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Ding Y, Ma N, Haseeb HA, Dai Z, Zhang J, Guo W. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis of toxigenic Fusarium verticillioides in response to variation of temperature and water activity on maize kernels. Int J Food Microbiol 2024; 410:110494. [PMID: 38006847 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2023.110494] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium verticillioides is one of the important mycotoxigenic pathogens of maize since it causes severe yield losses and produces fumonisins (FBs) to threaten human and animal health. Previous studies showed that temperature and water activity (aw) are two pivotal environmental factors affecting F. verticillioides growth and FBs production during maize storage. However, the genome-wide transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in F. verticillioides under the stress combinations of temperature and aw has not been studied in detail. In this study, DEGs of F. verticillioides and their related regulatory pathways were analyzed in response to the stress of temperature and aw combinations using RNA-Seq. The results showed that the optimal growth conditions for F. verticillioides were 0.98 aw and 25 °C, whereas the highest per-unit yield of the fumonisin B1 (FB1) was observed at 0.98 aw and 15 °C. The RNA-seq analysis showed that 9648 DEGs were affected by temperature regardless of aw levels, whereas only 218 DEGs were affected by aw regardless of temperature variations. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that a decrease in temperature at both aw levels led to a significant upregulation of genes associated with 24 biological processes, while three biological processes were downregulated. Furthermore, when aw was decreased at both temperatures, seven biological processes were significantly upregulated and four were downregulated. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the genes, whose expression was upregulated when the temperature decreased, were predominantly associated with the proteasome pathway, whereas the genes, whose expression was downregulated when the aw decreased, were mainly linked to amino acid metabolism. For the FB1, except for the FUM15 gene, the other 15 biosynthetic-related genes were highly expressed at 0.98 aw and 15 °C. In addition, the expression pattern analysis of other biosynthetic genes involved in secondary metabolite production and regulation of fumonisins production was conducted to explore how this fungus responds to the stress combinations of temperature and aw. Overall, this study primarily examines the impact of temperature and aw on the growth of F. verticillioides and its production of FB1 using transcriptome data. The findings presented here have the potential to contribute to the development of novel strategies for managing fungal diseases and offer valuable insights for preventing fumonisin contamination in food and feed storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ding
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-products Quality and Safety Control in Storage and Transport Process, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Nini Ma
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-products Quality and Safety Control in Storage and Transport Process, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Hafiz Abdul Haseeb
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-products Quality and Safety Control in Storage and Transport Process, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, PR China; Directorate General of Pest Warning and Quality Control of Pesticides, Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Zhaoji Dai
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pests (Ministry of Education), School of Plant Protection, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, PR China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-products Quality and Safety Control in Storage and Transport Process, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Wei Guo
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-products Quality and Safety Control in Storage and Transport Process, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100193, PR China.
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Guche MD, Pilati S, Trenti F, Dalla Costa L, Giorni P, Guella G, Marocco A, Lanubile A. Functional Study of Lipoxygenase-Mediated Resistance against Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus Infection in Maize. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810894. [PMID: 36142806 PMCID: PMC9503958 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycotoxin contamination of maize kernels by fungal pathogens like Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus is a chronic global challenge impacting food and feed security, health, and trade. Maize lipoxygenase genes (ZmLOXs) synthetize oxylipins that play defense roles and govern host-fungal interactions. The current study investigated the involvement of ZmLOXs in maize resistance against these two fungi. A considerable intraspecific genetic and transcript variability of the ZmLOX family was highlighted by in silico analysis comparing publicly available maize pan-genomes and pan-transcriptomes, respectively. Then, phenotyping and expression analysis of ZmLOX genes along with key genes involved in oxylipin biosynthesis were carried out in a maize mutant carrying a Mu transposon insertion in the ZmLOX4 gene (named UFMulox4) together with Tzi18, Mo17, and W22 inbred lines at 3- and 7-days post-inoculation with F. verticillioides and A. flavus. Tzi18 showed the highest resistance to the pathogens coupled with the lowest mycotoxin accumulation, while UFMulox4 was highly susceptible to both pathogens with the most elevated mycotoxin content. F. verticillioides inoculation determined a stronger induction of ZmLOXs and maize allene oxide synthase genes as compared to A. flavus. Additionally, oxylipin analysis revealed prevalent linoleic (18:2) peroxidation by 9-LOXs, the accumulation of 10-oxo-11-phytoenoic acid (10-OPEA), and triglyceride peroxidation only in F. verticillioides inoculated kernels of resistant genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikias Damtew Guche
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
- C3A—Centro Agricoltura Alimenti Ambiente, Via Edmund Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Stefania Pilati
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Francesco Trenti
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, 38123 Povo, Italy
| | - Lorenza Dalla Costa
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Paola Giorni
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Graziano Guella
- Department of Physics, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, 38123 Povo, Italy
| | - Adriano Marocco
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Alessandra Lanubile
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0523-599206
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Lanubile A, De Michele R, Loi M, Fakhari S, Marocco A, Paciolla C. Cell death induced by mycotoxin fumonisin B 1 is accompanied by oxidative stress and transcriptional modulation in Arabidopsis cell culture. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2022; 41:1733-1750. [PMID: 35751667 PMCID: PMC9304057 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-022-02888-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fumonisin B1 induces rapid programmed cell death in Arabidopsis cells, oxidative and nitrosative bursts, and differentially modulates cell death responsive genes. Glutathione is the main antioxidant involved in the stress response. Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a fungal toxin produced by Fusarium spp. able to exert pleiotropic toxicity in plants. FB1 is known to be a strong inducer of the programmed cell death (PCD); however, the exact mechanism underling the plant-toxin interactions and the molecular events that lead to PCD are still unclear. Therefore, in this work, we provided a comprehensive investigation of the response of the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana at the nuclear, transcriptional, and biochemical level after the treatment with FB1 at two different concentrations, namely 1 and 5 µM during a time-course of 96 h. FB1 induced oxidative and nitrosative bursts and a rapid cell death in Arabidopsis cell cultures, which resembled a HR-like PCD event. Different genes involved in the regulation of PCD, antioxidant metabolism, photosynthesis, pathogenesis, and sugar transport were upregulated, especially during the late treatment time and with higher FB1 concentration. Among the antioxidant enzymes and compounds studied, only glutathione appeared to be highly induced in both treatments, suggesting that it might be an important stress molecule induced during FB1 exposure. Collectively, these findings highlight the complexity of the signaling network of A. thaliana and provide information for the understanding of the physiological, molecular, and biochemical responses to counteract FB1-induced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Lanubile
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Roberto De Michele
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, corso Calatafimi 414, 90129, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Martina Loi
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council of Italy, via Amendola 122/0, 70126, Bari, Italy
| | - Safieh Fakhari
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council of Italy, corso Calatafimi 414, 90129, Palermo, Italy
| | - Adriano Marocco
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Costantino Paciolla
- Department of Biology, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, via E. Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy.
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Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus Co-Occurrence Influences Plant and Fungal Transcriptional Profiles in Maize Kernels and In Vitro. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13100680. [PMID: 34678972 PMCID: PMC8537323 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13100680] [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: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change will increase the co-occurrence of Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus, along with their mycotoxins, in European maize. In this study, the expression profiles of two pathogenesis-related (PR) genes and four mycotoxin biosynthetic genes, FUM1 and FUM13, fumonisin pathway, and aflR and aflD, aflatoxin pathway, as well as mycotoxin production, were examined in kernels and in artificial medium after a single inoculation with F. verticillioides or A. flavus or with the two fungi in combination. Different temperature regimes (20, 25 and 30 °C) over a time-course of 21 days were also considered. In maize kernels, PR genes showed the strongest induction at 25 °C in the earlier days post inoculation (dpi)with both fungi inoculated singularly. A similar behaviour was maintained with fungi co-occurrence, but with enhanced defence response at 9 dpi under 20 °C. Regarding FUM genes, in the kernels inoculated with F. verticillioides the maximal transcript levels occurred at 6 dpi at 25 °C. At this temperature regime, expression values decreased with the co-occurrence of A. flavus, where the highest gene induction was detected at 20 °C. Similar results were observed in fungi grown in vitro, whilst A. flavus presence determined lower levels of expression along the entire time-course. As concerns afl genes, considering both A. flavus alone and in combination, the most elevated transcript accumulation occurred at 30 °C during all time-course both in infected kernels and in fungi grown in vitro. Regarding mycotoxin production, no significant differences were found among temperatures for kernel contamination, whereas in vitro the highest production was registered at 25 °C for aflatoxin B1 and at 20 °C for fumonisins in the case of single inoculation. In fungal co-occurrence, both mycotoxins resulted reduced at all the temperatures considered compared to the amount produced with single inoculation.
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Loss of ZmLIPOXYGENASE4 Decreases Fusarium verticillioides Resistance in Maize Seedlings. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12030335. [PMID: 33668883 PMCID: PMC7996282 DOI: 10.3390/genes12030335] [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] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium verticillioides is one of the most relevant fungal species in maize responsible for ear, stalk and seedling rot, as well as the fumonisin contamination of kernels. Plant lipoxygenases (LOX) synthesize oxylipins that play a crucial role in the regulation of defense mechanisms against pathogens and influence the outcome of pathogenesis. To better uncover the role of these signaling molecules in maize resistance against F. verticillioides, the functional characterization of the 9-LOX gene, ZmLOX4, was carried out in this study by employing mutants carrying Mu insertions in this gene (named as UFMulox4). In this regard, the genotyping of five UFMulox4 identified the mutant UFMu10924 as the only one having an insertion in the coding region of the gene. The impact of ZmLOX4 mutagenesis on kernel defense against F. verticillioides and fumonisin accumulation were investigated, resulting in an increased fungal susceptibility compared to the inbred lines W22 and Tzi18. Moreover, the expression of most of the genes involved in the LOX, jasmonic acid (JA) and green leaf volatiles (GLV) pathways, as well as LOX enzymatic activity, decreased or were unaffected by fungal inoculation in the mutant UFMu10924. These results confirm the strategic role of ZmLOX4 in controlling defense against F. verticillioides and its influence on the expression of several LOX, JA and GLV genes.
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Stagnati L, Martino M, Battilani P, Busconi M, Lanubile A, Marocco A. Development of early maturity maize hybrids for resistance to Fusarium and Aspergillus ear rots and their associated mycotoxins. WORLD MYCOTOXIN J 2020. [DOI: 10.3920/wmj2019.2554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Maize is mainly affected by two fungal pathogens, Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus, causing Fusarium ear rot (FER) and Aspergillus ear rot (AER), respectively. Both fungi are of concern to stakeholders as they affect crop yield and quality, contaminating maize grains with the mycotoxins fumonisins and aflatoxins. The easiest strategy to prevent pre-harvest contamination by F. verticillioides and A. flavus is to develop maize hybrids resistant to FER and AER, as well as to their associated mycotoxins. The objective of this investigation was to test 46 F1 hybrids, originated from different Italian, US and Canadian breeding groups, for these important traits and their agronomic performances. All hybrids were planted and artificially inoculated with toxigenic strains of F. verticillioides and A. flavus at two locations in 2017, and the best performing 17 out of 46 were also tested in 2018. Ear rots were present in all hybrids in 2017 and 2018, with percentages ranging from 6.50 to 49.50%, and 5.50 to 45.53%, for FER and AER, respectively. Seven hybrids (PC8, PC15, PC9, PC11, PC14, PC34 and PC17) presented the lowest levels of both diseases considering the overall locations and growing seasons, and three of these (PC8, PC11 and PC14) were also amongst the least mycotoxin contaminated hybrids in 2017. The inbred lines used in hybrid production may provide additional sources of resistance suitable in breeding programs targeting multiple pathogens and their mycotoxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Stagnati
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via E. Parmense, 84, 29122, Piacenza, Italy
| | - M. Martino
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via E. Parmense, 84, 29122, Piacenza, Italy
| | - P. Battilani
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via E. Parmense, 84, 29122, Piacenza, Italy
| | - M. Busconi
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via E. Parmense, 84, 29122, Piacenza, Italy
- Research Centre for Biodiversity and Ancient DNA, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via E. Parmense, 84, 29122, Piacenza, Italy
| | - A. Lanubile
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via E. Parmense, 84, 29122, Piacenza, Italy
- Research Centre for Biodiversity and Ancient DNA, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via E. Parmense, 84, 29122, Piacenza, Italy
| | - A. Marocco
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via E. Parmense, 84, 29122, Piacenza, Italy
- Research Centre for Biodiversity and Ancient DNA, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via E. Parmense, 84, 29122, Piacenza, Italy
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Zeng HY, Li CY, Yao N. Fumonisin B1: A Tool for Exploring the Multiple Functions of Sphingolipids in Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:600458. [PMID: 33193556 PMCID: PMC7652989 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.600458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Fumonisin toxins are produced by Fusarium fungal pathogens. Fumonisins are structural analogs of sphingosine and potent inhibitors of ceramide synthases (CerSs); they disrupt sphingolipid metabolism and cause disease in plants and animals. Over the past three decades, researchers have used fumonisin B1 (FB1), the most common fumonisin, as a probe to investigate sphingolipid metabolism in yeast and animals. Although the physiological effects of FB1 in plants have yet to be investigated in detail, forward and reverse genetic approaches have revealed many genes involved in these processes. In this review, we discuss the intricate network of signaling pathways affected by FB1, including changes in sphingolipid metabolism and the effects of these changes, with a focus on our current understanding of the multiple effects of FB1 on plant cell death and plant growth. We analyze the major findings that highlight the connections between sphingolipid metabolism and FB1-induced signaling, and we point out where additional research is needed to fill the gaps in our understanding of FB1-induced signaling pathways in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Yun Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resource, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chun-Yu Li
- Institution of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nan Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resource, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Santiago R, Cao A, Malvar RA, Butrón A. Genomics of Maize Resistance to Fusarium Ear Rot and Fumonisin Contamination. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:E431. [PMID: 32629954 PMCID: PMC7404995 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12070431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Food contamination with mycotoxins is a worldwide concern, because these toxins produced by several fungal species have detrimental effects on animal and/or human health. In maize, fumonisins are among the toxins with the highest threatening potential because they are mainly produced by Fusarium verticillioides, which is distributed worldwide. Plant breeding has emerged as an effective and environmentally safe method to reduce fumonisin levels in maize kernels, but although phenotypic selection has proved effective for improving resistance to fumonisin contamination, further resources should be mobilized to meet farmers' needs. Selection based on molecular markers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to fumonisin contamination or/and genotype values obtained using prediction models with markers distributed across the whole genome could speed up breeding progress. Therefore, in the current paper, previously identified genomic regions, genes, and/or pathways implicated in resistance to fumonisin accumulation will be reviewed. Studies done until now have provide many markers to be used by breeders, but to get further insight on plant mechanisms to defend against fungal infection and to limit fumonisin contamination, the genes behind those QTLs should be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogelio Santiago
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ciencias del Suelo, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Vigo, As Lagoas Marcosende, Agrobiología Ambiental, Calidad de Suelos y Plantas (UVIGO), Unidad Asociada a la MBG (CSIC), 36310 Vigo, Spain;
| | - Ana Cao
- Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), Apdo. 28, 36080 Pontevedra, Spain; (A.C.); (R.A.M.)
| | - Rosa Ana Malvar
- Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), Apdo. 28, 36080 Pontevedra, Spain; (A.C.); (R.A.M.)
| | - Ana Butrón
- Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), Apdo. 28, 36080 Pontevedra, Spain; (A.C.); (R.A.M.)
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Hu Z, Zheng L, Huang J, Zhou L, Liu C, Liu H. Ustiloxin A is Produced Early in Experimental Ustilaginoidea virens Infection and Affects Transcription in Rice. Curr Microbiol 2020; 77:2766-2774. [PMID: 32529481 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-020-02072-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Ustiloxin is a kind of 13-membered cyclic peptides found in mature rice false smut generated by Ustilaginoidea virens infecting rice spikelet. So far, six kinds of ustiloxins have been identified from false smut balls (FSBs) in which ustiloxin A is the main component. The toxins can not only inhibit the growth of rice, wheat, and corn, but also poison people and animals. However, so far, there have been few studies of the content of ustiloxin except that in mature FSB. The effect of ustiloxins on the process of infection has not been clarified. In this study, the technique of artificial inoculation coupled with UPLC-ESI-MS was introduced to investigate the content of ustiloxins in the course of infection. The initial formation time of ustiloxin A, B, C, D, F, and G was no later than 5, 5, 9, 7, 7, and 9 days post inoculation (dpi) prior to FSB's formation, respectively. The content of ustiloxin A per spikelet was increased rapidly from 6.0 ng at 5 dpi to 14,157.1 ng at 25 dpi. Meanwhile, the content of ustiloxin A per dry weight (DW) of the FSBs also peaked at 1321.2 μg/g at 25 dpi. Interestingly, both the contents of ustiloxin A per dry weight and per spikelet were significantly reduced from 25 to 30 dpi. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that a total of 146 transcripts (103 upregulated and 43 downregulated) were significantly changed in rice spikelets after 3-h acute exposure to 100 ng ustiloxin A. In addition, several of the significantly altered genes were validated by RT-qPCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Hu
- The Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Zheng
- The Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Junbin Huang
- The Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Ligang Zhou
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunsheng Liu
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Liu
- The Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People's Republic of China.
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A Genome-Wide Association Study To Understand the Effect of Fusarium verticillioides Infection on Seedlings of a Maize Diversity Panel. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:1685-1696. [PMID: 32156690 PMCID: PMC7202023 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium verticillioides, which causes ear, kernel and stem rots, has been reported as the most prevalent species on maize worldwide. Kernel infection by F. verticillioides results in reduced seed yield and quality as well as fumonisin contamination, and may affect seedling traits like germination rate, entire plant seedling length and weight. Maize resistance to Fusarium is a quantitative and complex trait controlled by numerous genes with small effects. In the present work, a Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) of traits related to Fusarium seedling rot was carried out in 230 lines of a maize association population using 226,446 SNP markers. Phenotypes were scored on artificially infected kernels applying the rolled towel assay screening method and three traits related to disease response were measured in inoculated and not-inoculated seedlings: plant seedling length (PL), plant seedling weight (PW) and germination rate (GERM). Overall, GWAS resulted in 42 SNPs significantly associated with the examined traits. Two and eleven SNPs were associated with PL in inoculated and not-inoculated samples, respectively. Additionally, six and one SNPs were associated with PW and GERM traits in not-inoculated kernels, and further nine and thirteen SNPs were associated to the same traits in inoculated kernels. Five genes containing the significant SNPs or physically closed to them were proposed for Fusarium resistance, and 18 out of 25 genes containing or adjacent to significant SNPs identified by GWAS in the current research co-localized within QTL regions previously reported for resistance to Fusarium seed rot, Fusarium ear rot and fumonisin accumulation. Furthermore, linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed an additional gene not directly observed by GWAS analysis. These findings could aid to better understand the complex interaction between maize and F. verticillioides.
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Aguado A, Savoie JM, Chéreau S, Ducos C, Aguilar M, Ferrer N, Aguilar M, Pinson-Gadais L, Richard-Forget F. Priming to protect maize from Fusarium verticillioides and its fumonisin accumulation. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2019; 99:64-72. [PMID: 29797333 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.9142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic infection through the seed is one of the routes used by the mycotoxinogenic pathogen Fusarium verticillioides for colonizing maize plants. The prohibition of the use of most chemical fungicides by the EU has promoted research on plant resistance inducers as an effective and sustainable alternative. Induction of a priming state in maize seeds might affect their susceptibility to contamination and accumulation of fumonisins. This state by application of a natural fertilizer called Chamae on maize seeds, was investigated in two varieties to control the colonization by the fungus and the accumulation of fumonisins B1 , B2 and B3 , germinating seeds, dead plants and yield. RESULTS After inoculation of F. verticillioides on germinating seeds, the colonization by the fungus and the accumulation of fumonisins were significantly lower in seedlings coming from treated seeds, but a significant number of plants stopped their development by necrosis. In a field trial, the 0.01% (v/v) application dilution showed a lower plant density, although the level of biomass at harvest was not affected. CONCLUSION The priming state contributed to the control of F. verticillioides development from seed infection and fumonisin accumulation in the early stage of plant growth, without affecting the final crop yield, and could reduce fungicide use and environmental contamination. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Aguado
- IFAPA Las Torres Tomejil, Protección Vegetal Sostenible, Carretera Sevilla-Cazalla Km 12.2, Alcalá del Río, Seville, Spain
| | - Jean-Michel Savoie
- MycSA, UR1264, INRA, Villenave d'Ornon Cedex, Bordeaux-Aquitaine, France
| | - Sylvain Chéreau
- MycSA, UR1264, INRA, Villenave d'Ornon Cedex, Bordeaux-Aquitaine, France
| | - Christine Ducos
- MycSA, UR1264, INRA, Villenave d'Ornon Cedex, Bordeaux-Aquitaine, France
| | - María Aguilar
- IFAPA Las Torres Tomejil, Protección Vegetal Sostenible, Carretera Sevilla-Cazalla Km 12.2, Alcalá del Río, Seville, Spain
| | - Nathalie Ferrer
- MycSA, UR1264, INRA, Villenave d'Ornon Cedex, Bordeaux-Aquitaine, France
| | - Manuel Aguilar
- IFAPA Las Torres Tomejil, Protección Vegetal Sostenible, Carretera Sevilla-Cazalla Km 12.2, Alcalá del Río, Seville, Spain
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Lanubile A, Maschietto V, Borrelli VM, Stagnati L, Logrieco AF, Marocco A. Molecular Basis of Resistance to Fusarium Ear Rot in Maize. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:1774. [PMID: 29075283 PMCID: PMC5644281 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The impact of climate change has been identified as an emerging issue for food security and safety, and the increased incidence of mycotoxin contamination in maize over the last two decades is considered a potential emerging hazard. Disease control by chemical and agronomic approaches is often ineffective and increases the cost of production; for this reason the exploitation of genetic resistance is the most sustainable method for reducing contamination. The review focuses on the significant advances that have been made in the development of transcriptomic, genetic and genomic information for maize, Fusarium verticillioides molds, and their interactions, over recent years. Findings from transcriptomic studies have been used to outline a specific model for the intracellular signaling cascade occurring in maize cells against F. verticillioides infection. Several recognition receptors, such as receptor-like kinases and R genes, are involved in pathogen perception, and trigger down-stream signaling networks mediated by mitogen-associated protein kinases. These signals could be orchestrated primarily by hormones, including salicylic acid, auxin, abscisic acid, ethylene, and jasmonic acid, in association with calcium signaling, targeting multiple transcription factors that in turn promote the down-stream activation of defensive response genes, such as those related to detoxification processes, phenylpropanoid, and oxylipin metabolic pathways. At the genetic and genomic levels, several quantitative trait loci (QTL) and single-nucleotide polymorphism markers for resistance to Fusarium ear rot deriving from QTL mapping and genome-wide association studies are described, indicating the complexity of this polygenic trait. All these findings will contribute to identifying candidate genes for resistance and to applying genomic technologies for selecting resistant maize genotypes and speeding up a strategy of breeding to contrast disease, through plants resistant to mycotoxin-producing pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Lanubile
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Valentina Maschietto
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Virginia M. Borrelli
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Stagnati
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - Antonio F. Logrieco
- Institute of Sciences of Food Production, National Research Council, Bari, Italy
| | - Adriano Marocco
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
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Shu X, Livingston DP, Woloshuk CP, Payne GA. Comparative Histological and Transcriptional Analysis of Maize Kernels Infected with Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:2075. [PMID: 29270183 PMCID: PMC5723656 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides infect maize kernels and contaminate them with the mycotoxins aflatoxin, and fumonisin, respectively. Genetic resistance in maize to these fungi and to mycotoxin contamination has been difficult to achieve due to lack of identified resistance genes. The objective of this study was to identify new candidate resistance genes by characterizing their temporal expression in response to infection and comparing expression of these genes with genes known to be associated with plant defense. Fungal colonization and transcriptional changes in kernels inoculated with each fungus were monitored at 4, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h post inoculation (hpi). Maize kernels responded by differential gene expression to each fungus within 4 hpi, before the fungi could be observed visually, but more genes were differentially expressed between 48 and 72 hpi, when fungal colonization was more extensive. Two-way hierarchal clustering analysis grouped the temporal expression profiles of the 5,863 differentially expressed maize genes over all time points into 12 clusters. Many clusters were enriched for genes previously associated with defense responses to either A. flavus or F. verticillioides. Also within these expression clusters were genes that lacked either annotation or assignment to functional categories. This study provided a comprehensive analysis of gene expression of each A. flavus and F. verticillioides during infection of maize kernels, it identified genes expressed early and late in the infection process, and it provided a grouping of genes of unknown function with similarly expressed defense related genes that could inform selection of new genes as targets in breeding strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Shu
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - David P. Livingston
- Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Charles P. Woloshuk
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Gary A. Payne
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: Gary A. Payne, ;
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14
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Maschietto V, Lanubile A, Leonardis SD, Marocco A, Paciolla C. Constitutive expression of pathogenesis-related proteins and antioxydant enzyme activities triggers maize resistance towards Fusarium verticillioides. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 200:53-61. [PMID: 27340858 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2016.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium verticillioides is a fungal pathogen of maize that causes ear rot and contaminates the grains with fumonisin mycotoxins. Breeding for resistance to Fusarium emerged as the most economic and environmentally safe strategy; therefore the discovery of resistant sources and effective molecular markers are a priority. Ears of resistant (CO441 and CO433) and susceptible (CO354 and CO389) maize lines were inoculated with F. verticillioides and the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes (PR1, PR5, PRm3, PRm6) and genes that protect from oxidative stress (peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase) were evaluated in the kernels at 72h post inoculation. In addition, the oxidation level and the enzymatic activity of ascorbate-glutathione cycle, catalase, superoxide dismutase and cytosolic and wall peroxidases were investigated. The uninoculated kernels of the resistant lines showed higher gene expression and enzymatic activities, highlighting the key role of constitutive resistance in limiting pathogen attack. In contrast, the susceptible lines activated defensive genes only after pathogen inoculation, resulting in increased levels of H2O2 and lipid peroxidation, as well as lower enzymatic activities. The constitutive defenses observed in this study from seed could be profitably exploited to develop markers to speed up conventional breeding programs in the selection of resistant genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Maschietto
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Vegetali Sostenibili, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, Piacenza 29122, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Lanubile
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Vegetali Sostenibili, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, Piacenza 29122, Italy.
| | - Silvana De Leonardis
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Bari "Aldo Moro", via E. Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy.
| | - Adriano Marocco
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Vegetali Sostenibili, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, Piacenza 29122, Italy.
| | - Costantino Paciolla
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Bari "Aldo Moro", via E. Orabona 4, Bari 70125, Italy.
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Maschietto V, Marocco A, Malachova A, Lanubile A. Resistance to Fusarium verticillioides and fumonisin accumulation in maize inbred lines involves an earlier and enhanced expression of lipoxygenase (LOX) genes. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 188:9-18. [PMID: 26398628 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2015.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Revised: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium verticillioides causes ear rot in maize and contaminates the kernels with the fumonisin mycotoxins. It is known that plant lipoxygenase (LOX)-derived oxylipins regulate defence against pathogens and that the host-pathogen lipid cross-talk influences the pathogenesis. The expression profiles of fifteen genes of the LOX pathway were studied in kernels of resistant and susceptible maize lines, grown in field condition, at 3, 7 and 14 days post inoculation (dpi) with F. verticillioides. Plant defence responses were correlated with the pathogen growth, the expression profiles of fungal FUM genes for fumonisin biosynthesis and fumonisin content in the kernels. The resistant genotype limited fungal growth and fumonisin accumulation between 7 and 14 dpi. Pathogen growth became exponential in the susceptible line after 7 dpi, in correspondence with massive transcription of FUM genes and fumonisins augmented exponentially at 14 dpi. LOX pathway genes resulted strongly induced after pathogen inoculation in the resistant line at 3 and 7 dpi, whilst in the susceptible line the induction was reduced or delayed at 14 dpi. In addition, all genes resulted overexpressed before infection in kernels of the resistant genotype already at 3 dpi. The results suggest that resistance in maize may depend on an earlier activation of LOX genes and genes for jasmonic acid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Maschietto
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
| | - Adriano Marocco
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
| | - Alexandra Malachova
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Mycotoxin Metabolism and Center for Analytical Chemistry, Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Konrad Lorenz Str. 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria.
| | - Alessandra Lanubile
- Department of Sustainable Crop Production, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy.
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Lanubile A, Maschietto V, De Leonardis S, Battilani P, Paciolla C, Marocco A. Defense Responses to Mycotoxin-Producing Fungi Fusarium proliferatum, F. subglutinans, and Aspergillus flavus in Kernels of Susceptible and Resistant Maize Genotypes. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2015; 28:546-57. [PMID: 26024441 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-09-14-0269-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Developing kernels of resistant and susceptible maize genotypes were inoculated with Fusarium proliferatum, F. subglutinans, and Aspergillus flavus. Selected defense systems were investigated using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to monitor the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes (PR1, PR5, PRm3, PRm6) and genes protective from oxidative stress (peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase) at 72 h postinoculation. The study was also extended to the analysis of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle and catalase, superoxide dismutase, and cytosolic and wall peroxidases enzymes. Furthermore, the hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde contents were studied to evaluate the oxidation level. Higher gene expression and enzymatic activities were observed in uninoculated kernels of resistant line, conferring a major readiness to the pathogen attack. Moreover expression values of PR genes remained higher in the resistant line after inoculation, demonstrating a potentiated response to the pathogen invasions. In contrast, reactive oxygen species-scavenging genes were strongly induced in the susceptible line only after pathogen inoculation, although their enzymatic activity was higher in the resistant line. Our data provide an important basis for further investigation of defense gene functions in developing kernels in order to improve resistance to fungal pathogens. Maize genotypes with overexpressed resistance traits could be profitably utilized in breeding programs focused on resistance to pathogens and grain safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Lanubile
- 1Istituto di Agronomia, Genetica e Coltivazioni erbacee, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Valentina Maschietto
- 1Istituto di Agronomia, Genetica e Coltivazioni erbacee, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Silvana De Leonardis
- 2Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Bari "Aldo Moro", via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Paola Battilani
- 3Istituto di Entomologia e Patologia vegetale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Costantino Paciolla
- 2Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Bari "Aldo Moro", via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy
| | - Adriano Marocco
- 1Istituto di Agronomia, Genetica e Coltivazioni erbacee, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Via Emilia Parmense 84, 29122 Piacenza, Italy
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