blight resistance-related regions using a candidate-gene approach and their verification in a biparental population. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2020; 133:341-351. [PMID: 31646363 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-019-03463-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Markers, located in Dicer1 and Ara6 genes, which are likely involved in cross-kingdom RNA trafficking, are associated with FHB resistance in GABI wheat population and were validated in biparental population. Association studies are a common approach to detect marker-trait associations for Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum), although verification of detected associations is exceptional. In the present study, candidate-gene association mapping (CG) of genes from silencing and secretory pathways, which may be involved in wheat resistance against FHB and cross-kingdom RNA trafficking, was performed. Fourteen markers, located in nine genes, were tested for association with FHB resistance in 356 lines from the GABI (genome analysis of the biological system of plants) wheat population. Three markers located in the genes Dicer1 and Ara6 were shown to be significantly associated with the studied trait. Verification of this finding was performed using the recombinant inbred lines (RILs) population 'Apache × Biscay', segregating for four of our 14 selected markers. We could show association of the Ara6 marker with plant height as well as association with FHB resistance for three markers located in Rab5-like GTPase gene Ara6 and Dicer1. These results confirmed the trait-marker associations detected also in the CG approach. Gene products of the associated genes are involved in response of the plant to pathogens, plant metabolism and may be involved in cross-kingdom RNA trafficking efficiency. The markers detected in the GABI wheat population, which were also validated in the biparental population, can potentially be used in wheat breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Maria Słomińska-Durdasiak
- Department of Breeding Research, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany.
| | - Sonja Kollers
- KWS LOCHOW GmbH, Ferdinand-von-Lochow-Straße 5, 29303, Bergen, Germany
| | - Viktor Korzun
- KWS LOCHOW GmbH, Ferdinand-von-Lochow-Straße 5, 29303, Bergen, Germany
| | - Daniela Nowara
- Department of Breeding Research, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Patrick Schweizer
- Department of Breeding Research, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Armin Djamei
- Department of Breeding Research, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Jochen Christoph Reif
- Department of Breeding Research, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstrasse 3, 06466, Gatersleben, Germany
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Mohamed MA, Abd-Elsalam KA. Nanoparticles and gene silencing for suppression of mycotoxins. NANOMYCOTOXICOLOGY 2020:423-448. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-817998-7.00018-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
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46
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Janowska-Sejda EI, Lysenko A, Urban M, Rawlings C, Tsoka S, Hammond-Kosack KE. PHI-Nets: A Network Resource for Ascomycete Fungal Pathogens to Annotate and Identify Putative Virulence Interacting Proteins and siRNA Targets. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2721. [PMID: 31866958 PMCID: PMC6908471 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between proteins underlie all aspects of complex biological mechanisms. Therefore, methodologies based on complex network analyses can facilitate identification of promising candidate genes involved in phenotypes of interest and put this information into appropriate contexts. To facilitate discovery and gain additional insights into globally important pathogenic fungi, we have reconstructed computationally inferred interactomes using an interolog and domain-based approach for 15 diverse Ascomycete fungal species, across nine orders, specifically Aspergillus fumigatus, Bipolaris sorokiniana, Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei, Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum graminicola, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, Fusarium verticillioides, Leptosphaeria maculans, Magnaporthe oryzae, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Verticillium dahliae, and Zymoseptoria tritici. Network cartography analysis was associated with functional patterns of annotated genes linked to the disease-causing ability of each pathogen. In addition, for the best annotated organism, namely F. graminearum, the distribution of annotated genes with respect to network structure was profiled using a random walk with restart algorithm, which suggested possible co-location of virulence-related genes in the protein–protein interaction network. In a second ‘use case’ study involving two networks, namely B. cinerea and F. graminearum, previously identified small silencing plant RNAs were mapped to their targets. The F. graminearum phenotypic network analysis implicates eight B. cinerea targets and 35 F. graminearum predicted interacting proteins as prime candidate virulence genes for further testing. All 15 networks have been made accessible for download at www.phi-base.org providing a rich resource for major crop plant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elzbieta I Janowska-Sejda
- Department of Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom.,Department of Computational and Analytical Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom.,Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Artem Lysenko
- Department of Computational and Analytical Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Urban
- Department of Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Rawlings
- Department of Computational and Analytical Sciences, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Sophia Tsoka
- Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kim E Hammond-Kosack
- Department of Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
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Torres A, Palacios S, Yerkovich N, Palazzini J, Battilani P, Leslie J, Logrieco A, Chulze S. Fusarium head blight and mycotoxins in wheat: prevention and control strategies across the food chain. WORLD MYCOTOXIN J 2019. [DOI: 10.3920/wmj2019.2438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
With 744 million metric tons produced in 2017/2018, bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and durum wheat (Triticum durum) are the second most widely produced cereal on a global basis. Prevention or control of wheat diseases may have an enormous impact on global food security and safety. Fusarium head blight is an economically debilitating disease of wheat that reduces the quantity and quality of grain harvested, and may lead to contamination with the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol, which affects the health of humans and domesticated animals. Current climate change scenarios predict an increase in the number of epidemics caused by this disease. Multiple strategies are available for managing the disease including cultural practices, planting less-susceptible cultivars, crop rotation, and chemical and biological controls. None of these strategies, however, is completely effective by itself, and an integrated approach incorporating multiple controls simultaneously is the only effective strategy to limit the disease and reduce deoxynivalenol contamination in human food and animal feed chains. This review identifies the available tools and strategies for mitigating the damage that can result from Fusarium head blight.
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Affiliation(s)
- A.M. Torres
- Research Institute on Mycology and Mycotoxicology (IMICO), UNRC-CONICET, Ruta 36, Km 601, Río Cuarto 5800, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - S.A. Palacios
- Research Institute on Mycology and Mycotoxicology (IMICO), UNRC-CONICET, Ruta 36, Km 601, Río Cuarto 5800, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - N. Yerkovich
- Research Institute on Mycology and Mycotoxicology (IMICO), UNRC-CONICET, Ruta 36, Km 601, Río Cuarto 5800, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - J.M. Palazzini
- Research Institute on Mycology and Mycotoxicology (IMICO), UNRC-CONICET, Ruta 36, Km 601, Río Cuarto 5800, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - P. Battilani
- Institute of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - J.F. Leslie
- Department of Plant Pathology, 4024 Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5502, USA
| | - A.F. Logrieco
- National Council of Research (CNR), Institute of the Science of Food Production (ISPA), via Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - S.N. Chulze
- Research Institute on Mycology and Mycotoxicology (IMICO), UNRC-CONICET, Ruta 36, Km 601, Río Cuarto 5800, Córdoba, Argentina
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He F, Zhang R, Zhao J, Qi T, Kang Z, Guo J. Host-Induced Silencing of Fusarium graminearum Genes Enhances the Resistance of Brachypodium distachyon to Fusarium Head Blight. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1362. [PMID: 31737001 PMCID: PMC6831556 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium pathogens are devastating diseases worldwide. Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) which involves host expression of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-generating constructs directed against genes in the pathogen has been a potential strategy for the ecological sound control of FHB. In this study, we constructed transgenic Brachypodium distachyon lines carrying RNA interference (RNAi) cassettes to target two essential protein kinase genes Fg00677 and Fg08731, and cytochrome P450 lanosterol C14-α-demethylase (CYP51) encoding genes (CYP51A, CYP51B, and CYP51C) of Fusarium graminearum, respectively. Northern blotting confirmed the presence of short interfering RNAs (siRNA) derived from Fg00677, Fg08731, and CYP51 in transgenic B. distachyon plants, and the transcript levels of the corresponding genes were down-regulated in the F. graminearum colonizing B. distachyon spikes. All the corresponding independent, Fg00677-RNAi, Fg08731-RNAi, and CYP51-RNAi transgenic T2 lines exhibited strong resistance to F. graminearum, suggesting that silencing molecules produced by transgenic plants inhibited the corresponding gene function by down-regulating its expression, thereby reducing pathogenicity. Our results indicate that Fg00677 and Fg08731 are effective targets for HIGS and can be applied to construct transgenic HIGS materials to enhance FHB resistance in wheat and other cereal crops.
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Identification of Fusarium graminearum-responsive miRNAs and their targets in wheat by sRNA sequencing and degradome analysis. Funct Integr Genomics 2019; 20:51-61. [PMID: 31302787 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-019-00699-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB), a prevalent disease of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) caused by Fusarium graminearum, leads to considerable losses of yield and quality in wheat production. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of plant defense responses. Here, to better understand the F. graminearum-responsive miRNAs, we constructed sRNA libraries for wheat cultivar Sumai 3 challenged with F. graminearum and sterile water, respectively. As a result, a total of 203 known miRNAs from 46 families and 68 novel miRNAs were identified. Among them, 18 known and six novel miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed between the F. graminearum-infected samples and the controls and thus were considered to be responsive to F. graminearum. The expression patterns of eight miRNAs were further validated by stem-loop qRT-PCR. Meanwhile, target genes were validated by degradome sequencing. Integrative analysis of the differentially expressed miRNAs and their targets revealed complex miRNA-mediated regulatory networks involved in the response of wheat to F. graminearum infection. Our findings are expected to facilitate a better understanding of the miRNA regulation in wheat-F. graminearum interaction.
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Kettles GJ, Hofinger BJ, Hu P, Bayon C, Rudd JJ, Balmer D, Courbot M, Hammond-Kosack KE, Scalliet G, Kanyuka K. sRNA Profiling Combined With Gene Function Analysis Reveals a Lack of Evidence for Cross-Kingdom RNAi in the Wheat - Zymoseptoria tritici Pathosystem. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:892. [PMID: 31333714 PMCID: PMC6620828 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Cross-kingdom small RNA (sRNA) silencing has recently emerged as a mechanism facilitating fungal colonization and disease development. Here we characterized RNAi pathways in Zymoseptoria tritici, a major fungal pathogen of wheat, and assessed their contribution to pathogenesis. Computational analysis of fungal sRNA and host mRNA sequencing datasets was used to define the global sRNA populations in Z. tritici and predict their mRNA targets in wheat. 389 in planta-induced sRNA loci were identified. sRNAs generated from some of these loci were predicted to target wheat mRNAs including those potentially involved in pathogen defense. However, molecular approaches failed to validate targeting of selected wheat mRNAs by fungal sRNAs. Mutant strains of Z. tritici carrying deletions of genes encoding key components of RNAi such as Dicer-like (DCL) and Argonaute (AGO) proteins were generated, and virulence bioassays suggested that these are dispensable for full infection of wheat. Nonetheless, our results did suggest the existence of non-canonical DCL-independent pathway(s) for sRNA biogenesis in Z. tritici. dsRNA targeting essential fungal genes applied in vitro or generated from an RNA virus vector in planta in a procedure known as HIGS (Host-Induced Gene Silencing) was ineffective in preventing Z. tritici growth or disease. We also demonstrated that Z. tritici is incapable of dsRNA uptake. Collectively, our data suggest that RNAi approaches for gene function analyses in this fungal species and potentially also as a control measure may not be as effective as has been demonstrated for some other plant pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme J. Kettles
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Bernhard J. Hofinger
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Pingsha Hu
- Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Carlos Bayon
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Jason J. Rudd
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Dirk Balmer
- Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Stein, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Kostya Kanyuka
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
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