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Zhu Y, Wu C, Deng Y, Yuan W, Zhang T, Lu J. Recent advances in virulence of a broad host range plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: a mini-review. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1424130. [PMID: 38962122 PMCID: PMC11220166 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1424130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a typical necrotrophic plant pathogenic fungus, which has a wide host range and can cause a variety of diseases, leading to serious loss of agricultural production around the world. It is difficult to control and completely eliminate the characteristics, chemical control methods is not ideal. Therefore, it is very important to know the pathogenic mechanism of S. sclerotiorum for improving host living environment, relieving agricultural pressure and promoting economic development. In this paper, the life cycle of S. sclerotiorum is introduced to understand the whole process of S. sclerotiorum infection. Through the analysis of the pathogenic mechanism, this paper summarized the reported content, mainly focused on the oxalic acid, cell wall degrading enzyme and effector protein in the process of infection and its mechanism. Besides, recent studies reported virulence-related genes in S. sclerotiorum have been summarized in the paper. According to analysis, those genes were related to the growth and development of the hypha and appressorium, the signaling and regulatory factors of S. sclerotiorum and so on, to further influence the ability to infect the host critically. The application of host-induced gene silencing (HIGS)is considered as a potential effective tool to control various fungi in crops, which provides an important reference for the study of pathogenesis and green control of S. sclerotiorum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Junxing Lu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Adaptations, College of Life Science, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
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Pant P, Kaur J. Control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum via an RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated targeting of SsPac1 and SsSmk1. PLANTA 2024; 259:153. [PMID: 38744752 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-024-04430-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION The study evaluates the potential of Spray-Induced Gene Silencing and Host-Induced Gene Silencing for sustainable crop protection against the broad-spectrum necrotrophic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, an aggressive ascomycete fungus causes white rot or cottony rot on a broad range of crops including Brassica juncea. The lack of sustainable control measures has necessitated biotechnological interventions such as RNA interference (RNAi) for effective pathogen control. Here we adopted two RNAi-based strategies-Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS) and Host-Induced Gene Silencing (HIGS) to control S. sclerotiorum. SIGS was successful in controlling white rot on Nicotiana benthamiana and B. juncea by targeting SsPac1, a pH-responsive transcription factor and SsSmk1, a MAP kinase involved in fungal development and pathogenesis. Topical application of dsRNA targeting SsPac1 and SsSmk1 delayed infection initiation and progression on B. juncea. Further, altered hyphal morphology and reduced radial growth were also observed following dsRNA application. We also explored the impact of stable dsRNA expression in A. thaliana against S. sclerotiorum. In this report, we highlight the utility of RNAi as a biofungicide and a tool for preliminary functional genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratibha Pant
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South Campus, Benito Juarez Marg, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Jagreet Kaur
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South Campus, Benito Juarez Marg, New Delhi, 110021, India.
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3
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Ma M, Tang L, Sun R, Lyu X, Xie J, Fu Y, Li B, Chen T, Lin Y, Yu X, Chen W, Jiang D, Cheng J. An effector SsCVNH promotes the virulence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum through targeting class III peroxidase AtPRX71. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2024; 25:e13464. [PMID: 38695733 PMCID: PMC11064801 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Many plant pathogens secrete effector proteins into the host plant to suppress host immunity and facilitate pathogen colonization. The necrotrophic pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes severe plant diseases and results in enormous economic losses, in which secreted proteins play a crucial role. SsCVNH was previously reported as a secreted protein, and its expression is significantly upregulated at 3 h after inoculation on the host plant. Here, we further demonstrated that deletion of SsCVNH leads to attenuated virulence. Heterologous expression of SsCVNH in Arabidopsis enhanced pathogen infection, inhibited the host PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) response and increased plant susceptibility to S. sclerotiorum. SsCVNH interacted with class III peroxidase AtPRX71, a positive regulator of innate immunity against plant pathogens. SsCVNH could also interact with other class III peroxidases, thus reducing peroxidase activity and suppressing plant immunity. Our results reveal a new infection strategy employed by S. sclerotiorum in which the fungus suppresses the function of class III peroxidases, the major component of PTI to promote its own infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Liguang Tang
- Wuhan Vegetable Research InstituteWuhan Academy of Agricultural ScienceWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Rui Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Xueliang Lyu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Jiatao Xie
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Yanping Fu
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Bo Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Tao Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Yang Lin
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Xiao Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Weidong Chen
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceWashington State UniversityPullmanWashingtonUSA
| | - Daohong Jiang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
| | - Jiasen Cheng
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and TechnologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanHubeiChina
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4
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Qin L, Gong X, Nong J, Tang X, Cui K, Zhao Y, Xia S. Histone Methyltransferase SsDim5 Regulates Fungal Virulence through H3K9 Trimethylation in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:271. [PMID: 38667942 PMCID: PMC11051235 DOI: 10.3390/jof10040271] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Histone post-translational modification is one of the main mechanisms of epigenetic regulation, which plays a crucial role in the control of gene expression and various biological processes. However, whether or not it affects fungal virulence in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is not clear. In this study, we identified and cloned the histone methyltransferase Defective in methylation 5 (Dim5) in S. sclerotiorum, which encodes a protein containing a typical SET domain. SsDim5 was found to be dynamically expressed during infection. Knockout experiment demonstrated that deletion of SsDim5 reduced the virulence in Ssdim5-1/Ssdim5-2 mutant strains, accompanied by a significant decrease in H3K9 trimethylation levels. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed the downregulation of genes associated with mycotoxins biosynthesis in SsDim5 deletion mutants. Additionally, the absence of SsDim5 affected the fungus's response to oxidative and osmotic, as well as cellular integrity. Together, our results indicate that the H3K9 methyltransferase SsDim5 is essential for H3K9 trimethylation, regulating fungal virulence throug mycotoxins biosynthesis, and the response to environmental stresses in S. sclerotiorum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Qin
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (L.Q.); (X.G.); (J.N.); (X.T.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Xin Gong
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (L.Q.); (X.G.); (J.N.); (X.T.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Jieying Nong
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (L.Q.); (X.G.); (J.N.); (X.T.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Xianyu Tang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (L.Q.); (X.G.); (J.N.); (X.T.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Kan Cui
- Institute of Plant Protection, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410125, China;
| | - Yan Zhao
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (L.Q.); (X.G.); (J.N.); (X.T.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Shitou Xia
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (L.Q.); (X.G.); (J.N.); (X.T.); (Y.Z.)
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Hu Y, Gong H, Lu Z, Zhang P, Zheng S, Wang J, Tian B, Fang A, Yang Y, Bi C, Cheng J, Yu Y. Variable Tandem Glycine-Rich Repeats Contribute to Cell Death-Inducing Activity of a Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Cell Wall Protein That Is Associated with the Pathogenicity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0098623. [PMID: 37140432 PMCID: PMC10269696 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00986-23] [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: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring of proteins is a conserved posttranslational modification in eukaryotes. GPI-anchored proteins are widely distributed in fungal plant pathogens, but the specific roles of the GPI-anchored proteins in the pathogenicity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a devastating necrotrophic plant pathogen with a worldwide distribution, remain largely unknown. This research addresses SsGSR1, which encodes an S. sclerotiorum glycine- and serine-rich protein named SsGsr1 with an N-terminal secretory signal and a C-terminal GPI-anchor signal. SsGsr1 is located at the cell wall of hyphae, and deletion of SsGSR1 leads to abnormal cell wall architecture and impaired cell wall integrity of hyphae. The transcription levels of SsGSR1 were maximal in the initial stage of infection, and SsGSR1-deletion strains showed impaired virulence in multiple hosts, indicating that SsGSR1 is critical for the pathogenicity. Interestingly, SsGsr1 targeted the apoplast of host plants to induce cell death that relies on the glycine-rich 11-amino-acid repeats arranged in tandem. The homologs of SsGsr1 in Sclerotinia, Botrytis, and Monilinia species contain fewer repeat units and have lost their cell death activity. Moreover, allelic variants of SsGSR1 exist in field isolates of S. sclerotiorum from rapeseed, and one of the variants lacking one repeat unit results in a protein that exhibits loss of function relative to the cell death-inducing activity and the virulence of S. sclerotiorum. Taken together, our results demonstrate that a variation in tandem repeats provides the functional diversity of GPI-anchored cell wall protein that, in S. sclerotiorum and other necrotrophic pathogens, allows successful colonization of the host plants. IMPORTANCE Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is an economically important necrotrophic plant pathogen and mainly applies cell wall-degrading enzymes and oxalic acid to kill plant cells before colonization. In this research, we characterized a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored cell wall protein named SsGsr1, which is critical for the cell wall architecture and the pathogenicity of S. sclerotiorum. Additionally, SsGsr1 induces rapid cell death of host plants that is dependent on glycine-rich tandem repeats. Interestingly, the number of repeat units varies among homologs and alleles of SsGsr1, and such a variation creates alterations in the cell death-inducing activity and the role in pathogenicity. This work advances our understanding of the variation of tandem repeats in accelerating the evolution of a GPI-anchored cell wall protein associated with the pathogenicity of necrotrophic fungal pathogens and prepares the way toward a fuller understanding of the interaction between S. sclerotiorum and host plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yawen Hu
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
| | - Hang Gong
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
| | - Ziyang Lu
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
| | - Pengpeng Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
| | - Sinian Zheng
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
| | - Jing Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
| | - Binnian Tian
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
| | - Anfei Fang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
| | - Yuheng Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
| | - Chaowei Bi
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
| | - Jiasen Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan City, China
| | - Yang Yu
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biosafety and Green Production of Upper Yangtze River, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing City, China
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Wei J, Yao C, Zhu Z, Gao Z, Yang G, Pan Y. Nitrate reductase is required for sclerotial development and virulence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1096831. [PMID: 37342142 PMCID: PMC10277653 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1096831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the causal agent of Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) on more than 450 plant species, is a notorious fungal pathogen. Nitrate reductase (NR) is required for nitrate assimilation that mediates the reduction of nitrate to nitrite and is the major enzymatic source for NO production in fungi. To explore the possible effects of nitrate reductase SsNR on the development, stress response, and virulence of S. sclerotiorum, RNA interference (RNAi) of SsNR was performed. The results showed that SsNR-silenced mutants showed abnormity in mycelia growth, sclerotia formation, infection cushion formation, reduced virulence on rapeseed and soybean with decreased oxalic acid production. Furthermore SsNR-silenced mutants are more sensitive to abiotic stresses such as Congo Red, SDS, H2O2, and NaCl. Importantly, the expression levels of pathogenicity-related genes SsGgt1, SsSac1, and SsSmk3 are down-regulated in SsNR-silenced mutants, while SsCyp is up-regulated. In summary, phenotypic changes in the gene silenced mutants indicate that SsNR plays important roles in the mycelia growth, sclerotia development, stress response and fungal virulence of S. sclerotiorum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjun Wei
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Chuanchun Yao
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Zonghe Zhu
- College of Agronomy, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhimou Gao
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Guogen Yang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuemin Pan
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
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Hossain MM, Sultana F, Li W, Tran LSP, Mostofa MG. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary: Insights into the Pathogenomic Features of a Global Pathogen. Cells 2023; 12:cells12071063. [PMID: 37048136 PMCID: PMC10093061 DOI: 10.3390/cells12071063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is a broad host-range fungus that infects an inclusive array of plant species and afflicts significant yield losses globally. Despite being a notorious pathogen, it has an uncomplicated life cycle consisting of either basal infection from myceliogenically germinated sclerotia or aerial infection from ascospores of carpogenically germinated sclerotia. This fungus is unique among necrotrophic pathogens in that it inevitably colonizes aging tissues to initiate an infection, where a saprophytic stage follows the pathogenic phase. The release of cell wall-degrading enzymes, oxalic acid, and effector proteins are considered critical virulence factors necessary for the effective pathogenesis of S. sclerotiorum. Nevertheless, the molecular basis of S. sclerotiorum pathogenesis is still imprecise and remains a topic of continuing research. Previous comprehensive sequencing of the S. sclerotiorum genome has revealed new insights into its genome organization and provided a deeper comprehension of the sophisticated processes involved in its growth, development, and virulence. This review focuses on the genetic and genomic aspects of fungal biology and molecular pathogenicity to summarize current knowledge of the processes utilized by S. sclerotiorum to parasitize its hosts. Understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating the infection process of S. sclerotiorum will contribute to devising strategies for preventing infections caused by this destructive pathogen.
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Ding Y, Chen Y, Wu Z, Yang N, Rana K, Meng X, Liu B, Wan H, Qian W. SsCox17, a copper chaperone, is required for pathogenic process and oxidative stress tolerance of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 322:111345. [PMID: 35691151 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Stem rot, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum has emerged as one of the major fungal pathogens of oilseed Brassica across the world. The pathogenic development is exquisitely dependent on reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulation. Cox17 is a crucial factor that shuttles copper ions from the cytosol to the mitochondria for the cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) assembly. Currently, no data is available regarding the impact of Cox17 in fungal pathogenesis. The present research was carried out to functionally characterize the role of Cox17 in S. sclerotiorum pathogenesis. SsCox17 transcripts showed high expression levels during inoculation on rapeseed. Intramitochondrial copper content and CCO activity were decreased in SsCox17 gene-silenced strains. The SsCox17 gene expression was up-regulated in the hyphae under oxidative stress and a deficiency response to oxidative stress was detected in SsCox17 gene-silenced strains. Compared to the S. sclerotiorum wild-type strain, there was a concomitant reduction in the virulence of SsCox17 gene-silenced strains. The SsCox17 overexpression strain was further found to increase copper content, CCO activity, tolerance to oxidative stress and virulence. We also observed a certain correlation of appressoria formation and SsCox17. These results provide evidence that SsCox17 is positively associated with fungal virulence and oxidative detoxification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijuan Ding
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yangui Chen
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zhaohui Wu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Nan Yang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Kusum Rana
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiao Meng
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Bangyan Liu
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Huafang Wan
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Wei Qian
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China.
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9
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Wei W, Xu L, Peng H, Zhu W, Tanaka K, Cheng J, Sanguinet KA, Vandemark G, Chen W. A fungal extracellular effector inactivates plant polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2213. [PMID: 35468894 PMCID: PMC9038911 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29788-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant pathogens degrade cell wall through secreted polygalacturonases (PGs) during infection. Plants counteract the PGs by producing PG-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) for protection, reversibly binding fungal PGs, and mitigating their hydrolytic activities. To date, how fungal pathogens specifically overcome PGIP inhibition is unknown. Here, we report an effector, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum PGIP-INactivating Effector 1 (SsPINE1), which directly interacts with and functionally inactivates PGIP. S. sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic fungus that causes stem rot diseases on more than 600 plant species with tissue maceration being the most prominent symptom. SsPINE1 enhances S. sclerotiorum necrotrophic virulence by specifically interacting with host PGIPs to negate their polygalacturonase-inhibiting function via enhanced dissociation of PGIPs from PGs. Targeted deletion of SsPINE1 reduces the fungal virulence. Ectopic expression of SsPINE1 in plant reduces its resistance against S. sclerotiorum. Functional and genomic analyses reveal a conserved virulence mechanism of cognate PINE1 proteins in broad host range necrotrophic fungal pathogens. Plants produce polygalacuturonase-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) to counteract cell wall degradation by pathogenic microbes. Here the authors show that Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a fungal pathogen that causes stem rot disease, secretes a PGIP-inactivating effector to diminish plant resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Liangsheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwestern A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hao Peng
- Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Wenjun Zhu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430023, China
| | - Kiwamu Tanaka
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.,Molecular Plant Science Program, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Jiasen Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Karen A Sanguinet
- Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.,Molecular Plant Science Program, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - George Vandemark
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.,USDA Agricultural Research Service, Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Weidong Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA. .,Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA. .,Molecular Plant Science Program, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA. .,USDA Agricultural Research Service, Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.
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10
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Xu Y, Ao K, Tian L, Qiu Y, Huang X, Liu X, Hoy R, Zhang Y, Rashid KY, Xia S, Li X. A Forward Genetic Screen in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Revealed the Transcriptional Regulation of Its Sclerotial Melanization Pathway. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2022; 35:244-256. [PMID: 34813706 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-10-21-0254-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Most plant fungal pathogens that cause worldwide crop losses are understudied, due to various technical challenges. With the increasing availability of sequenced whole genomes of these non-model fungi, effective genetic analysis methods are highly desirable. Here, we describe a newly developed pipeline, which combines forward genetic screening with high-throughput next-generation sequencing to enable quick gene discovery. We applied this pipeline in the notorious soilborne phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and identified 32 mutants with various developmental and growth deficiencies. Detailed molecular studies of three melanization-deficient mutants provide a proof of concept for the effectiveness of our method. A master transcription factor was found to regulate melanization of sclerotia through the DHN (1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene) melanin biosynthesis pathway. In addition, these mutants revealed that sclerotial melanization is important for sclerotia survival under abiotic stresses, sclerotial surface structure, and sexual reproduction. Foreseeably, this pipeline can be applied to facilitate efficient in-depth studies of other non-model fungal species in the future.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Kevin Ao
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Lei Tian
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Yilan Qiu
- Department of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Xingchuan Huang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Xueru Liu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Ryan Hoy
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Yishan Zhang
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Khalid Youssef Rashid
- Oilseed Crops Pathology, Science and Technology Branch, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, K.W. Neatby Building, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa K1A 0C6, Canada
| | - Shitou Xia
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Xin Li
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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11
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Severn-Ellis AA, Schoeman MH, Bayer PE, Hane JK, Rees DJG, Edwards D, Batley J. Genome Analysis of the Broad Host Range Necrotroph Nalanthamala psidii Highlights Genes Associated With Virulence. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:811152. [PMID: 35283890 PMCID: PMC8914235 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.811152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Guava wilt disease is caused by the fungus Nalanthamala psidii. The wilt disease results in large-scale destruction of orchards in South Africa, Taiwan, and several Southeast Asian countries. De novo assembly, annotation, and in-depth analysis of the N. psidii genome were carried out to facilitate the identification of characteristics associated with pathogenicity and pathogen evolution. The predicted secretome revealed a range of CAZymes, proteases, lipases and peroxidases associated with plant cell wall degradation, nutrient acquisition, and disease development. Further analysis of the N. psidii carbohydrate-active enzyme profile exposed the broad-spectrum necrotrophic lifestyle of the pathogen, which was corroborated by the identification of putative effectors and secondary metabolites with the potential to induce tissue necrosis and cell surface-dependent immune responses. Putative regulatory proteins including transcription factors and kinases were identified in addition to transporters potentially involved in the secretion of secondary metabolites. Transporters identified included important ABC and MFS transporters involved in the efflux of fungicides. Analysis of the repetitive landscape and the detection of mechanisms linked to reproduction such as het and mating genes rendered insights into the biological complexity and evolutionary potential of N. psidii as guava pathogen. Hence, the assembly and annotation of the N. psidii genome provided a valuable platform to explore the pathogenic potential and necrotrophic lifestyle of the guava wilt pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita A. Severn-Ellis
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Aquaculture Research and Development, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Watermans Bay, WA, Australia
| | - Maritha H. Schoeman
- Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Agricultural Research Council, Nelspruit, South Africa
| | - Philipp E. Bayer
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - James K. Hane
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
| | - D. Jasper G. Rees
- Agricultural Research Council, Biotechnology Platform, Pretoria, South Africa
- Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - David Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Jacqueline Batley
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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12
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Superoxide Initiates the Hyphal Differentiation to Microsclerotia Formation of Macrophomina phaseolina. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0208421. [PMID: 35080446 PMCID: PMC8791194 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02084-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The infection of Macrophomina phaseolina often results in a grayish appearance with numerous survival structures, microsclerotia, on the plant surface. Past works have studied the development of fungal survival structures, sclerotia and microsclerotia, in the Leotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes. However, M. phaseolina belongs to the Dothideomycetes, and it remains unclear whether the mechanism of microsclerotia formation remains conserved among these phylogenetic clades. This study applied RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) to profile gene expressions at four stages of microsclerotia formation, and the results suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related functions were significantly different between the microsclerotia stages and the hyphal stage. Microsclerotia formation was reduced in the plates amended with antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, dithiothreitol (DTT), and glutathione. Surprisingly, DTT drastically scavenged H2O2, but the microsclerotia amount remained similar to the treatment of ascorbic acid and glutathione that both did not completely eliminate H2O2. This observation suggested the importance of O2− over H2O2 in initiating microsclerotia formation. To further validate this hypothesis, the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate trihydrate (DETC) and H2O2 were tested. The addition of DETC resulted in the accumulation of endogenous O2− and more microsclerotia formation, but the treatment of H2O2 did not. The expression of SOD1 genes were also found to be upregulated in the hyphae to the microsclerotia stage, which suggested a higher endogenous O2− stress presented in these stages. In summary, this study not only showed that the ROS stimulation remained conserved for initiating microsclerotia formation of M. phaseolina but also highlighted the importance of O2− in initiating the hyphal differentiation to microsclerotia formation. IMPORTANCE Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been proposed as the key stimulus for sclerotia development by studying fungal systems such as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and the theory has been adapted for microsclerotia development in Verticillium dahliae and Nomuraea rileyi. While many studies agreed on the association between (micro)sclerotia development and the ROS pathway, which ROS type, superoxide (O2−) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), plays a major role in initiating hyphal differentiation to the (micro)sclerotia formation remains controversial, and literature supporting either O2− or H2O2 can be found. This study confirmed the association between ROS and microsclerotia formation for the charcoal rot fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. Moreover, the accumulation of O2− but not H2O2 was found to induce higher density of microsclerotia. By integrating transcriptomic and phenotypic assays, this study presented the first conclusive case for M. phaseolina that O2− is the main ROS stimulus in determining the amount of microsclerotia formation.
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13
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Rana K, Ding Y, Banga SS, Liao H, Zhao S, Yu Y, Qian W. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Thioredoxin1 (SsTrx1) is required for pathogenicity and oxidative stress tolerance. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:1413-1426. [PMID: 34459563 PMCID: PMC8518572 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infects host plant tissues by inducing necrosis to source nutrients needed for its establishment. Tissue necrosis results from an enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the site of infection and apoptosis. Pathogens have evolved ROS scavenging mechanisms to withstand host-induced oxidative damage. However, the genes associated with ROS scavenging pathways are yet to be fully investigated in S. sclerotiorum. We selected the S. sclerotiorum Thioredoxin1 gene (SsTrx1) for our investigations as its expression is significantly induced during S. sclerotiorum infection. RNA interference-induced silencing of SsTrx1 in S. sclerotiorum affected the hyphal growth rate, mycelial morphology, and sclerotial development under in vitro conditions. These outcomes confirmed the involvement of SsTrx1 in promoting pathogenicity and oxidative stress tolerance of S. sclerotiorum. We next constructed an SsTrx1-based host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) vector and mobilized it into Arabidopsis thaliana (HIGS-A) and Nicotiana benthamiana (HIGS-N). The disease resistance analysis revealed significantly reduced pathogenicity and disease progression in the transformed genotypes as compared to the nontransformed and empty vector controls. The relative gene expression of SsTrx1 increased under oxidative stress. Taken together, our results show that normal expression of SsTrx1 is crucial for pathogenicity and oxidative stress tolerance of S. sclerotiorum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kusum Rana
- College of Agronomy and BiotechnologySouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland AgricultureMinistry of EducationChongqingChina
| | - Yijuan Ding
- College of Agronomy and BiotechnologySouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland AgricultureMinistry of EducationChongqingChina
| | - Surinder S. Banga
- Department of Plant Breeding and GeneticsPunjab Agricultural UniversityLudhianaIndia
| | - Hongmei Liao
- College of Agronomy and BiotechnologySouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland AgricultureMinistry of EducationChongqingChina
| | - Siqi Zhao
- College of Agronomy and BiotechnologySouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland AgricultureMinistry of EducationChongqingChina
| | - Yang Yu
- College of Plant ProtectionSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Wei Qian
- College of Agronomy and BiotechnologySouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland AgricultureMinistry of EducationChongqingChina
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14
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Ding Y, Chen Y, Yan B, Liao H, Dong M, Meng X, Wan H, Qian W. Host-Induced Gene Silencing of a Multifunction Gene Sscnd1 Enhances Plant Resistance Against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:693334. [PMID: 34690946 PMCID: PMC8531507 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.693334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating necrotrophic fungal pathogen and has a substantial economic impact on crop production worldwide. Magnaporthe appressoria-specific (MAS) proteins have been suggested to be involved in the appressorium formation in Magnaporthe oryzae. Sscnd1, an MAS homolog gene, is highly induced at the early infection stage of S. sclerotiorum. Knock-down the expression of Sscnd1 gene severely reduced the virulence of S. sclerotiorum on intact rapeseed leaves, and their virulence was partially restored on wounded leaves. The Sscnd1 gene-silenced strains exhibited a defect in compound appressorium formation and cell integrity. The instantaneous silencing of Sscnd1 by tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-mediated host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) resulted in a significant reduction in disease development in tobacco. Three transgenic HIGS Arabidopsis lines displayed high levels of resistance to S. sclerotiorum and decreased Sscnd1 expression. Production of specific Sscnd1 siRNA in transgenic HIGS Arabidopsis lines was confirmed by stem-loop qRT-PCR. This study revealed that the compound appressorium-related gene Sscnd1 is required for cell integrity and full virulence in S. sclerotiorum and that Sclerotinia stem rot can be controlled by expressing the silencing constructs of Sscnd1 in host plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijuan Ding
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Yangui Chen
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Baoqin Yan
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongmei Liao
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Mengquan Dong
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinran Meng
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Huafang Wan
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Qian
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
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15
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Qu Z, Zhang H, Wang Q, Zhao H, Liu X, Fu Y, Lin Y, Xie J, Cheng J, Li B, Jiang D. Exploring the Symbiotic Mechanism of a Virus-Mediated Endophytic Fungus in Its Host by Dual Unique Molecular Identifier-RNA Sequencing. mSystems 2021; 6:e0081421. [PMID: 34519518 PMCID: PMC8547468 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00814-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The symbiosis of endophytes and plants is universal in nature. However, how endophytes grow in plants is not entirely clear. Previously, we reported that a virus-infected fungal pathogen could grow in plants as an endophyte. In this study, we utilized Sclerotinia sclerotiorum strain DT-8, a virus-mediated endophyte, to investigate the mechanism of symbiosis with rapeseed by dual unique molecular identifier-RNA sequencing (dual-UMI RNA-seq). We found that the expressions of genes encoding S. sclerotiorum amylase/glucoamylase, glucose transporters, and rapeseed sugars will eventually be exported transporter 11 (SWEET11) were upregulated. It suggested that strain DT-8 might utilize plant starch as a nutrient. The defense systems of rapeseed were also activated, such as production of reactive oxygen species, phenylpropanoids, and brassinin, to control the growth of strain DT-8, while strain DT-8 counteracted host suppression by producing effector-like proteins, detoxification enzymes, and antioxidant components. Moreover, rapeseed also upregulated pectate lyase and pectinesterase genes to facilitate the colonization by strain DT-8. Our findings provide novel insights into the interaction of virus-mediated endophytes and their hosts that warrant further study. IMPORTANCE Although endophytes are widespread in nature, the interactions between endophytes and their hosts are still not fully understood. Members of a unique class of endophytes, the virus-mediated endophytic fungi, are continuously being discovered and have received wide attention. In this study, we investigated the interaction between a mycovirus-mediated endophytic fungus and its host rapeseed by using dual-UMI RNA-seq. According to the dual-UMI RNA-seq results, an aerial view of symbiotic mechanism under balanced regulation was suggested. This research expands our understanding of the symbiotic mechanisms of virus-fungus-plant interactions and could establish a foundation for the further development of practical application with virus-mediated hypovirulent fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongxiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Qianqian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Huizhang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaofan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanping Fu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Lin
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiatao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiasen Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
| | - Daohong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
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16
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Tian L, Li J, Huang C, Zhang D, Xu Y, Yang X, Song J, Wang D, Qiu N, Short DPG, Inderbitzin P, Subbarao KV, Chen J, Dai X. Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (VdSOD1) mediates reactive oxygen species detoxification and modulates virulence in Verticillium dahliae. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:1092-1108. [PMID: 34245085 PMCID: PMC8359004 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a widespread defence mechanism in higher plants against pathogen attack and sometimes is the cause of cell death that facilitates attack by necrotrophic pathogens. Plant pathogens use superoxide dismutase (SOD) to scavenge ROS derived from their own metabolism or generated from host defence. The significance and roles of SODs in the vascular plant pathogen Verticillium dahliae are unclear. Our previous study showed a significant upregulation of Cu/Zn-SOD1 (VdSOD1) in cotton tissues following V. dahliae infection, suggesting that it may play a role in pathogen virulence. Here, we constructed VdSOD1 deletion mutants (ΔSOD1) and investigated its function in scavenging ROS and promoting pathogen virulence. ΔSOD1 had normal growth and conidiation but exhibited significantly higher sensitivity to the intracellular ROS generator menadione. Despite lacking a signal peptide, assays in vitro by western blot and in vivo by confocal microscopy revealed that secretion of VdSOD1 is dependent on the Golgi reassembly stacking protein (VdGRASP). Both menadione-treated ΔSOD1 and cotton roots infected with ΔSOD1 accumulated more O2- and less H2 O2 than with the wildtype strain. The absence of a functioning VdSOD1 significantly reduced symptom severity and pathogen colonization in both cotton and Nicotiana benthamiana. VdSOD1 is nonessential for growth or viability of V. dahliae, but is involved in the detoxification of both intracellular ROS and host-generated extracellular ROS, and contributes significantly to virulence in V. dahliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Tian
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Junjiao Li
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Caimin Huang
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Dandan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yan Xu
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Specialty Crop Resources and the College of Life ScienceChongqing Normal UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Xingyong Yang
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Specialty Crop Resources and the College of Life ScienceChongqing Normal UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Jian Song
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Dan Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Nianwei Qiu
- College of Life ScienceQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Dylan P. G. Short
- Department of Plant PathologyUniversity of California, Davis, c/o United States Agricultural Research StationSalinasCaliforniaUSA
| | - Patrik Inderbitzin
- Department of Plant PathologyUniversity of California, Davis, c/o United States Agricultural Research StationSalinasCaliforniaUSA
| | - Krishna V. Subbarao
- Department of Plant PathologyUniversity of California, Davis, c/o United States Agricultural Research StationSalinasCaliforniaUSA
| | - Jieyin Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xiaofeng Dai
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
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17
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Wang C, Rollins JA. Efficient genome editing using endogenous U6 snRNA promoter-driven CRISPR/Cas9 sgRNA in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Fungal Genet Biol 2021; 154:103598. [PMID: 34119663 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2021.103598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
We previously reported on a CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing system for the necrotrophic fungal plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This system (the TrpC-sgRNA system), based on an RNA polymerase II (RNA Pol II) promoter (TrpC) to drive sgRNA transcription in vivo, was successful in creating gene insertion mutants. However, relatively low efficiency targeted gene editing hampered the application of this method for functional genomic research in S. sclerotiorum. To further optimize the CRISPR-Cas9 system, a plasmid-free Cas9 protein/sgRNA ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-mediated system (the RNP system) and a plasmid-based RNA polymerase III promoter (U6)-driven sgRNA transcription system (the U6-sgRNA system) were established and evaluated. The previously characterized oxaloacetate acetylhydrolase (Ssoah1) locus and a new locus encoding polyketide synthase12 (Sspks12) were targeted in this study to create loss-of-function mutants. The RNP system, similar to the TrpC-sgRNA system we previously reported, creates mutations at the Ssoah1 gene locus with comparable efficiency. However, neither system successfully generated mutations at the Sspks12 gene locus. The U6-sgRNA system exhibited a significantly higher efficiency of genemutation at both loci. This technology provides a simple and efficient strategy for targeted gene mutation and thereby will accelerating the pace of research of pathogenicity and development in this economically important plant pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenggang Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, 1450 Fifield Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Rollins
- Department of Plant Pathology, 1450 Fifield Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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18
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Naim F, Khambatta K, Sanglard LMVP, Sauzier G, Reinhardt J, Paterson DJ, Zerihun A, Hackett MJ, Gibberd MR. Synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microscopy-enabled elemental mapping illuminates the 'battle for nutrients' between plant and pathogen. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:2757-2768. [PMID: 33439999 PMCID: PMC8006550 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab005] [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] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Metal homeostasis is integral to normal plant growth and development. During plant-pathogen interactions, the host and pathogen compete for the same nutrients, potentially impacting nutritional homeostasis. Our knowledge of outcome of the interaction in terms of metal homeostasis is still limited. Here, we employed the X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) beamline at the Australian Synchrotron to visualize and analyse the fate of nutrients in wheat leaves infected with Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, a necrotrophic fungal pathogen. We sought to (i) evaluate the utility of XFM for sub-micron mapping of essential mineral nutrients and (ii) examine the spatiotemporal impact of a pathogen on nutrient distribution in leaves. XFM maps of K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn revealed substantial hyperaccumulation within, and depletion around, the infected region relative to uninfected control samples. Fungal mycelia were visualized as thread-like structures in the Cu and Zn maps. The hyperaccumulation of Mn in the lesion and localized depletion in asymptomatic tissue surrounding the lesion was unexpected. Similarly, Ca accumulated at the periphery of the symptomatic region and as microaccumulations aligning with fungal mycelia. Collectively, our results highlight that XFM imaging provides the capability for high-resolution mapping of elements to probe nutrient distribution in hydrated diseased leaves in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Naim
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Karina Khambatta
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Lilian M V P Sanglard
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Georgina Sauzier
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | | | - Ayalsew Zerihun
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mark J Hackett
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mark R Gibberd
- Centre for Crop and Disease Management, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
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19
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Huang Z, Lu J, Liu R, Wang P, Hu Y, Fang A, Yang Y, Qing L, Bi C, Yu Y. SsCat2 encodes a catalase that is critical for the antioxidant response, QoI fungicide sensitivity, and pathogenicity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Fungal Genet Biol 2021; 149:103530. [PMID: 33561548 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2021.103530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a destructive necrotrophic fungal pathogen with worldwide distribution. The metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is critical for the development and infection process of this economically important pathogen. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is converted into water and dioxygen by catalases, which are major ROS scavengers in cells. Several genes have been predicted to encode the catalases of S. sclerotiorum, but the critical ones that function in the ROS stress response are still unknown. In this research, a catalase gene called SsCat2 was found to contribute to the predominant catalase activity at the stages of hyphae growth and sclerotial development. SsCat2 transcripts were induced under oxidative stress, and the target deletion of SsCat2 led to significant sensitivity to H2O2, suggesting that SsCat2 is critical in dealing with the oxidative stress. SsCat2-deletion strains were sensitive to hyperosmotic stresses and cell membrane-perturbing agents, suggesting impairment in cell integrity due to the inactivation of SsCat2. The expression of the alternative oxidase-encoding gene was upregulated in the SsCat2-deletion strains, which showed decreased sensitivity to QoI fungicides. SsCat2-deletion strains showed impaired virulence in different hosts, and more H2O2 accumulation was detected during the infect processes. In summary, these results indicate that SsCat2 encodes a catalase that is related to the oxidative stress response, QoI fungicide sensitivity, and pathogenicity of S. sclerotiorum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Huang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingjing Lu
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ruiwen Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Pei Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yawen Hu
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Anfei Fang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuheng Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ling Qing
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chaowei Bi
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yang Yu
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; State Cultivation Base of Crop Stress Biology for Southern Mountainous Land of Southwest University, Chongqing, China.
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20
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Ding Y, Mei J, Chai Y, Yang W, Mao Y, Yan B, Yu Y, Disi JO, Rana K, Li J, Qian W. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum utilizes host-derived copper for ROS detoxification and infection. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008919. [PMID: 33002079 PMCID: PMC7553324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotrophic plant pathogen induces host reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, which leads to necrosis in the host, allowing the pathogen to absorb nutrients from the dead tissues. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a typical necrotrophic pathogen that causes Sclerotinia stem rot in more than 400 species, resulting in serious economic losses. Here, we found that three S. sclerotiorum genes involved in copper ion import/transport, SsCTR1, SsCCS and SsATX1, were significantly up-regulated during infection of Brassica oleracea. Function analysis revealed that these genes involved in fungal ROS detoxification and virulence. On the host side, four genes putatively involved in copper ion homeostasis, BolCCS, BolCCH, BolMT2A and BolDRT112, were significantly down-regulated in susceptible B. oleracea, but stably expressed in resistant B. oleracea during infection. Their homologs were found to promote resistance to S. sclerotiorum and increase antioxidant activity in Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, copper concentration analysis indicated that copper flow from healthy area into the necrotic area during infection. A model was proposed that S. sclerotiorum utilizes host copper to detoxify ROS in its cells, whereas the resistant hosts may restrict the supply of essential copper nutrients to S. sclerotiorum by maintaining copper ion homeostasis during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijuan Ding
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, China
| | - Jiaqin Mei
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, China
| | - Yaru Chai
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Wenjing Yang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, China
| | - Yi Mao
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, China
| | - Baoqin Yan
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, China
| | - Yang Yu
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, China
| | - Joseph Onwusemu Disi
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, United States of America
| | - Kusum Rana
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, China
| | - Jiana Li
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, China
| | - Wei Qian
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, China
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21
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Seifbarghi S, Borhan MH, Wei Y, Ma L, Coutu C, Bekkaoui D, Hegedus DD. Receptor-Like Kinases BAK1 and SOBIR1 Are Required for Necrotizing Activity of a Novel Group of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Necrosis-Inducing Effectors. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:1021. [PMID: 32754179 PMCID: PMC7367142 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.01021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a characteristic necrotrophic plant pathogen and is dependent on the induction of host cell death for nutrient acquisition. To identify necrosis-inducing effectors, the genome of S. sclerotiorum was scanned for genes encoding small, secreted, cysteine-rich proteins. These potential effectors were tested for their ability to induce necrosis in Nicotiana benthamiana via Agrobacterium-mediated expression and for cellular localization in host cells. Six novel proteins were discovered, of which all but one required a signal peptide for export to the apoplast for necrotizing activity. Virus-induced gene silencing revealed that the five necrosis-inducing effectors with a requirement for secretion also required the plant co-receptor-like kinases Brassinosteroid Insensitive 1-Associated Receptor Kinase 1 (BAK1) and Suppressor of BAK1-Interacting Receptor-like Kinase 1 (SOBIR1) for the induction of necrosis. S. sclerotiorum necrosis-inducing effector 2 (SsNE2) represented a new class of necrosis-inducing proteins as orthologs were identified in several other phytopathogenic fungi that were also capable of inducing necrosis. Substitution of conserved cysteine residues with alanine reduced, but did not abolish, the necrotizing activity of SsNE2 and full-length protein was required for function as peptides spanning the entire protein were unable to induce necrosis. These results illustrate the importance of necrosis-inducing effectors for S. sclerotiorum virulence and the role of host extracellular receptor(s) in effector-triggered susceptibility to this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Seifbarghi
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | - Yangdou Wei
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Lisong Ma
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Cathy Coutu
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | - Dwayne D. Hegedus
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- *Correspondence: Dwayne D. Hegedus,
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22
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Xia S, Xu Y, Hoy R, Zhang J, Qin L, Li X. The Notorious Soilborne Pathogenic Fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: An Update on Genes Studied with Mutant Analysis. Pathogens 2019; 9:pathogens9010027. [PMID: 31892134 PMCID: PMC7168625 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ascomycete Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary is one of the most damaging soilborne fungal pathogens affecting hundreds of plant hosts, including many economically important crops. Its genomic sequence has been available for less than a decade, and it was recently updated with higher completion and better gene annotation. Here, we review key molecular findings on the unique biology and pathogenesis process of S. sclerotiorum, focusing on genes that have been studied in depth using mutant analysis. Analyses of these genes have revealed critical players in the basic biological processes of this unique pathogen, including mycelial growth, appressorium establishment, sclerotial formation, apothecial and ascospore development, and virulence. Additionally, the synthesis has uncovered gaps in the current knowledge regarding this fungus. We hope that this review will serve to build a better current understanding of the biology of this under-studied notorious soilborne pathogenic fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shitou Xia
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China;
- Correspondence: (S.X.); (X.L.)
| | - Yan Xu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (Y.X.); (R.H.)
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Ryan Hoy
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (Y.X.); (R.H.)
| | - Julia Zhang
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada;
| | - Lei Qin
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Phytohormones and Growth Development, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China;
| | - Xin Li
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (Y.X.); (R.H.)
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Correspondence: (S.X.); (X.L.)
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23
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Yu Y, Du J, Wang Y, Zhang M, Huang Z, Cai J, Fang A, Yang Y, Qing L, Bi C, Cheng J. Survival factor 1 contributes to the oxidative stress response and is required for full virulence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2019; 20:895-906. [PMID: 31074170 PMCID: PMC6589728 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating necrotrophic fungal pathogen that infects over 400 species of plants worldwide. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulations are critical for the pathogenic development of S. sclerotiorum. The fungus applies enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants to cope with the oxidative stress during the infection processes. Survival factor 1 was identified and characterized to promote survival under conditions of oxidative stress in Saccharomyes cerevisiae. In this research, a gene named SsSvf1 was predicted to encode a survival factor 1 homologue in S. sclerotiorum. SsSvf1 transcripts showed high expression levels in hyphae under oxidative stress. Silencing of SsSvf1 resulted in increased sensitivity to oxidative stress in culture and increased levels of intracellular ROS. Transcripts of SsSvf1 showed a dramatic increase during the initial stage of infection and the gene-silenced strains displayed reduced virulence on oilseed rape and Arabidopsis thaliana. Inhibition of plant ROS production partially restores virulence of SsSvf1 gene-silenced strains. SsSvf1 gene-silenced strains exhibited normal oxalate production, but were impaired in compound appressorium formation and cell wall integrity. The results suggest that SsSvf1 is involved in coping with ROS during fungal-host interactions and plays a crucial role in the pathogenicity of S. sclerotiorum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yu
- College of Plant ProtectionSouthwest UniversityChongqing City400715P R China
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan City430070P R China
| | - Jiao Du
- College of Plant ProtectionSouthwest UniversityChongqing City400715P R China
| | - Yabo Wang
- College of Plant ProtectionSouthwest UniversityChongqing City400715P R China
| | - Mengyao Zhang
- College of Plant ProtectionSouthwest UniversityChongqing City400715P R China
| | - Zhiqiang Huang
- College of Plant ProtectionSouthwest UniversityChongqing City400715P R China
| | - Junsong Cai
- College of Plant ProtectionSouthwest UniversityChongqing City400715P R China
| | - Anfei Fang
- College of Plant ProtectionSouthwest UniversityChongqing City400715P R China
| | - Yuheng Yang
- College of Plant ProtectionSouthwest UniversityChongqing City400715P R China
| | - Ling Qing
- College of Plant ProtectionSouthwest UniversityChongqing City400715P R China
| | - Chaowei Bi
- College of Plant ProtectionSouthwest UniversityChongqing City400715P R China
| | - Jiasen Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural MicrobiologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan City430070P R China
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24
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Westrick NM, Ranjan A, Jain S, Grau CR, Smith DL, Kabbage M. Gene regulation of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum during infection of Glycine max: on the road to pathogenesis. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:157. [PMID: 30808300 PMCID: PMC6390599 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5517-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a broad-host range necrotrophic pathogen which is the causative agent of Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), and a major disease of soybean (Glycine max). A time course transcriptomic analysis was performed in both compatible and incompatible soybean lines to identify pathogenicity and developmental factors utilized by S. sclerotiorum to achieve pathogenic success. RESULTS A comparison of genes expressed during early infection identified the potential importance of toxin efflux and nitrogen metabolism during the early stages of disease establishment. The later stages of infection were characterized by an apparent shift to survival structure formation. Analysis of genes highly upregulated in-planta revealed a temporal regulation of hydrolytic and detoxification enzymes, putative secreted effectors, and secondary metabolite synthesis genes. Redox regulation also appears to play a key role during the course of infection, as suggested by the high expression of genes involved in reactive oxygen species production and scavenging. Finally, distinct differences in early gene expression were noted based on the comparison of S. sclerotiorum infection of resistant and susceptible soybean lines. CONCLUSIONS Although many potential virulence factors have been noted in the S. sclerotiorum pathosystem, this study serves to highlight soybean specific processes most likely to be critical in successful infection. Functional studies of genes identified in this work are needed to confirm their importance to disease development, and may constitute valuable targets of RNAi approaches to improve resistance to SSR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashish Ranjan
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Sachin Jain
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Craig R. Grau
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Damon L. Smith
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
| | - Mehdi Kabbage
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI USA
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25
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Zhang J, Wang Y, Du J, Huang Z, Fang A, Yang Y, Bi C, Qing L, Yu Y. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Thioredoxin Reductase Is Required for Oxidative Stress Tolerance, Virulence, and Sclerotial Development. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:233. [PMID: 30837967 PMCID: PMC6382746 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a destructive ascomycete plant pathogen with worldwide distribution. Extensive research on different aspects of this pathogen's capability to cause disease will help to uncover clues about new ways to safely control Sclerotinia diseases. The thioredoxin (Trx) system consists of Trx and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), which play critical roles in maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. In this study, we functionally characterized a gene encoding a TrxR (SsTrr1) in S. sclerotiorum. The amino acids of SsTrr1 exhibited high similarity with reported TrxRs in plant pathogens and targeted silencing of SsTrr1 lead to a decrease in TrxR activities of mycelium. SsTrr1 showed high expression levels during hyphae growth, and the levels decreased at the different stages of sclerotial development. SsTrr1 gene-silenced strains produced a smaller number of larger sclerotia on potato dextrose agar medium. The observations were consistent with the inhibitory effects on sclerotial development by the TrxR inhibitor, anrunofin. The expression of SsTrr1 showed a dramatic increase under the oxidative stress and the hyphal growth of gene-silenced strains showed more sensitivity to H2O2. SsTrr1 gene-silenced strains also showed impaired virulence in different hosts. Taken together, our results suggest that SsTrr1 encodes a TrxR that is of great important for oxidative stress tolerance, virulence, and sclerotial development of S. sclerotiorum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yang Yu
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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26
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Liang X, Rollins JA. Mechanisms of Broad Host Range Necrotrophic Pathogenesis in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2018; 108:1128-1140. [PMID: 30048598 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-06-18-0197-rvw] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Among necrotrophic fungi, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is remarkable for its extremely broad host range and for its aggressive host tissue colonization. With full genome sequencing, transcriptomic analyses and the increasing pace of functional gene characterization, the factors underlying the basis of this broad host range necrotrophic pathogenesis are now being elucidated at a greater pace. Among these, genes have been characterized that are required for infection via compound appressoria in addition to genes associated with colonization that regulate oxalic acid (OA) production and OA catabolism. Moreover, virulence-related secretory proteins have been identified, among which are candidates for manipulating host activities apoplastically and cytoplasmically. Coupled with these mechanistic studies, cytological observations of the colonization process have blurred the heretofore clear-cut biotroph versus necrotroph boundary. In this review, we reexamine the cytology of S. sclerotiorum infection and put more recent molecular and genomic data into the context of this cytology. We propose a two-phase infection model in which the pathogen first evades, counteracts and subverts host basal defense reactions prior to killing and degrading host cells. Spatially, the pathogen may achieve this via the production of compatibility factors/effectors in compound appressoria, bulbous subcuticular hyphae, and primary invasive hyphae. By examining the nuances of this interaction, we hope to illuminate new classes of factors as targets to improve our understanding of broad host range necrotrophic pathogens and provide the basis for understanding corresponding host resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Liang
- First author: State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University; and second author: Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110680, Gainesville 32611-0680
| | - Jeffrey A Rollins
- First author: State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University; and second author: Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110680, Gainesville 32611-0680
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27
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Xu L, Li G, Jiang D, Chen W. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: An Evaluation of Virulence Theories. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2018; 56:311-338. [PMID: 29958073 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-080417-050052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Oxalic acid production in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum has long been associated with virulence. Research involving UV-induced, genetically undefined mutants that concomitantly lost oxalate accumulation, sclerotial formation, and pathogenicity supported the conclusion that oxalate is an essential pathogenicity determinant of S. sclerotiorum. However, recent investigations showed that genetically defined mutants that lost oxalic acid production but accumulated fumaric acid could cause disease on many plants and substantiated the conclusion that acidic pH, not oxalic acid per se, is the necessary condition for disease development. Critical evaluation of available evidence showed that the UV-induced mutants harbored previously unrecognized confounding genetic defects in saprophytic growth and pH responsiveness, warranting reevaluation of the conclusions about virulence based on the UV-induced mutants. Furthermore, analyses of the evidence suggested a hypothesis for the existence of an unrecognized regulator responsive to acidic pH. Identifying the unknown pH regulator would offer a new avenue for investigating pH sensing/regulation in S. sclerotiorum and novel targets for intervention in disease control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangsheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Daohong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Weidong Chen
- Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA
- Departments of Plant Pathology and Molecular Plant Sciences Program, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA;
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28
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Li J, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Yu PL, Pan H, Rollins JA. Introduction of Large Sequence Inserts by CRISPR-Cas9 To Create Pathogenicity Mutants in the Multinucleate Filamentous Pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. mBio 2018; 9:e00567-18. [PMID: 29946044 PMCID: PMC6020291 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00567-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The necrotrophic fungal plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is responsible for substantial global crop losses annually resulting in localized food insecurity and loss of livelihood. Understanding the basis of this broad-host-range and aggressive pathogenicity is hampered by the quantitative nature of both host resistance and pathogen virulence. To improve this understanding, methods for efficient functional gene characterization that build upon the existing complete S. sclerotiorum genome sequence are needed. Here, we report on the development of a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9)-mediated strategy for creating gene disruption mutants and the application of this technique for exploring roles of known and hypothesized virulence factors. A key finding of this research is that transformation with a circular plasmid encoding Cas9, target single guide RNA (sgRNA), and a selectable marker resulted in a high frequency of targeted, insertional gene mutation. We observed that 100% of the mutants integrated large rearranged segments of the transforming plasmid at the target site facilitated by the nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) repair pathway. This result was confirmed in multiple target sites within the same gene in three independent wild-type isolates of S. sclerotiorum and in a second independent gene. Targeting the previously characterized Ssoah1 gene allowed us to confirm the loss-of-function nature of the CRISPR-Cas9-mediated mutants and explore new aspects of the mutant phenotype. Applying this technology to create mutations in a second previously uncharacterized gene allowed us to determine the requirement for melanin accumulation in infection structure development and function.IMPORTANCE Fungi that cause plant diseases by rotting or blighting host tissue with limited specificity remain among the most difficult to control. This is largely due to the quantitative nature of host resistance and a limited understanding of fungal pathogenicity. A mechanistic understanding of pathogenicity requires the ability to manipulate candidate virulence genes to test hypotheses regarding their roles in disease development. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is among the most notorious of these so-called broad-host-range necrotrophic plant pathogens. The work described here provides a new method for rapidly constructing gene disruption vectors to create gene mutations with high efficiency compared with existing methods. Applying this method to characterize gene functions in S. sclerotiorum, we confirm the requirement for oxalic acid production as a virulence factor in multiple isolates of the fungus and demonstrate that melanin accumulation is not required for infection. Using this approach, the pace of functional gene characterization and the understanding of pathogenicity and related disease resistance will increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtao Li
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Yucheng Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Pei-Ling Yu
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Hongyu Pan
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jeffrey A Rollins
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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29
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Yang G, Tang L, Gong Y, Xie J, Fu Y, Jiang D, Li G, Collinge DB, Chen W, Cheng J. A cerato-platanin protein SsCP1 targets plant PR1 and contributes to virulence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2018; 217:739-755. [PMID: 29076546 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Cerato-platanin proteins (CPs), which are secreted by filamentous fungi, are phytotoxic to host plants, but their functions have not been well defined to date. Here we characterized a CP (SsCP1) from the necrotrophic phytopathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Sscp1 transcripts accumulated during plant infection, and deletion of Sscp1 significantly reduced virulence. SsCP1 could induce significant cell death when expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana. Using yeast two-hybrid, GST pull-down, co-immunoprecipitation and bimolecular florescence complementation, we found that SsCP1 interacts with PR1 in the apoplast to facilitate infection by S. sclerotiorum. Overexpressing PR1 enhanced resistance to the wild-type strain, but not to the Sscp1 knockout strain of S. sclerotiorum. Sscp1-expressing transgenic plants showed increased concentrations of salicylic acid (SA) and higher levels of resistance to several plant pathogens (namely Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria brassicicola and Golovinomyces orontii). Our results suggest that SsCP1 is important for virulence of S. sclerotiorum and that it can be recognized by plants to trigger plant defense responses. Our results also suggest that the SA signaling pathway is involved in CP-mediated plant defense .
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Affiliation(s)
- Guogen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
| | - Liguang Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yingdi Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jiatao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yanping Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
| | - Daohong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
| | - Guoqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
| | - David B Collinge
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Weidong Chen
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Jiasen Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
- The Provincial Key Lab of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei Province, China
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Li T, Wu Q, Wang Y, John A, Qu H, Gong L, Duan X, Zhu H, Yun Z, Jiang Y. Application of Proteomics for the Investigation of the Effect of Initial pH on Pathogenic Mechanisms of Fusarium proliferatum on Banana Fruit. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2327. [PMID: 29250043 PMCID: PMC5715366 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium proliferatum is an important pathogen and causes a great economic loss to fruit industry. Environmental pH-value plays a regulatory role in fungi pathogenicity, however, the mechanism needs further exploration. In this study, F. proliferatum was cultured under two initial pH conditions of 5 and 10. No obvious difference was observed in the growth rate of F. proliferatum between two pH-values. F. proliferatum cultured under both pH conditions infected banana fruit successfully, and smaller lesion diameter was presented on banana fruit inoculated with pH 10-cultured fungi. Proteomic approach based on two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to investigate the changes in secretome of this fungus between pH 5 and 10. A total of 39 differential spots were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Compared to pH 5 condition, proteins related to cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) and proteolysis were significantly down-regulated at pH 10, while proteins related to oxidation-reduction process and transport were significantly up-regulated under pH 10 condition. Our results suggested that the downregulation of CWDEs and other virulence proteins in the pH 10-cultured F. proliferatum severely decreased its pathogenicity, compared to pH 5-cultured fungi. However, the alkaline environment did not cause a complete loss of the pathogenic ability of F. proliferatum, probably due to the upregulation of the oxidation-reduction related proteins at pH 10, which may partially compensate its pathogenic ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taotao Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qixian Wu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Zhong Shan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Zhong Shan, China
| | - Afiya John
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongxia Qu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Gong
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuewu Duan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ze Yun
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yueming Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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31
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Santhanam P, Boshoven JC, Salas O, Bowler K, Islam MT, Saber MK, van den Berg GCM, Bar‐Peled M, Thomma BPHJ. Rhamnose synthase activity is required for pathogenicity of the vascular wilt fungus Verticillium dahliae. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2017; 18:347-362. [PMID: 26996832 PMCID: PMC6638212 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The initial interaction of a pathogenic fungus with its host is complex and involves numerous metabolic pathways and regulatory proteins. Considerable attention has been devoted to proteins that play a crucial role in these interactions, with an emphasis on so-called effector molecules that are secreted by the invading microbe to establish the symbiosis. However, the contribution of other types of molecules, such as glycans, is less well appreciated. Here, we present a random genetic screen that enabled us to identify 58 novel candidate genes that are involved in the pathogenic potential of the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae, which causes vascular wilt diseases in over 200 dicotyledonous plant species, including economically important crops. One of the candidate genes that was identified concerns a putative biosynthetic gene involved in nucleotide sugar precursor formation, as it encodes a putative nucleotide-rhamnose synthase/epimerase-reductase (NRS/ER). This enzyme has homology to bacterial enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the nucleotide sugar deoxy-thymidine diphosphate (dTDP)-rhamnose, a precursor of L-rhamnose, which has been shown to be required for virulence in several human pathogenic bacteria. Rhamnose is known to be a minor cell wall glycan in fungi and has therefore not been suspected as a crucial molecule in fungal-host interactions. Nevertheless, our study shows that deletion of the VdNRS/ER gene from the V. dahliae genome results in complete loss of pathogenicity on tomato and Nicotiana benthamiana plants, whereas vegetative growth and sporulation are not affected. We demonstrate that VdNRS/ER is a functional enzyme in the biosynthesis of uridine diphosphate (UDP)-rhamnose, and further analysis has revealed that VdNRS/ER deletion strains are impaired in the colonization of tomato roots. Collectively, our results demonstrate that rhamnose, although only a minor cell wall component, is essential for the pathogenicity of V. dahliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parthasarathy Santhanam
- Laboratory of PhytopathologyWageningen UniversityDroevendaalsesteeg 16708PBWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Jordi C. Boshoven
- Laboratory of PhytopathologyWageningen UniversityDroevendaalsesteeg 16708PBWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Omar Salas
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of GeorgiaAthensGA30602USA
| | - Kyle Bowler
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of GeorgiaAthensGA30602USA
| | - Md Tohidul Islam
- Laboratory of PhytopathologyWageningen UniversityDroevendaalsesteeg 16708PBWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Mojtaba Keykha Saber
- Laboratory of PhytopathologyWageningen UniversityDroevendaalsesteeg 16708PBWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Grardy C. M. van den Berg
- Laboratory of PhytopathologyWageningen UniversityDroevendaalsesteeg 16708PBWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Maor Bar‐Peled
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of GeorgiaAthensGA30602USA
| | - Bart P. H. J. Thomma
- Laboratory of PhytopathologyWageningen UniversityDroevendaalsesteeg 16708PBWageningenthe Netherlands
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Seifbarghi S, Borhan MH, Wei Y, Coutu C, Robinson SJ, Hegedus DD. Changes in the Sclerotinia sclerotiorum transcriptome during infection of Brassica napus. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:266. [PMID: 28356071 PMCID: PMC5372324 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3642-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes stem rot in Brassica napus, which leads to lodging and severe yield losses. Although recent studies have explored significant progress in the characterization of individual S. sclerotiorum pathogenicity factors, a gap exists in profiling gene expression throughout the course of S. sclerotiorum infection on a host plant. In this study, RNA-Seq analysis was performed with focus on the events occurring through the early (1 h) to the middle (48 h) stages of infection. Results Transcript analysis revealed the temporal pattern and amplitude of the deployment of genes associated with aspects of pathogenicity or virulence during the course of S. sclerotiorum infection on Brassica napus. These genes were categorized into eight functional groups: hydrolytic enzymes, secondary metabolites, detoxification, signaling, development, secreted effectors, oxalic acid and reactive oxygen species production. The induction patterns of nearly all of these genes agreed with their predicted functions. Principal component analysis delineated gene expression patterns that signified transitions between pathogenic phases, namely host penetration, ramification and necrotic stages, and provided evidence for the occurrence of a brief biotrophic phase soon after host penetration. Conclusions The current observations support the notion that S. sclerotiorum deploys an array of factors and complex strategies to facilitate host colonization and mitigate host defenses. This investigation provides a broad overview of the sequential expression of virulence/pathogenicity-associated genes during infection of B. napus by S. sclerotiorum and provides information for further characterization of genes involved in the S. sclerotiorum-host plant interactions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-017-3642-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Seifbarghi
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, Canada.,Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - M Hossein Borhan
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, Canada
| | - Yangdou Wei
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Cathy Coutu
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, Canada
| | - Stephen J Robinson
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, Canada
| | - Dwayne D Hegedus
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0X2, Canada. .,Department of Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
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33
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Kim W, Park JJ, Dugan FM, Peever TL, Gang DR, Vandemark G, Chen W. Production of the antibiotic secondary metabolite solanapyrone A by the fungal plant pathogen Ascochyta rabiei during fruiting body formation in saprobic growth. Environ Microbiol 2017; 19:1822-1835. [PMID: 28109049 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Fungi are noted producers of a diverse array of secondary metabolites, many of which are of pharmacological importance. However, the biological roles of the vast majority of these molecules during the fungal life cycle in nature remain elusive. Solanapyrones are polyketide-derived secondary metabolites produced by diverse fungal species including the plant pathogen Ascochyta rabiei. This molecule was originally thought to function as a phytotoxin facilitating pathogenesis of A. rabiei. Chemical profiling and gene expression studies showed that solanapyrone A was specifically produced during saprobic, but not parasitic growth of A. rabiei. Expression of the gene encoding the final enzymatic step in solanapyrone biosynthesis was specifically associated with development of the asexual fruiting bodies of the fungus on certain substrates. In confrontation assays with saprobic fungi that were commonly found in chickpea debris in fields, A. rabiei effectively suppressed the growth of all competing fungi, such as Alternaria, Epicoccum and Ulocladium species. Solanapyrone A was directly detected in the inhibitory zone using a MALDI-imaging mass spectrometry, and the purified compound showed significant antifungal activities against the potential saprobic competitors. These results suggest that solanapyrone A plays an important role for competition and presumably the survival of the fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonyong Kim
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Jeong-Jin Park
- Tissue Imaging & Proteomics Laboratory, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Frank M Dugan
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.,USDA-ARS Western Regional Plant Introduction Station, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Tobin L Peever
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - David R Gang
- Tissue Imaging & Proteomics Laboratory, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.,Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - George Vandemark
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.,USDA-ARS Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Weidong Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.,USDA-ARS Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
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Lv B, Zheng L, Liu H, Tang J, Hsiang T, Huang J. Use of Random T-DNA Mutagenesis in Identification of Gene UvPRO1, A Regulator of Conidiation, Stress Response, and Virulence in Ustilaginoidea virens. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:2086. [PMID: 28082958 PMCID: PMC5186764 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.02086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
False smut of rice, caused by Ustilaginoidea virens (Cooke) Takahashi (teleomorph: Villosiclava virens), is one of the most important diseases affecting rice worldwide. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation was used to identify functional genes in U. virens. In this study, we selected a single-copy insertion mutant T133 with deficiency in producing conidia by screening the T-DNA insertion mutant library of U. virens. The UvPRO1-deletion mutant was successfully obtained after cloning the targeted gene by analysis of the T-DNA insert site of mutant T133. Further research showed that the UvPRO1 mutant was reduced in growth rate and could not produce conidia in PSB medium, while sensitivities to sodium dodecyl sulfate, Congo red, and hyperosmotic stress increased. Moreover, the UvPRO1 deletion mutant hyphae could extend along the surface of spikelets at 1-3 dpi, but mycelia became shriveled and completely lost the ability to infect spikelets at 4 dpi. The relative expression level of UvPRO1 at 8 dpi was more than twice as high as that at 1-2 dpi. These results suggest that UvPRO1 plays a critical role in hyphal growth and conidiation, as well as in stress response and pathogenesis. These findings provide a novel mode of action for the PRO1 protein in fungi and improve the understanding of the function of UvPRO1 in the life cycle of U. virens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Lv
- Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Jintian Tang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Tom Hsiang
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, GuelphON, Canada
| | - Jinbin Huang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology of Hubei Province, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan, China
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Foley RC, Kidd BN, Hane JK, Anderson JP, Singh KB. Reactive Oxygen Species Play a Role in the Infection of the Necrotrophic Fungi, Rhizoctonia solani in Wheat. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152548. [PMID: 27031952 PMCID: PMC4816451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhizoctonia solani is a nectrotrophic fungal pathogen that causes billions of dollars of damage to agriculture worldwide and infects a broad host range including wheat, rice, potato and legumes. In this study we identify wheat genes that are differentially expressed in response to the R. solani isolate, AG8, using microarray technology. A significant number of wheat genes identified in this screen were involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and redox regulation. Levels of ROS species were increased in wheat root tissue following R. solani infection as determined by Nitro Blue Tetrazolium (NBT), 3,3'-diaminobenzidine (DAB) and titanium sulphate measurements. Pathogen/ROS related genes from R. solani were also tested for expression patterns upon wheat infection. TmpL, a R. solani gene homologous to a gene associated with ROS regulation in Alternaria brassicicola, and OAH, a R. solani gene homologous to oxaloacetate acetylhydrolase which has been shown to produce oxalic acid in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, were highly induced in R. solani when infecting wheat. We speculate that the interplay between the wheat and R. solani ROS generating proteins may be important for determining the outcome of the wheat/R. solani interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhonda C. Foley
- CSIRO Agriculture, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Floreat, WA, Australia
| | - Brendan N. Kidd
- CSIRO Agriculture, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Floreat, WA, Australia
| | - James K. Hane
- CSIRO Agriculture, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Floreat, WA, Australia
| | - Jonathan P. Anderson
- CSIRO Agriculture, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Floreat, WA, Australia
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Karam B. Singh
- CSIRO Agriculture, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Floreat, WA, Australia
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- * E-mail:
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Cao JY, Xu YP, Cai XZ. TMT-based quantitative proteomics analyses reveal novel defense mechanisms of Brassica napus against the devastating necrotrophic pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. J Proteomics 2016; 143:265-277. [PMID: 26947552 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2016.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2016] [Revised: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The white mould disease, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is one of the most important diseases in the vital oil crop Brassica napus. Nevertheless, the defense mechanisms of B. napus against S. sclerotiorum are poorly understood. In this study, we performed comparative quantitative proteomics analyses to reveal B. napus defense mechanisms against S. sclerotiorum. The proteomes of B. napus leaves inoculated with S. sclerotiorum wild-type strain 1980 and nonpathogenic mutant strain Ep-1PB as well as empty agar plug as the control were analyzed using TMT label-based quantitative analysis technique. A total of 79, 299 and 173 proteins consistently differentially expressed between Ep-1PB- and mock-inoculated leaves, 1980- and mock-inoculated leaves, as well as 1980- and Ep-1PB-inoculated leaves, respectively, were identified. The differential expression of 12 selected proteins was confirmed by qRT-PCR analyses. The Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and protein-protein interaction prediction analyses revealed that redox homeostasis, lipid signaling, calcium signaling, histone and DNA methylation-mediated transcription regulation and defense-related proteins such as defensin and defensin-like proteins and cyanate lyase, contribute to defense against S. sclerotiorum. Our results provide new insights into molecular mechanisms that may be involved in defense responses of B. napus to S. sclerotiorum. SIGNIFICANCE The Sclerotinia white mould disease is one of the most important diseases in the significant oil crop Brassica napus. Nevertheless, the defense mechanisms of B. napus against S. sclerotiorum are still largely unknown to date. In this study, we addressed this issue by performing TMT label-based comparative quantitative analyses of the proteomes of B. napus leaves inoculated with S. sclerotiorum wild-type strain 1980 and nonpathogenic mutant strain Ep-1PB as well as empty agar plug as the control. Through comparative analyses on 79, 299, and 173 proteins that are consistently differentially expressed in between Ep-1PB-inoculated and the control leaves, 1980-inoculated and the control leaves, as well as 1980-inoculated and Ep-1PB-inoculated leaves, respectively, we revealed that redox homeostasis, lipid signaling, calcium signaling, histone and DNA methylation-mediated transcription regulation and defense-related proteins such as defensin and defensin-like proteins as well as cyanate lyase, contribute to B. napus defenses against S. sclerotiorum. Notably, the potential role of lipid signaling, calcium signaling, histone and DNA methylation-mediated transcription regulation and cyanate lyase in B. napus defense against S. sclerotiorum are not reported previously but rather unveiled for the first time in this study. The current study represents the most extensive analysis of the protein profile of B. napus in response to S. sclerotiorum inoculation and includes for the first time the results from comparison between plants inoculated with the wild-type strain and a nonpathogenic mutant strain of S. sclerotiorum. Collectively, our results provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of interactions between B. napus and S. sclerotiorum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Yi Cao
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu Hang Tang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - You-Ping Xu
- Centre of Analysis and Measurement, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu Hang Tang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xin-Zhong Cai
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu Hang Tang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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Mbengue M, Navaud O, Peyraud R, Barascud M, Badet T, Vincent R, Barbacci A, Raffaele S. Emerging Trends in Molecular Interactions between Plants and the Broad Host Range Fungal Pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:422. [PMID: 27066056 PMCID: PMC4814483 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Fungal plant pathogens are major threats to food security worldwide. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea are closely related Ascomycete plant pathogens causing mold diseases on hundreds of plant species. There is no genetic source of complete plant resistance to these broad host range pathogens known to date. Instead, natural plant populations show a continuum of resistance levels controlled by multiple genes, a phenotype designated as quantitative disease resistance. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms controlling the interaction between plants and S. sclerotiorum and B. cinerea but significant advances were made on this topic in the last years. This minireview highlights a selection of nine themes that emerged in recent research reports on the molecular bases of plant-S. sclerotiorum and plant-B. cinerea interactions. On the fungal side, this includes progress on understanding the role of oxalic acid, on the study of fungal small secreted proteins. Next, we discuss the exchanges of small RNA between organisms and the control of cell death in plant and fungi during pathogenic interactions. Finally on the plant side, we highlight defense priming by mechanical signals, the characterization of plant Receptor-like proteins and the hormone abscisic acid in the response to B. cinerea and S. sclerotiorum, the role of plant general transcription machinery and plant small bioactive peptides. These represent nine trends we selected as remarkable in our understanding of fungal molecules causing disease and plant mechanisms associated with disease resistance to two devastating broad host range fungi.
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Wichadakul D, Kobmoo N, Ingsriswang S, Tangphatsornruang S, Chantasingh D, Luangsa-ard JJ, Eurwilaichitr L. Insights from the genome of Ophiocordyceps polyrhachis-furcata to pathogenicity and host specificity in insect fungi. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:881. [PMID: 26511477 PMCID: PMC4625970 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2101-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is an outstanding insect fungus for its biology to manipulate host ants’ behavior and for its extreme host-specificity. Through the sequencing and annotation of Ophiocordyceps polyrhachis-furcata, a species in the O. unilateralis species complex specific to the ant Polyrhachis furcata, comparative analyses on genes involved in pathogenicity and virulence between this fungus and other fungi were undertaken in order to gain insights into its biology and the emergence of host specificity. Results O. polyrhachis-furcata possesses various genes implicated in pathogenicity and virulence common with other fungi. Overall, this fungus possesses protein-coding genes similar to those found on other insect fungi with available genomic resources (Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium robertsii (formerly classified as M. anisopliae s.l.), Metarhizium acridum, Cordyceps militaris, Ophiocordyceps sinensis). Comparative analyses in regard of the host ranges of insect fungi showed a tendency toward contractions of various gene families for narrow host-range species, including cuticle-degrading genes (proteases, carbohydrate esterases) and some families of pathogen-host interaction (PHI) genes. For many families of genes, O. polyrhachis-furcata had the least number of genes found; some genes commonly found in other insect fungi are even absent (e.g. Class 1 hydrophobin). However, there are expansions of genes involved in 1) the production of bacterial-like toxins in O. polyrhachis-furcata, compared with other entomopathogenic fungi, and 2) retrotransposable elements. Conclusions The gain and loss of gene families helps us understand how fungal pathogenicity in insect hosts evolved. The loss of various genes involved throughout the pathogenesis for O. unilateralis would result in a reduced capacity to exploit larger ranges of hosts and therefore in the different level of host specificity, while the expansions of other gene families suggest an adaptation to particular environments with unexpected strategies like oral toxicity, through the production of bacterial-like toxins, or sophisticated mechanisms underlying pathogenicity through retrotransposons. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2101-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duangdao Wichadakul
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Neung, Khlong Luang, 12120, Pathum Thani, Thailand. .,Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Floor 17th, Building 4, Payathai Rd., Wangmai, Pathumwan, 10330, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Noppol Kobmoo
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Neung, Khlong Luang, 12120, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
| | - Supawadee Ingsriswang
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Neung, Khlong Luang, 12120, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
| | - Sithichoke Tangphatsornruang
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Neung, Khlong Luang, 12120, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
| | - Duriya Chantasingh
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Neung, Khlong Luang, 12120, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
| | - Janet Jennifer Luangsa-ard
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Neung, Khlong Luang, 12120, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
| | - Lily Eurwilaichitr
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Neung, Khlong Luang, 12120, Pathum Thani, Thailand.
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Parente-Rocha JA, Parente AFA, Baeza LC, Bonfim SMRC, Hernandez O, McEwen JG, Bailão AM, Taborda CP, Borges CL, Soares CMDA. Macrophage Interaction with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Yeast Cells Modulates Fungal Metabolism and Generates a Response to Oxidative Stress. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137619. [PMID: 26360774 PMCID: PMC4567264 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are key players during Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection. However, the relative contribution of the fungal response to counteracting macrophage activity remains poorly understood. In this work, we evaluated the P. brasiliensis proteomic response to macrophage internalization. A total of 308 differentially expressed proteins were detected in P. brasiliensis during infection. The positively regulated proteins included those involved in alternative carbon metabolism, such as enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis, beta-oxidation of fatty acids and amino acids catabolism. The down-regulated proteins during P. brasiliensis internalization in macrophages included those related to glycolysis and protein synthesis. Proteins involved in the oxidative stress response in P. brasiliensis yeast cells were also up-regulated during macrophage infection, including superoxide dismutases (SOD), thioredoxins (THX) and cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP). Antisense knockdown mutants evaluated the importance of CCP during macrophage infection. The results suggested that CCP is involved in a complex system of protection against oxidative stress and that gene silencing of this component of the antioxidant system diminished the survival of P. brasiliensis in macrophages and in a murine model of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Alves Parente-Rocha
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Ana Flávia Alves Parente
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
| | - Lilian Cristiane Baeza
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | | | - Orville Hernandez
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), Medellín, Colombia
- Grupo de Investigación MICROBA, Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan G. McEwen
- Unidad de Biología Celular y Molecular, Corporación para Investigaciones Biológicas (CIB), Medellín, Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Alexandre Melo Bailão
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Carlos Pelleschi Taborda
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Microbiologia, Laboratório de Micologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Clayton Luiz Borges
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Célia Maria de Almeida Soares
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Chou CM, Yu FY, Yu PL, Ho JF, Bostock RM, Chung KR, Huang JW, Lee MH. Expression of Five Endopolygalacturonase Genes and Demonstration that MfPG1 Overexpression Diminishes Virulence in the Brown Rot Pathogen Monilinia fructicola. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132012. [PMID: 26120831 PMCID: PMC4488289 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Monilinia fructicola is a devastating pathogen on stone fruits, causing blossom blight and fruit rot. Little is known about pathogenic mechanisms in M. fructicola and related Monilinia species. In this study, five endopolygalacturonase (endo-PG) genes were cloned and functionally characterized in M. fructicola. Quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that the five MfPG genes are differentially expressed during pathogenesis and in culture under various pH regimes and carbon and nitrogen sources. MfPG1 encodes the major endo-PG and is expressed to significantly higher levels compared to the other four MfPGs in culture and in planta. MfPG1 function during pathogenesis was evaluated by examining the disease phenotypes and gene expression patterns in M. fructicola MfPG1-overexpressing strains and in strains carrying the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene fused with MfPG1 (MfPG1-GUS). The MFPG1-GUS reporter was expressed in situ in conidia and hyphae following inoculation of flower petals, and qRT-PCR analysis confirmed MfPG1 expression during pathogenesis. MfPG1-overexpressing strains produced smaller lesions and higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the petals of peach and rose flowers than the wild-type strain, suggesting that MfPG1 affecting fungal virulence might be in part resulted from the increase of ROS in the Prunus–M. fructicola interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Ming Chou
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Yi Yu
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- NCHU-UCD Plant and Food Biotechnology Center, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Ling Yu
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- NCHU-UCD Plant and Food Biotechnology Center, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Fang Ho
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- NCHU-UCD Plant and Food Biotechnology Center, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Richard M. Bostock
- NCHU-UCD Plant and Food Biotechnology Center, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Kuang-Ren Chung
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jenn-Wen Huang
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- NCHU-UCD Plant and Food Biotechnology Center, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Miin-Huey Lee
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- NCHU-UCD Plant and Food Biotechnology Center, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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López-Pérez M, Ballester AR, González-Candelas L. Identification and functional analysis of Penicillium digitatum genes putatively involved in virulence towards citrus fruit. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2015; 16:262-75. [PMID: 25099378 PMCID: PMC6638479 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The fungus Penicillium digitatum, the causal agent of green mould rot, is the most destructive post-harvest pathogen of citrus fruit in Mediterranean regions. In order to identify P. digitatum genes up-regulated during the infection of oranges that may constitute putative virulence factors, we followed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based suppression subtractive hybridization and cDNA macroarray hybridization approach. The origin of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) was determined by comparison against the available genome sequences of both organisms. Genes coding for fungal proteases and plant cell wall-degrading enzymes represent the largest categories in the subtracted cDNA library. Northern blot analysis of a selection of P. digitatum genes, including those coding for proteases, cell wall-related enzymes, redox homoeostasis and detoxification processes, confirmed their up-regulation at varying time points during the infection process. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation was used to generate knockout mutants for two genes encoding a pectin lyase (Pnl1) and a naphthalene dioxygenase (Ndo1). Two independent P. digitatum Δndo1 mutants were as virulent as the wild-type. However, the two Δpnl1 mutants analysed were less virulent than the parental strain or an ectopic transformant. Together, these results provide a significant advance in our understanding of the putative determinants of the virulence mechanisms of P. digitatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario López-Pérez
- Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA-CSIC), Calle Catedrático Agustín Escardino 7, Paterna, 46980, Valencia, Spain
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Xu L, Xiang M, White D, Chen W. pH dependency of sclerotial development and pathogenicity revealed by using genetically defined oxalate-minus mutants of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Environ Microbiol 2015; 17:2896-909. [PMID: 25720941 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The devastating plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum produces copious (up to 50 mM) amounts of oxalic acid, which, for over a quarter century, has been claimed as the pathogenicity determinant based on UV-induced mutants that concomitantly lost oxalate production and pathogenicity. Such a claim was made without fulfilling the molecular Koch's postulates because the UV mutants are genetically undefined and harbour a developmental defect in sclerotial production. Here, we generated oxalate-minus mutants of S. sclerotiorum using two independent mutagenesis techniques, and tested the resulting mutants for growth at different pHs and for pathogenicity on four host plants. The oxalate-minus mutants accumulated fumaric acid, produced functional sclerotia and have reduced ability to acidify the environment. The oxalate-minus mutants retained pathogenicity on plants, but their virulence varied depending on the pH and buffering capacity of host tissue. Acidifying the host tissue enhanced virulence of the oxalate-minus mutants, whereas supplementing with oxalate did not. These results suggest that it is low pH, not oxalic acid itself, that establishes the optimum conditions for growth, reproduction, pathogenicity and virulence expression of S. sclerotiorum. Exonerating oxalic acid as the primary pathogenicity determinant will stimulate research into identifying additional candidates as pathogenicity factors towards better understanding and managing Sclerotinia diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangsheng Xu
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Meichun Xiang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - David White
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Weidong Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.,USDA-ARS, Grain Legume Genetics and Physiology Research Unit, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
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Xiao X, Xie J, Cheng J, Li G, Yi X, Jiang D, Fu Y. Novel secretory protein Ss-Caf1 of the plant-pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is required for host penetration and normal sclerotial development. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2014; 27:40-55. [PMID: 24299212 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-05-13-0145-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
To decipher the mechanism of pathogenicity in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a pathogenicity-defective mutant, Sunf-MT6, was isolated from a T-DNA insertional library. Sunf-MT6 could not form compound appressorium and failed to induce lesions on leaves of rapeseed though it could produce more oxalic acid than the wild-type strain. However, it could enter into host tissues via wounds and cause typical necrotic lesions. Furthermore, Sunf-MT6 produced fewer but larger sclerotia than the wild-type strain Sunf-M. A gene, named Ss-caf1, was disrupted by T-DNA insertion in Sunf-MT6. Gene complementation and knockdown experiments confirmed that the disruption of Ss-caf1 was responsible for the phenotypic changes of Sunf-MT6. Ss-caf1 encodes a secretory protein with a putative Ca(2+)-binding EF-hand motif. High expression levels of Ss-caf1 were observed at an early stage of compound appressorium formation and in immature sclerotia. Expression of Ss-caf1 without signal peptides in Nicotiana benthamiana via Tobacco rattle virus-based vectors elicited cell death. These results suggest that Ss-caf1 plays an important role in compound appressorium formation and sclerotial development of S. sclerotiorum. In addition, Ss-Caf1 has the potential to interact with certain host proteins or unknown substances in host cells, resulting in subsequent host cell death.
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