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Müller M, Kües U, Budde KB, Gailing O. Applying molecular and genetic methods to trees and their fungal communities. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:2783-2830. [PMID: 36988668 PMCID: PMC10106355 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12480-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Forests provide invaluable economic, ecological, and social services. At the same time, they are exposed to several threats, such as fragmentation, changing climatic conditions, or increasingly destructive pests and pathogens. Trees, the inherent species of forests, cannot be viewed as isolated organisms. Manifold (micro)organisms are associated with trees playing a pivotal role in forest ecosystems. Of these organisms, fungi may have the greatest impact on the life of trees. A multitude of molecular and genetic methods are now available to investigate tree species and their associated organisms. Due to their smaller genome sizes compared to tree species, whole genomes of different fungi are routinely compared. Such studies have only recently started in forest tree species. Here, we summarize the application of molecular and genetic methods in forest conservation genetics, tree breeding, and association genetics as well as for the investigation of fungal communities and their interrelated ecological functions. These techniques provide valuable insights into the molecular basis of adaptive traits, the impacts of forest management, and changing environmental conditions on tree species and fungal communities and can enhance tree-breeding cycles due to reduced time for field testing. It becomes clear that there are multifaceted interactions among microbial species as well as between these organisms and trees. We demonstrate the versatility of the different approaches based on case studies on trees and fungi. KEY POINTS: • Current knowledge of genetic methods applied to forest trees and associated fungi. • Genomic methods are essential in conservation, breeding, management, and research. • Important role of phytobiomes for trees and their ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Müller
- Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Faculty for Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research (CiBreed), University of Goettingen, 37073, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Ursula Kües
- Molecular Wood Biotechnology and Technical Mycology, Faculty for Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Center of Sustainable Land Use (CBL), Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katharina B Budde
- Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Faculty for Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Center of Sustainable Land Use (CBL), Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Gailing
- Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Faculty for Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research (CiBreed), University of Goettingen, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
- Center of Sustainable Land Use (CBL), Georg-August-University Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
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Fiorilli V, Forgia M, de Saint Germain A, D’Arrigo G, Cornu D, Le Bris P, Al‐Babili S, Cardinale F, Prandi C, Spyrakis F, Boyer F, Turina M, Lanfranco L. A structural homologue of the plant receptor D14 mediates responses to strigolactones in the fungal phytopathogen Cryphonectria parasitica. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 234:1003-1017. [PMID: 35119708 PMCID: PMC9306968 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones and important signalling molecules required to promote arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. While in plants an α/β-hydrolase, DWARF14 (D14), was shown to act as a receptor that binds and cleaves SLs, the fungal receptor for SLs is unknown. Since AM fungi are currently not genetically tractable, in this study, we used the fungal pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica, for which gene deletion protocols exist, as a model, as we have previously shown that it responds to SLs. By means of computational, biochemical and genetic analyses, we identified a D14 structural homologue, CpD14. Molecular homology modelling and docking support the prediction that CpD14 interacts with and hydrolyses SLs. The recombinant CpD14 protein shows α/β hydrolytic activity in vitro against the SLs synthetic analogue GR24; its enzymatic activity requires an intact Ser/His/Asp catalytic triad. CpD14 expression in the d14-1 loss-of-function Arabidopsis thaliana line did not rescue the plant mutant phenotype. However, gene inactivation by knockout homologous recombination reduced fungal sensitivity to SLs. These results indicate that CpD14 is involved in SLs responses in C. parasitica and strengthen the role of SLs as multifunctional molecules acting in plant-microbe interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Fiorilli
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei SistemiUniversità di TorinoViale P.A. Mattioli 25Torino10125Italy
| | - Marco Forgia
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante – CNRStrada delle Cacce 7310135TorinoItaly
| | | | - Giulia D’Arrigo
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del FarmacoUniversità di Torinovia P. Giuria 1110125TorinoItaly
| | - David Cornu
- CEA, CNRSInstitute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC)Université Paris‐Saclay1 Avenue de la Terrasse91198Gif‐sur‐YvetteFrance
| | - Philippe Le Bris
- INRAE, AgroParisTechInstitut Jean‐Pierre Bourgin (IJPB)Université Paris‐Saclay78000VersaillesFrance
| | - Salim Al‐Babili
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and EngineeringKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwal23955‐6900Saudi Arabia
| | - Francesca Cardinale
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e AlimentariUniversità di TorinoLargo Braccini 210095GrugliascoItaly
| | - Cristina Prandi
- Dipartimento di ChimicaUniversità di Torinovia P. Giuria 710125TorinoItaly
| | - Francesca Spyrakis
- Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del FarmacoUniversità di Torinovia P. Giuria 1110125TorinoItaly
| | - François‐Didier Boyer
- CNRSInstitut de Chimie des Substances NaturellesUPR 2301Université Paris‐Saclay1 Avenue de la Terrasse91198Gif‐sur‐YvetteFrance
| | - Massimo Turina
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante – CNRStrada delle Cacce 7310135TorinoItaly
| | - Luisa Lanfranco
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei SistemiUniversità di TorinoViale P.A. Mattioli 25Torino10125Italy
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Li R, Bai S, He Y, Chen Q, Yao Y, Wang J, Chen B. Cpvma1, a Vacuolar H +-ATPase Catalytic Subunit of Cryphonectria parasitica, is Essential for Virulence and Hypovirus RNA Accumulation. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2019; 109:1417-1424. [PMID: 30860430 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-08-18-0289-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The vacuolar H+-ATPases (V-ATPases) are conserved ATP-dependent proton pumps that acidify intracellular compartments in eukaryotic cells. The role of Cpvma1, a V-ATPase catalytic subunit A of Cryphonectria parasitica, was investigated by generating cpvma1-overexpressing and cpvma1-silenced strains. The mutant strains were evaluated for phenotypic characteristics, V-ATPase activity, response to elevated pH and Ca2+ in the medium, virulence on chestnut, and accumulation of hypovirus RNA in the cells. Compared with the wild-type strain, cpvma1-overexpressing strains showed no significant difference in phenotype; however, cpvma1-silenced strains exhibited a phenotype of reduced growth rate, lower level of sporulation, and a marked decrease in V-ATPase activity and virulence. In addition, silencing of cpvma1 increased sensitivity to elevated pH and Ca2+, implicating an important role for Cpvma1 in pH adaptation and Ca2+ homeostasis. Furthermore, silencing of cpvma1 resulted in significantly decreased accumulation of hypoviral RNA. Taken together, our results indicate that Cpvma1 plays an important role in the regulation of phenotypic traits and virulence and the accumulation of hypovirus RNA in C. parasitica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Li
- 1State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- 2College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Shan Bai
- 2College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Yuanyuan He
- 2College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Qi Chen
- 2College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Yanping Yao
- 2College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jinzi Wang
- 2College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Baoshan Chen
- 1State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- 2College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
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Li R, Zhou S, Li Y, Shen X, Wang Z, Chen B. Comparative Methylome Analysis Reveals Perturbation of Host Epigenome in Chestnut Blight Fungus by a Hypovirus. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1026. [PMID: 29875746 PMCID: PMC5974932 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotic genomes, DNA methylation is an important type of epigenetic modification that plays crucial roles in many biological processes. To investigate the impact of a hypovirus infection on the methylome of Cryphonectria parasitica, the chestnut blight fungus, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) was employed to generate single-base resolution methylomes of the fungus with/without hypovirus infection. The results showed that hypovirus infection alters methylation in all three contexts (CG, CHG, and CHH), especially in gene promoters. A total of 600 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified, of which 144 could be annotated to functional genes. RNA-seq analysis revealed that DNA methylation in promoter is negatively correlated with gene expression. Among DMRs, four genes were shown to be involved in conidiation, orange pigment production, and virulence. Taken together, our DNA methylomes analysis provide valuable insights into the understanding of the relationship between DNA methylation and hypovirus infection, as well as phenotypic traits in C. parasitica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Sisi Zhou
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Yongbing Li
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaorui Shen
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Baoshan Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.,Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
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Turina M, Rossi M, Moretti M. Investigation on the partial resistance of Cpkk2 knock out strain of Cryphonectria parasitica to Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 infection in presence of Geneticin and Geneticin resistance gene. Virus Res 2016; 219:58-61. [PMID: 26643512 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2015.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We have recently characterized the central components of the three MAP kinase cascades present in Cryphonectria parasitica : the MEK genes cpkk1, cpkk2 and cpkk3. When we attempted to infect through anastomosis the three knock out strains with Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1), only the deletion strain of Cpkk2, the yeast Ste7 homologue, involved in mating and filamentous growth, could not be infected. We then proceeded to attempt virus infection through transformation of Δcpkk2 protoplasts using an infectious cDNA clone able to establish virus infection through transformation. In this case, a very limited number of strains could be recovered as stable transformants compared to the efficiency of control transformations with plasmid carrying only the antibiotic marker. Furthermore, transformants carrying actively replicating virus could be isolated only if the selection marker Geneticin was used during the very initial selection process, and not maintained throughout the growth of the colonies. Moreover, Δcpkk2 isolates that maintained the virus lost Geneticin resistance. We therefore unveiled a specific negative interaction among virus infection, presence of Geneticin in the growth media, and lack of Cpkk2 MEK in the fungal host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Turina
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Torino, Italy.
| | - Marika Rossi
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Torino, Italy
| | - Marino Moretti
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante, CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135 Torino, Italy
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Moretti M, Rossi M, Ciuffo M, Turina M. Functional characterization of the three mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MAP2Ks) present in the Cryphonectria parasitica genome reveals the necessity of Cpkk1 and Cpkk2, but not Cpkk3, for pathogenesis on chestnut (Castanea spp.). MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2014; 15:500-12. [PMID: 24373159 PMCID: PMC6638907 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The biological function(s) of the cpkk1, cpkk2 and cpkk3 genes, encoding the three mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MAP2Ks) of Cryphonectria parasitica, the causal agent of chestnut blight, were examined through knockout strains. Cpkk1, the Mkk1 orthologue, acts in a phosphorylation cascade essential for cell integrity; Cpkk2 is the Ste7 orthologue involved in the pheromone response pathway; Cpkk3 is the Pbs2 orthologue, the MAP2K activated during the high-osmolarity response. Our analysis confirmed the role of each MAP2K in its respective signalling cascade with some peculiarities: abnormal hyphae with a reduced number of septa and thinner cell walls were observed in Δcpkk1 mutants, and a strong growth defect on solid media was evident in Δcpkk2 mutants, when compared with the controls. Virulence on chestnut was affected in both the Δcpkk1 and Δcpkk2 strains, which were also unable to complete the developmental steps essential for mating. No alterations were reported in Δcpkk3, except under hyperosmotic conditions and in the presence of fludioxonil. Δcpkk2 mutants, however, showed higher sensitivity during growth in medium containing the antibiotic G418 (Geneticin).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marino Moretti
- Istituto di Virologia Vegetale, CNR, Strada delle Cacce 73, 10135, Torino, Italy
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Yun Y, Liu Z, Zhang J, Shim WB, Chen Y, Ma Z. The MAPKK FgMkk1 ofFusarium graminearumregulates vegetative differentiation, multiple stress response, and virulence via the cell wall integrity and high-osmolarity glycerol signaling pathways. Environ Microbiol 2013; 16:2023-37. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yingzi Yun
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Zunyong Liu
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Jingze Zhang
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Won-Bo Shim
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology; Texas A&M University; College Station TX USA
| | - Yun Chen
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- Institute of Biotechnology; Zhejiang University; 866 Yuhangtang Road Hangzhou 310058 China
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Δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate/glutamate biogenesis is required for fungal virulence and sporulation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e73483. [PMID: 24039956 PMCID: PMC3767830 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2013] [Accepted: 07/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Proline dehydrogenase (Prodh) and Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5Cdh) are two key enzymes in the cellular biogenesis of glutamate. Recombinant Prodh and P5Cdh proteins of the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica were investigated and showed activity in in vitro assays. Additionally, the C. parasitica Prodh and P5Cdh genes were able to complement the Saccharomyces cerevisiae put1 and put2 null mutants, respectively, to allow these proline auxotrophic yeast mutants to grow on media with proline as the sole source of nitrogen. Deletion of the Prodh gene in C. parasitica resulted in hypovirulence and a lower level of sporulation, whereas deletion of P5Cdh resulted in hypovirulence though no effect on sporulation; both Δprodh and Δp5cdh mutants were unable to grow on minimal medium with proline as the sole nitrogen source. In a wild-type strain, the intracellular level of proline and the activity of Prodh and P5Cdh increased after supplementation of exogenous proline, though the intracellular Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) content remained unchanged. Prodh and P5Cdh were both transcriptionally down-regulated in cells infected with hypovirus. The disruption of other genes with products involved in the conversion of arginine to ornithine, ornithine and glutamate to P5C, and P5C to proline in the cytosol did not appear to affect virulence; however, asexual sporulation was reduced in the Δpro1 and Δpro2 mutants. Taken together, our results showed that Prodh, P5Cdh and related mitochondrial functions are essential for virulence and that proline/glutamate pathway components may represent down-stream targets of hypovirus regulation in C. parasitica.
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Dawe AL, Nuss DL. Hypovirus molecular biology: from Koch's postulates to host self-recognition genes that restrict virus transmission. Adv Virus Res 2013; 86:109-47. [PMID: 23498905 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394315-6.00005-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The idea that viruses can be used to control fungal diseases has been a driving force in mycovirus research since the earliest days. Viruses in the family Hypoviridae associated with reduced virulence (hypovirulence) of the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, have held a prominent place in this research. This has been due in part to the severity of the chestnut blight epidemics in North America and Europe and early reports of hypovirulence-mediated mitigation of disease in European forests and successful application for control of chestnut blight in chestnut orchards. A more recent contributing factor has been the development of a hypovirus/C. parasitica experimental system that has overcome many of the challenges associated with mycovirus research, stemming primarily from the exclusive intracellular lifestyle shared by all mycoviruses. This chapter will focus on hypovirus molecular biology with an emphasis on the development of the hypovirus/C. parasitica experimental system and its contributions to fundamental and practical advances in mycovirology and the broader understanding of virus-host interactions and fungal pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angus L Dawe
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
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