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Lv B, Zhao X, Guo Y, Li S, Sun M. Serine protease CrKP43 interacts with MAPK and regulates fungal development and mycoparasitism in Clonostachys chloroleuca. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0244823. [PMID: 37831480 PMCID: PMC10715147 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02448-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Mycoparasites play important roles in the biocontrol of plant fungal diseases, during which they secret multiple hydrolases such as serine proteases to degrade their fungal hosts. In this study, we demonstrated that the serine protease CrKP43 was involved in C. chloroleuca development and mycoparasitism with the regulation of Crmapk. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report on the functions and regulatory mechanisms of serine proteases in C. chloroleuca. Our findings will provide new insight into the regulatory mechanisms of serine proteases in mycoparasites and contribute to clarifying the mechanisms underlying mycoparasitism of C. chloroleuca, which will facilitate the development of highly efficient fungal biocontrol agents as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binna Lv
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Zhao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Guo
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shidong Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Manhong Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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Yu SF, Sun ZB, Li SD, Hu YF, Ren Q, Xu JL, Song HJ, Sun MH. The Adenylate Cyclase-Encoding Gene crac Is Involved in Clonostachys rosea Mycoparasitism. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:861. [PMID: 37623632 PMCID: PMC10455997 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Clonostachys rosea is an excellent biocontrol fungus against numerous fungal plant pathogens. The cAMP signaling pathway is a crucial signal transduction pathway in fungi. To date, the role of the cAMP signaling pathway in C. rosea mycoparasitism remains unknown. An adenylate cyclase-encoding gene, crac (an important component of the cAMP signaling pathway), was previously screened from C. rosea 67-1, and its expression level was dramatically upregulated during the C. rosea mycoparasitization of the sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. In this study, the function of crac in C. rosea mycoparasitism was explored through gene knockout and complementation. The obtained results show that the deletion of crac influenced the growth rate and colony morphology of C. rosea, as well as the tolerance to NaCl and H2O2 stress. The mycoparasitic effects on the sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum and the biocontrol capacity on soybean Sclerotinia stem rot in ∆crac-6 and ∆crac-13 were both attenuated compared with that of the wild-type strain and complementation transformants. To understand the regulatory mechanism of crac during C. rosea mycoparasitism, transcriptomic analysis was conducted between the wild-type strain and knockout mutant. A number of biocontrol-related genes, including genes encoding cell wall-degrading enzymes and transporters, were significantly differentially expressed during C. rosea mycoparasitism, suggesting that crac may be involved in C. rosea mycoparasitism by regulating the expression of these DEGs. These findings provide insight for further exploring the molecular mechanism of C. rosea mycoparasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Fan Yu
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Zhan-Bin Sun
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Shi-Dong Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ya-Feng Hu
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Qing Ren
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Jia-Liang Xu
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Han-Jian Song
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Man-Hong Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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Sun ZB, Yu SF, Sun MH, Li SD, Hu YF, Song HJ. Transcriptomic Response of Clonostachys rosea Mycoparasitizing Rhizoctonia solani. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:818. [PMID: 37623589 PMCID: PMC10455738 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Clonostachys rosea is an important mycoparasitism biocontrol agent that exhibits excellent control efficacy against numerous fungal plant pathogens. Transcriptomic sequencing may be used to preliminarily screen mycoparasitism-related genes of C. rosea against fungal pathogens. The present study sequenced and analyzed the transcriptome of C. rosea mycoparasitizing a Basidiomycota (phylum) fungal pathogen, Rhizoctonia solani, under three touch stages: the pre-touch stage, touch stage and after-touch stage. The results showed that a number of genes were differentially expressed during C. rosea mycoparasitization of R. solani. At the pre-touch stage, 154 and 315 genes were up- and down-regulated, respectively. At the touch stage, the numbers of up- and down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were 163 and 188, respectively. The after-touch stage obtained the highest number of DEGs, with 412 and 326 DEGs being up- and down-regulated, respectively. Among these DEGs, ABC transporter-, glucanase- and chitinase-encoding genes were selected as potential mycoparasitic genes according to a phylogenetic analysis. A comparative transcriptomic analysis between C. rosea mycoparasitizing R. solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum showed that several DEGs, including the tartrate transporter, SDR family oxidoreductase, metallophosphoesterase, gluconate 5-dehydrogenase and pyruvate carboxylase, were uniquely expressed in C. rosea mycoparasitizing R. solani. These results significantly expand our knowledge of mycoparasitism-related genes in C. rosea and elucidate the mycoparasitism mechanism of C. rosea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan-Bin Sun
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Shu-Fan Yu
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Man-Hong Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shi-Dong Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ya-Feng Hu
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Han-Jian Song
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
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Lv B, Guo Y, Zhao X, Li S, Sun M. Glucose-6-phosphate 1-Epimerase CrGlu6 Contributes to Development and Biocontrol Efficiency in Clonostachys chloroleuca. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:764. [PMID: 37504752 PMCID: PMC10381721 DOI: 10.3390/jof9070764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Clonostachys chloroleuca (formerly classified as C. rosea) is an important mycoparasite active against various plant fungal pathogens. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways are vital in mycoparasitic interactions; they participate in responses to diverse stresses and mediate fungal development. In previous studies, the MAPK-encoding gene Crmapk has been proven to be involved in mycoparasitism and the biocontrol processes of C. chloroleuca, but its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Aldose 1-epimerases are key enzymes in filamentous fungi that generate energy for fungal growth and development. By protein-protein interaction assays, the glucose-6-phosphate 1-epimerase CrGlu6 was found to interact with Crmapk, and expression of the CrGlu6 gene was significantly upregulated when C. chloroleuca colonized Sclerotinia sclerotiorum sclerotia. Gene deletion and complementation analyses showed that CrGlu6 deficiency caused abnormal morphology of hyphae and cells, and greatly reduced conidiation. Moreover, deletion mutants presented much lower antifungal activities and mycoparasitic ability, and control efficiency against sclerotinia stem rot was markedly decreased. When the CrGlu6 gene was reinserted, all biological characteristics and biocontrol activities were recovered. These findings provide new insight into the mechanisms of glucose-6-phosphate 1-epimerase in mycoparasitism and help to further reveal the regulation of MAPK and its interacting proteins in the biocontrol of C. chloroleuca.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binna Lv
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yan Guo
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xue Zhao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shidong Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Manhong Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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Wang Y, Zhu X, Wang J, Shen C, Wang W. Identification of Mycoparasitism-Related Genes against the Phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea via Transcriptome Analysis of Trichoderma harzianum T4. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9030324. [PMID: 36983492 PMCID: PMC10055783 DOI: 10.3390/jof9030324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Trichoderma harzianum is a well-known biological control agent (BCA) that is effective against a variety of plant pathogens. In previous studies, we found that T. harzianum T4 could effectively control the gray mold in tomatoes caused by Botrytis cinerea. However, the research on its biocontrol mechanism is not comprehensive, particularly regarding the mechanism of mycoparasitism. In this study, in order to further investigate the mycoparasitism mechanism of T. harzianum T4, transcriptomic sequencing and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of T. harzianum T4 at 12, 24, 48 and 72 h of growth in the cell wall of B. cinerea (BCCW) or a sucrose medium. A total of 2871 DEGs and 2148 novel genes were detected using transcriptome sequencing. Through GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, we identified genes associated with mycoparasitism at specific time periods, such as encoding kinases, signal transduction proteins, carbohydrate active enzymes, hydrolytic enzymes, transporters, antioxidant enzymes, secondary metabolite synthesis, resistance proteins, detoxification genes and genes associated with extended hyphal longevity. To validate the transcriptome data, RT-qCPR was performed on the transcriptome samples. The RT-qPCR results show that the expression trend of the genes was consistent with the RNA-Seq data. In order to validate the screened genes associated with mycoparasitism, we performed a dual-culture antagonism test on T. harzianum and B. cinerea. The results of the dual-culture RT-qPCR showed that 15 of the 24 genes were upregulated during and after contact between T. harzianum T4 and B. cinerea (the same as BCCW), which further confirmed that these genes were involved in the mycoparasitism of T. harzianum T4. In conclusion, the transcriptome data provided in this study will not only improve the annotation information of gene models in T. harzianum T4 genome, but also provide important transcriptome information regarding the process of mycoparasitism at specific time periods, which can help us to further understand the mechanism of mycoparasitism, thus providing a potential molecular target for T. harzianum T4 as a biological control agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xiaochong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Chao Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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Screening and characterisation of proteins interacting with the mitogen-activated protein kinase Crmapk in the fungus Clonostachys chloroleuca. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9997. [PMID: 35705642 PMCID: PMC9200739 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13899-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Clonostachys chloroleuca 67-1 (formerly C. rosea 67-1) is a promising mycoparasite with great potential for controlling various plant fungal diseases. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-encoding gene Crmapk is of great importance to the mycoparasitism and biocontrol activities of C. chloroleuca. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of Crmapk in mycoparasitism, a high-quality yeast two hybrid (Y2H) library of C. chloroleuca 67-1 was constructed, and proteins interacting with Crmapk were characterised. The library contained 1.6 × 107 independent clones with a recombination rate of 96%, and most inserted fragments were > 1 kb. The pGBKT7-Crmapk bait vector with no self-activation or toxicity to yeast cells was used to screen interacting proteins from the Y2H library, resulting in 60 candidates, many linked to metabolism, cellular processes and signal transduction. Combined bioinformatics and transcriptome analyses of C. chloroleuca 67-1 and ΔCrmapk mutant mycoparasitising Sclerotinia sclerotiorum sclerotia, 41 differentially expressed genes were identified, which might be the targets of the Fus3/Kss1-MAPK pathway. The results provide a profile of potential protein interactions associated with MAPK enzymes in mycoparasites, and are of great significance for understanding the mechanisms of Crmapk regulating C. chloroleuca mycoparasitism.
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Monitoring Mycoparasitism of Clonostachys rosea against Botrytis cinerea Using GFP. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8060567. [PMID: 35736050 PMCID: PMC9225460 DOI: 10.3390/jof8060567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Clonostachys rosea is an important mycoparasite, with great potential for controlling numerous plant fungal diseases. Understanding the mechanisms and modes of action will assist the development and application of this biocontrol fungus. In this study, the highly efficient C. rosea 67-1 strain was marked with the green fluorescent protein (GFP), and the transformant possessed the same biological characteristics as the wild-type strain. Fungal interactions with Botrytis cinerea during co-culture and encounter on tomato leaves were assessed by fluorescence confocal and electron microscopy. The results indicated that once the two fungi met, the hyphae of C. rosea grew alongside those of B. cinerea, then attached tightly to the host and developed special structures, via which the biocontrol fungus penetrated the host and absorbed nutrients, eventually disintegrating the cells of the pathogen. Mycoparasitism to B. cinerea was also observed on tomato leaves, suggesting that C. rosea can colonize on plants and act following the invasion of the pathogenic fungus.
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Kim SH, Vujanovic V. Early transcriptomic response of the mycoparasite Sphaerodes mycoparasitica to the mycotoxigenic Fusarium graminearum 3-ADON, the cause of Fusarium head blight. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2022; 8:127. [PMID: 34993050 PMCID: PMC8683091 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-021-00479-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycoparasites are an assemblage of biotrophic and necrotrophic fungi that occur on plant pathogenic fungal hosts. Biotrophic mycoparasites are often overlooked in transcriptomic-based biocontrol studies. Sphaerodes mycoparasitica (S.m.) is a specific biotrophic mycoparasite of plant pathogenic Fusarium graminearum (F.g.), a devastating Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease in small-grain cereals. To understand the biotrophic mycoparasitism comprehensively, we performed Illumina RNA-Seq transcriptomic study on the fungus–fungus interaction in vitro. The aim is to identify the transcript-level mechanism related to the biotrophic S.m. mycoparasitism, particularly its ability to effectively control the F.g. 3-ADON chemotype. A shift in the transcriptomic profile of the mycoparasite was triggered in response to its interaction with F.g. during recognition (1.5 days) and colonization (3.5 days) steps. RNA-Seq analysis revealed ~ 30% of annotated transcripts with "function unknown". Further, 14 differentially expressed genes functionally linked to the biotrophic mycoparasitism were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The gene expression patterns of the filamentous haemagglutinin/adhesin/attachment factor as well as cell wall-degrading glucanases and chitinases were upregulated by host interaction. Besides, mycoparasitism-associated antioxidant resistance genes encoding ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter(s) and glutathione synthetase(s) were upregulated. However, the thioredoxin reductase was downregulated which infers that this antioxidant gene can be used as a resistance marker to assess S.m. antifungal and antimycotoxigenic activities. The interactive transcriptome of S. mycoparasitica provides new insights into specific mycoparasitism and will contribute to future research in controlling FHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seon Hwa Kim
- Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8 Canada
| | - Vladimir Vujanovic
- Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8 Canada
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Tandem Mass Tag labelling quantitative acetylome analysis of differentially modified proteins during mycoparasitism of Clonostachys chloroleuca 67-1. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22383. [PMID: 34789861 PMCID: PMC8599485 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01956-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysine acetylation (Kac) is an important post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins in all organisms, but its functions have not been extensively explored in filamentous fungi. In this study, a Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) labelling lysine acetylome was constructed, and differentially modified Kac proteins were quantified during mycoparasitism and vegetative growth in the biocontrol fungus Clonostachys chloroleuca 67–1, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). A total of 1448 Kac sites were detected on 740 Kac proteins, among which 126 sites on 103 proteins were differentially regulated. Systematic bioinformatics analyses indicate that the modified Kac proteins were from multiple subcellular localizations and involved in diverse functions including chromatin assembly, glycometabolism and redox activities. All Kac sites were characterized by 10 motifs, including the novel CxxKac motif. The results suggest that Kac proteins may have effects of broadly regulating protein interaction networks during C. chloroleuca parasitism to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum sclerotia. This is the first report of a correlation between Kac events and the biocontrol activity of C. chloroleuca. Our findings provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying C. chloroleuca control of plant fungal pathogens regulated by Kac proteins.
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Piombo E, Vetukuri RR, Broberg A, Kalyandurg PB, Kushwaha S, Funck Jensen D, Karlsson M, Dubey M. Role of Dicer-Dependent RNA Interference in Regulating Mycoparasitic Interactions. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0109921. [PMID: 34549988 PMCID: PMC8557909 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01099-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dicer-like proteins (DCLs) play a vital role in RNA interference (RNAi), by cleaving RNA filament into small RNAs. Although DCL-mediated RNAi can regulate interspecific communication between pathogenic/mutualistic organisms and their hosts, its role in mycoparasitic interactions is yet to be investigated. In this study, we deleted dcl genes in the mycoparasitic fungus Clonostachys rosea and characterize the functions of DCL-dependent RNAi in mycoparasitism. Deletion of dcl2 resulted in a mutant with reduced secondary metabolite production, antagonism toward the plant-pathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea, and reduced ability to control Fusarium foot rot disease on wheat, caused by Fusarium graminearum. Transcriptome sequencing of the in vitro interaction between the C. rosea Δdcl2 strain and B. cinerea or F. graminearum identified the downregulation of genes coding for transcription factors, membrane transporters, hydrolytic enzymes, and secondary metabolites biosynthesis enzymes putatively involved in antagonistic interactions, in comparison with the C. rosea wild-type interaction. A total of 61 putative novel microRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) were identified in C. rosea, and 11 were downregulated in the Δdcl2 mutant. In addition to putative endogenous gene targets, these milRNAs were predicted to target B. cinerea and F. graminearum virulence factor genes, which showed an increased expression during interaction with the Δdcl2 mutant incapable of producing the targeting milRNAs. In summary, this study constitutes the first step in elucidating the role of RNAi in mycoparasitic interactions, with important implications for biological control of plant diseases, and poses the base for future studies focusing on the role of cross-species RNAi regulating mycoparasitic interactions. IMPORTANCE Small RNAs mediated RNA interference (RNAi) known to regulate several biological processes. Dicer-like endoribonucleases (DCLs) play a vital role in the RNAi pathway by generating sRNAs. In this study, we investigated a role of DCL-mediated RNAi in interference interactions between mycoparasitic fungus Clonostachys rosea and the two fungal pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium graminearum (here called mycohosts). We found that the dcl mutants were not able to produce 11 sRNAs predicted to finetune the regulatory network of genes known to be involved in production of hydrolytic enzymes, antifungal compounds, and membrane transporters needed for antagonistic action of C. rosea. We also found C. rosea sRNAs putatively targeting known virulence factors in the mycohosts, indicating RNAi-mediated cross-species communication. Our study expanded the understanding of underlying mechanisms of cross-species communication during interference interactions and poses a base for future works studying the role of DCL-based cross-species RNAi in fungal interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Piombo
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ramesh R. Vetukuri
- Department of Plant Breeding, Horticum, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lomma, Sweden
| | - Anders Broberg
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pruthvi B. Kalyandurg
- Department of Plant Breeding, Horticum, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lomma, Sweden
| | - Sandeep Kushwaha
- Department of Plant Breeding, Horticum, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Lomma, Sweden
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Dan Funck Jensen
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magnus Karlsson
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mukesh Dubey
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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Species concepts of Dothideomycetes: classification, phylogenetic inconsistencies and taxonomic standardization. FUNGAL DIVERS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13225-021-00485-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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12
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Demissie ZA, Robinson KA, Loewen MC. Draft Genome Resources for Plant-Beneficial Fungi Clonostachys rosea Strains ACM941 and 88-710. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2021; 34:453-456. [PMID: 33404260 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-10-20-0294-a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Clonostachys rosea strains ACM941 and 88-710 are beneficial microbes recognized for their plant disease control and growth promotion properties, respectively, when applied to economically important crops. In addition to their geographical and functional overlap, the two strains also share a high degree of genetic similarity. In an effort to identify the subtleties that underlie their strain-specific applications, their genomic sequence is reported here. The genome size of ACM941 was estimated to be 56.9 Mb, encoding 17,585 putative genes, while strain 88-710 was estimated to have a 55.5 Mb genome size, containing 17,188 predicted genes. Overall, ACM941 and 88-710 share >96% of their encoded genomes, such that their strain-specific characteristics are likely encoded in either the remaining variable 4% or differentially regulated shared genes or both. These genomic sequences form a foundation for future studies aimed at identifying the genomic and metabolic machinery driving their respective beneficial properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zerihun A Demissie
- Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Kelly A Robinson
- Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Michele C Loewen
- Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
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Broberg M, Dubey M, Iqbal M, Gudmundssson M, Ihrmark K, Schroers H, Funck Jensen D, Brandström Durling M, Karlsson M. Comparative genomics highlights the importance of drug efflux transporters during evolution of mycoparasitism in Clonostachys subgenus Bionectria (Fungi, Ascomycota, Hypocreales). Evol Appl 2021; 14:476-497. [PMID: 33664789 PMCID: PMC7896725 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Various strains of the mycoparasitic fungal species Clonostachys rosea are used commercially as biological control agents for the control of fungal plant diseases in agricultural crop production. Further improvements of the use and efficacy of C. rosea in biocontrol require a mechanistic understanding of the factors that determines the outcome of the interaction between C. rosea and plant pathogenic fungi. Here, we determined the genome sequences of 11 Clonostachys strains, representing five species in Clonostachys subgenus Bionectria, and performed a comparative genomic analysis with the aim to identify gene families evolving under selection for gene gains or losses. Several gene families predicted to encode proteins involved in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, including polyketide synthases, nonribosomal peptide syntethases and cytochrome P450s, evolved under selection for gene gains (p ≤ .05) in the Bionectria subgenus lineage. This was accompanied with gene copy number increases (p ≤ .05) in ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters predicted to contribute to drug efflux. Most Clonostachys species were also characterized by high numbers of auxiliary activity (AA) family 9 lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases, AA3 glucose-methanol-choline oxidoreductases and additional carbohydrate-active enzyme gene families with putative activity (or binding) towards xylan and rhamnose/pectin substrates. Particular features of the C. rosea genome included expansions (p ≤ .05) of the ABC-B4 multidrug resistance transporters, the ABC-C5 multidrug resistance-related transporters and the 2.A.1.3 drug:H + antiporter-2 MFS drug resistance transporters. The ABC-G1 pleiotropic drug resistance transporter gene abcG6 in C. rosea was induced (p ≤ .009) by exposure to the antifungal Fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone (1121-fold) and various fungicides. Deletion of abcG6 resulted in mutants with reduced (p < .001) growth rates on media containing the fungicides boscalid, fenhexamid and iprodione. Our results emphasize the role of biosynthesis of, and protection against, secondary metabolites in Clonostachys subgenus Bionectria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Broberg
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Mukesh Dubey
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Mudassir Iqbal
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Mikael Gudmundssson
- Department of Molecular SciencesSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Katarina Ihrmark
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | | | - Dan Funck Jensen
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Mikael Brandström Durling
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Magnus Karlsson
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
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14
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Lv B, Jiang N, Hasan R, Chen Y, Sun M, Li S. Cell Wall Biogenesis Protein Phosphatase CrSsd1 Is Required for Conidiation, Cell Wall Integrity, and Mycoparasitism in Clonostachys rosea. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1640. [PMID: 32760382 PMCID: PMC7373758 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell wall biogenesis protein phosphatases play important roles in various cellular processes in fungi. However, their functions in the widely distributed mycoparasitic fungus Clonostachys rosea remain unclear, as do their potential for controlling plant fungal diseases. Herein, the function of cell wall biogenesis protein phosphatase CrSsd1 in C. rosea 67-1 was investigated using gene disruption and complementation approaches. The gene-deficient mutant ΔCrSsd1 exhibited much lower conidiation, hyphal growth, mycoparasitic ability, and biocontrol efficacy than the wild-type (WT) strain, and it was more sensitive to sorbitol and Congo red. The results indicate that CrSsd1 is involved in fungal conidiation, osmotic stress adaptation, cell wall integrity, and mycoparasitism in C. rosea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binna Lv
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Na Jiang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rakibul Hasan
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yingying Chen
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Manhong Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shidong Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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15
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Sun ZB, Wang Q, Sun MH, Li SD. The Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Gene Crmapk Is Involved in Clonostachys chloroleuca Mycoparasitism. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2020; 33:902-910. [PMID: 32282260 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-03-20-0062-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Clonostachys chloroleuca is a mycoparasite used for biocontrol of numerous fungal plant pathogens. Sequencing of the transcriptome of C. chloroleuca following mycoparasitization of the sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum revealed significant upregulation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-encoding gene, crmapk. Although MAPKs are known to regulate fungal growth and development, the function of crmapk in C. chloroleuca mycoparasitism is unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of crmapk in C. chloroleuca mycoparasitism through gene knockout and complementation. Deletion of crmapk had no influence on the C. chloroleuca morphological characteristics but could significantly reduce the mycoparasitic ability to sclerotia and biocontrol capacity to soybean Sclerotinia stem rot; crmapk complementation restored these abilities. Transcriptome analysis between Δcrmapk and the wild-type strain revealed numerous genes were significantly down-regulated after crmapk deletion, including cytochrome P450, transporters, and cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs). Our findings indicate that crmapk influences C. chloroleuca mycoparasitism by regulation of genes controlling the activity of CWDEs or antibiotic production. This study provides a basis for further studies of the molecular mechanism of C. chloroleuca mycoparasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan-Bin Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Man-Hong Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shi-Dong Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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16
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Sun ZB, Li SD, Ren Q, Xu JL, Lu X, Sun MH. Biology and applications of Clonostachys rosea. J Appl Microbiol 2020; 129:486-495. [PMID: 32115828 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Clonostachys rosea is a promising saprophytic filamentous fungus that belongs to phylum Ascomycota. Clonostachys rosea is widespread around the world and exists in many kinds of habitats, with the highest frequency in soil. As an excellent mycoparasite, C. rosea exhibits strong biological control ability against numerous fungal plant pathogens, nematodes and insects. These behaviours are based on the activation of multiple mechanisms such as secreted cell-wall-degrading enzymes, production of antifungal secondary metabolites and induction of plant defence systems. Besides having significant biocontrol activity, C. rosea also functions in the biodegradation of plastic waste, biotransformation of bioactive compounds, as a bioenergy sources and in fermentation. This mini review summarizes information about the biology and various applications of C. rosea and expands on its possible uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z-B Sun
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China.,Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - S-D Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Q Ren
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China
| | - J-L Xu
- School of Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, China
| | - X Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - M-H Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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Sun ZB, Wang Q, Sun MH, Li SD. The heat shock protein 70 gene is involved for colony morphology, sporulation and mycoparasitism of Clonostachys rosea. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2019; 366:fnz188. [PMID: 31504485 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnz188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is an evolutionarily conserved chaperone protein. However, the role of HSP70 in mycoparasitism is unclear. Clonostachys rosea shows great potential against plant fungal pathogens. An HSP70 encoding gene, crhsp, from C. rosea 67-1 was significantly upregulated during C. rosea parasitization of the sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. In the present study, we investigated the role of crhsp in mycoparasitism using gene knockout experiments. The results showed that disruption of crhsp had remarkabe effects on the morphological characteristics of C. rosea. In addition, the ability of C. rosea to parasitize sclerotia and control soybean Sclerotinia stem rot in the greenhouse was significantly reduced in the Δcrhsp mutant. The results indicated that crhsp is involved in C. rosea mycoparasitism and provide the basis for further study of the molecular mechanism of C. rosea mycoparasitism. This is the first report to demonstrate the involvement of the HSP70 gene in C. rosea mycoparasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan-Bin Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- School of Food and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Man-Hong Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shi-Dong Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
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Iqbal M, Dubey M, Gudmundsson M, Viketoft M, Jensen DF, Karlsson M. Comparative evolutionary histories of fungal proteases reveal gene gains in the mycoparasitic and nematode-parasitic fungus Clonostachys rosea. BMC Evol Biol 2018; 18:171. [PMID: 30445903 PMCID: PMC6240243 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-018-1291-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The ascomycete fungus Clonostachys rosea (order Hypocreales) can control several important plant diseases caused by plant pathogenic fungi and nematodes. Subtilisin-like serine proteases are considered to play an important role in pathogenesis in entomopathogenic, mycoparasitic, and nematophagous fungi used for biological control. In this study, we analysed the evolutionary histories of protease gene families, and investigated sequence divergence and regulation of serine protease genes in C. rosea. Results Proteases of selected hypocrealean fungal species were classified into families based on the MEROPS peptidase database. The highest number of protease genes (590) was found in Fusarium solani, followed by C. rosea with 576 genes. Analysis of gene family evolution identified non-random changes in gene copy numbers in the five serine protease gene families S1A, S8A, S9X, S12 and S33. Four families, S1A, S8A, S9X, and S33, displayed gene gains in C. rosea. A gene-tree / species-tree reconciliation analysis of the S8A family revealed that the gene copy number increase in C. rosea was primarily associated with the S08.054 (proteinase K) subgroup. In addition, regulatory and predicted structural differences, including twelve sites evolving under positive selection, among eighteen C. rosea S8A serine protease paralog genes were also observed. The C. rosea S8A serine protease gene prs6 was induced during interaction with the plant pathogenic species F. graminearum. Conclusions Non-random increases in S8A, S9X and S33 serine protease gene numbers in the mycoparasitic species C. rosea, Trichoderma atroviride and T. virens suggests an involvement in fungal-fungal interactions. Regulatory and predicted structural differences between C. rosea S8A paralogs indicate that functional diversification is driving the observed increase in gene copy numbers. The induction of prs6 expression in C. rosea during confrontation with F. graminearum suggests an involvement of the corresponding protease in fungal-fungal interactions. The results pinpoint the importance of serine proteases for ecological niche adaptation in C. rosea, including a potential role in the mycoparasitic attack on fungal prey. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-018-1291-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mudassir Iqbal
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7026, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Mukesh Dubey
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7026, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mikael Gudmundsson
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7015, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Viketoft
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7044, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dan Funck Jensen
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7026, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Magnus Karlsson
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7026, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden
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Nygren K, Dubey M, Zapparata A, Iqbal M, Tzelepis GD, Durling MB, Jensen DF, Karlsson M. The mycoparasitic fungus Clonostachys rosea responds with both common and specific gene expression during interspecific interactions with fungal prey. Evol Appl 2018; 11:931-949. [PMID: 29928301 PMCID: PMC5999205 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Clonostachys rosea is a necrotrophic mycoparasitic fungus, used for biological control of plant pathogenic fungi. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms resulting in successful biocontrol is important for knowledge-based improvements of the application and use of biocontrol in agricultural production systems. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that C. rosea responded with both common and specific gene expression during interactions with the fungal prey species Botrytis cinerea and Fusarium graminearum. Genes predicted to encode proteins involved in membrane transport, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and carbohydrate-active enzymes were induced during the mycoparasitic attack. Predicted major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters constituted 54% of the induced genes, and detailed phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses showed that a majority of these genes belonged to MFS gene families evolving under selection for increased paralog numbers, with predicted functions in drug resistance and transport of carbohydrates and small organic compounds. Sequence analysis of MFS transporters from family 2.A.1.3.65 identified rapidly evolving loop regions forming the entry to the transport tunnel, indicating changes in substrate specificity as a target for selection. Deletion of the MFS transporter gene mfs464 resulted in mutants with increased growth inhibitory activity against F. graminearum, providing evidence for a function in interspecific fungal interactions. In summary, we show that the mycoparasite C. rosea can distinguish between fungal prey species and modulate its transcriptomic responses accordingly. Gene expression data emphasize the importance of secondary metabolites in mycoparasitic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristiina Nygren
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologyUppsala BiocenterSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Mukesh Dubey
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologyUppsala BiocenterSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Antonio Zapparata
- Department of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Mudassir Iqbal
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologyUppsala BiocenterSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Georgios D. Tzelepis
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologyUppsala BiocenterSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
- Department of Plant BiologyUppsala BiocenterLinnean Centre for Plant BiologySwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Mikael Brandström Durling
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologyUppsala BiocenterSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Dan Funck Jensen
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologyUppsala BiocenterSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
| | - Magnus Karlsson
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant PathologyUppsala BiocenterSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesUppsalaSweden
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20
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Demissie ZA, Foote SJ, Tan Y, Loewen MC. Profiling of the Transcriptomic Responses of Clonostachys rosea Upon Treatment With Fusarium graminearum Secretome. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1061. [PMID: 29930539 PMCID: PMC5999785 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Clonostachys rosea strain ACM941 is a fungal bio-control agent patented against the causative agent of Fusarium Head Blight, Fusarium graminearum. Although the molecular details remain enigmatic, previous studies have suggested that C. rosea may secrete F. graminearum growth inhibitors. Further toward this, experiments described herein show that induction of C. rosea cultures by the addition of an aliquot of F. graminearum(Fg)-spent media (including macroconidia), yield C. rosea (Cr)-spent media that elicited higher anti-F. graminearum activity than either control or deoxynivalenol (DON)-induced Cr-spent media. To gain additional insight into the genetic and metabolic factors modulating this interaction, transcriptomic (RNAseq) profiles of C. rosea in response to DON and Fg-spent media treatment, were developed. This analysis revealed 24,112 C. rosea unigenes, of which 5,605 and 6,285 were differentially regulated by DON and F-spent media, respectively. More than half of these unigenes were up-regulated, with annotations, most notably in the Fg-spent media treatment data, suggesting enhancement of polyketide (PK) and non-ribosomal peptide (NRP) secondary metabolite precursor synthesis, and PK/NRP-like synthases. Four ABC transporters were also up-regulated in response to Fg-spent media. Further analysis showed that the PK and NRP-like synthases belong to three gene clusters that also include ABC transporters, and other genes known to tailor secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The RNAseq data was further validated using quantitative RT-qPCR. Taken together, these results show that C. rosea responds to the presence of Fg-spent media (and to a lesser extent, DON-alone) by up-regulating unique aspects of its secondary metabolism-related genetic repertoire. The identities and roles of C. rosea secondary metabolites produced by the targeted gene clusters are now under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zerihun A. Demissie
- Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Simon J. Foote
- Human Health Therapeutics, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Yifang Tan
- Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Michele C. Loewen
- Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queens University, Kingston, ON, Canada
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21
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Sun ZB, Wang Q, Zhang J, Jiang WZ, Wang Q, Li SD, Ma GZ, Sun MH. The transcription factor-encoding gene crtf is involved in Clonostachys chloroleuca mycoparasitism on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Microbiol Res 2018; 210:6-11. [PMID: 29625660 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Clonostachys chloroleuca 67-1 (formerly C. rosea 67-1) is a potential biocontrol fungus active against various fungal plant pathogens. From transcriptome sequencing of 67-1 parasitizing sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, we identified the transcription factor-encoding gene crtf that is significantly up-regulated during mycoparasitism. Transcription factors are widely distributed in fungi and involved in multiple biological processes. However, their role and regulatory mechanisms in mycoparasitism remain poorly understood. In this study, the function of crtf during 67-1 mycoparasitism was verified through gene knockout and complementation. The results showed that deletion of crtf did not influence fungal morphological characteristics, but the ability of the Δcrtf mutant to parasitize sclerotia and suppress soybean Sclerotinia white mold in the greenhouse was markedly diminished compared with the wild type strain. The biocontrol activity of Δcrtf recovered wild type levels when complemented with a plasmid expressing the crtf gene. These findings suggest that crtf plays a crucial role in C. chloroleuca mycoparasitism and provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying C. chloroleuca mycoparasitism on plant pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhan-Bin Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China; School of Marine Science and Technology, Huaihai Institute of Technology, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Wei-Zhi Jiang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Shi-Dong Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Gui-Zhen Ma
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Huaihai Institute of Technology, Lianyungang, 222005, China
| | - Man-Hong Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Transformation of the endochitinase gene Chi67-1 in Clonostachys rosea 67-1 increases its biocontrol activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. AMB Express 2017; 7:1. [PMID: 28050842 PMCID: PMC5209325 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-016-0313-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Clonostachys rosea is a promising biocontrol fungus active against various plant fungal pathogens. In this study, the endochitinase-encoding gene Chi67-1, the expression of which is sharply upregulated in C. rosea 67-1 when induced by sclerotia, was transformed into the original isolate by protoplast transformation, and transformants were screened against Sclerotinia rot of soybean. The transformation efficiency was approximately 50 transformants per 1 × 107 protoplasts, and 68 stably heritable recombinants were assayed. The parasitic rates of 32.4% of the tested strains increased by more than 50% compared to 43.3% of the wild type strain in 16 h, and the Rc4-4 transformant showed a parasitic rate of 100% in 16 h. The control efficiencies of the selected efficient transformants to soybean Sclerotinia stem rot were evaluated in pots in the greenhouse, and the results revealed that Rc4-4 achieved the highest efficiency of 81.4%, which was 31.7% and 28.7% higher than the control achieved by the wide type and the pesticide carbendazim, respectively. Furthermore, the expression level of Chi67-1 was 107-fold higher in Rc4-4 than in the wild type, and accordingly, the chitinase activity of the recombinant increased by 140%. The results lay a foundation for the development of efficient genetically engineered strains of C. rosea.
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Hu X, Qin L, Roberts DP, Lakshman DK, Gong Y, Maul JE, Xie L, Yu C, Li Y, Hu L, Liao X, Liao X. Characterization of mechanisms underlying degradation of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum by Aspergillus aculeatus Asp-4 using a combined qRT-PCR and proteomic approach. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:674. [PMID: 28859614 PMCID: PMC5580281 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4016-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The biological control agent Aspergillus aculeatus Asp-4 colonizes and degrades sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum resulting in reduced germination and disease caused by this important plant pathogen. Molecular mechanisms of mycoparasites underlying colonization, degradation, and reduction of germination of sclerotia of this and other important plant pathogens remain poorly understood. Results An RNA-Seq screen of Asp-4 growing on autoclaved, ground sclerotia of S. sclerotiorum for 48 h identified 997 up-regulated and 777 down-regulated genes relative to this mycoparasite growing on potato dextrose agar (PDA) for 48 h. qRT-PCR time course experiments characterized expression dynamics of select genes encoding enzymes functioning in degradation of sclerotial components and management of environmental conditions, including environmental stress. This analysis suggested co-temporal up-regulation of genes functioning in these two processes. Proteomic analysis of Asp-4 growing on this sclerotial material for 48 h identified 26 up-regulated and 6 down-regulated proteins relative to the PDA control. Certain proteins with increased abundance had putative functions in degradation of polymeric components of sclerotia and the mitigation of environmental stress. Conclusions Our results suggest co-temporal up-regulation of genes involved in degradation of sclerotial compounds and mitigation of environmental stress. This study furthers the analysis of mycoparasitism of sclerotial pathogens by providing the basis for molecular characterization of a previously uncharacterized mycoparasite-sclerotial interaction. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-4016-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojia Hu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Qin
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Daniel P Roberts
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA.
| | - Dilip K Lakshman
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA
| | - Yangmin Gong
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Jude E Maul
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD, 20705-2350, USA
| | - Lihua Xie
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Changbing Yu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinshui Li
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Hu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiangsheng Liao
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing Liao
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, 430062, People's Republic of China.
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Abstract
Mycoparasitism is a lifestyle where one fungus establishes parasitic interactions with other fungi. Species of the genus Trichoderma together with Clonostachys rosea are among the most studied fungal mycoparasites. They have wide host ranges comprising several plant pathogens and are used for biological control of plant diseases. Trichoderma as well as C. rosea mycoparasites efficiently overgrow and kill their fungal prey by using infection structures and by applying lytic enzymes and toxic metabolites. Most of our knowledge on the putative signals and signaling pathways involved in prey recognition and activation of the mycoparasitic response is derived from studies with Trichoderma. These fungi rely on G-protein signaling, the cAMP pathway, and mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades during growth and development as well as during mycoparasitism. The signals being recognized by the mycoparasite may include surface molecules and surface properties as well as secondary metabolites and other small molecules released from the prey. Their exact nature, however, remains elusive so far. Recent genomics-based studies of mycoparasitic fungi of the order Hypocreales, i.e., Trichoderma species, C. rosea, Tolypocladium ophioglossoides, and Escovopsis weberi, revealed not only several gene families with a mycoparasitism-related expansion of gene paralogue numbers, but also distinct differences between the different mycoparasites. We use this information to illustrate the biological principles and molecular basis of necrotrophic mycoparasitism and compare the mycoparasitic strategies of Trichoderma as a "model" mycoparasite with the behavior and special features of C. rosea, T. ophioglossoides, and E. weberi.
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Liu JY, Li SD, Sun MH. Transaldolase gene Tal67 enhances the biocontrol activity of Clonostachys rosea 67-1 against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 474:503-508. [PMID: 27130824 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.04.133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Clonostachys rosea is a promising biocontrol agent that parasitizes various fungal plant pathogens. In this paper, transaldolase gene Tal67 was found to be greatly upregulated in C. rosea isolate 67-1 during mycoparasitism of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum sclerotia. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed a significant increase in expression at 0-48 h after induction by sclerotia, and the level peaked at 13.9-fold higher than the control at 24 h. Gene disruption led to a decrease in the growth rate of the Tal67-deficient strain ΔTal67 to 5.3 mm/day, which was much lower than the wild type and the complemented strain ΔTal67+ (P < 0.05). The antagonistic activity of ΔTal67 against Botrytis cinerea was 15.8% lower than the wild type, and the parasitic rate to S. sclerotiorum decreased by 24.6%. However, reinsertion of the transaldolase gene recovered the fungicidal activity of C. rosea. The efficacy of the mutants against soybean Sclerotinia stem rot was evaluated in the greenhouse, and the control efficiency of isolate 67-1 reached 65.3%, while the efficiency of the ΔTal67 strain decreased sharply to 17.8%, and the complemented strain ΔTal67+ recovered to 64.8%. These results suggest that Tal67 plays an important role in the growth and biocontrol activity of C. rosea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Yu Liu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shi-Dong Li
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Man-Hong Sun
- Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
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