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Lee SM, Kim G, Kim H, Choi GJ. Screening Method to Identify Watermelon Cultivars Resistant to Acidovorax citrulli, the Cause of Bacterial Fruit Blotch. THE PLANT PATHOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 40:593-602. [PMID: 39639663 PMCID: PMC11626035 DOI: 10.5423/ppj.oa.08.2024.0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2024] [Revised: 10/01/2024] [Accepted: 10/01/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024]
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli is a causative pathogen for bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) in Cucurbitaceae, including watermelon. The most effective method to control this plant disease is to cultivate resistant cultivars. Herein, this study aimed to establish an efficient screening method to determine the resistance of watermelon cultivars against A. citrulli. To this end, we explored the virulence of seven A. citrulli isolates belonging to clonal complex group I or II based on gltA gene analysis. Furthermore, we evaluated the BFB occurrence in the seedlings of two arbitrarily selected watermelon cultivars according to the growth stage of the watermelon seedlings, inoculum concentration, and incubation temperature after inoculation in a humidity chamber. Taken together, we established the following method to determine the resistance of watermelon cultivars against A. citrulli: watermelon seedlings at the fully expanded two-leaf stage can be spray-inoculated with an A. citrulli bacterial suspension at a concentration of 1.0 × 106 cfu/ml; after incubation for 48 h at 28℃ in a humidity chamber, the plants were cultivated in a growth chamber at 25℃ with 80% relative humidity under a 12-h light/dark cycle; and BFB occurrence on the plants can be investigated at 7 dpi by visual estimation of the diseased leaf area (%). Based on these experimental methods, we investigated the resistance degree of 43 commercial watermelon cultivars against A. citrulli KACC 17005. Therefore, our results can provide important information for the development of resistant cultivars against A. citrulli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Min Lee
- Eco-Friendly New Materials Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Korea
| | - Gahyeon Kim
- Eco-Friendly New Materials Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Korea
| | - Hun Kim
- Eco-Friendly New Materials Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Korea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Gyung Ja Choi
- Eco-Friendly New Materials Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon 34114, Korea
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
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Ham H, Lee BW, Kim K, Lee W, Lee YH, Park DS. A Novel and Advanced Diagnostic Approach toward Paracidovorax citrulli Causing Bacterial Fruit Blotch in Watermelon by Direct SYBR Green Real-Time PCR Assay. THE PLANT PATHOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 40:671-680. [PMID: 39639670 PMCID: PMC11626039 DOI: 10.5423/ppj.oa.08.2024.0125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2024] [Revised: 10/16/2024] [Accepted: 11/02/2024] [Indexed: 12/07/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) caused by Paracidovorax citrulli is a devastating disease in cucurbit hosts such as watermelon. P. citrulli is a seed-borne pathogen, and contaminated seeds are the primary inoculum. Because it is difficult to control BFB after the emergence of the disease, it is essential to detect the pathogen and remove infected plant materials, including seeds, in the early stages. In this study, we developed a direct SYBR Green real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method using a new species-specific marker for detecting P. citrulli with high specificity and sensitivity. The genome information of P. citrulli and related species was collected and compared to retrieve the P. citrulli-specific gene. The primer set RS01560-164 was designed based on the selected gene and tested for specificity and sensitivity using cloned DNA, genomic DNA, cell suspension, and suspensions obtained from infected watermelon cotyledons. Our primer set detected only P. citrulli from the closely related species with a detection limit of cloned DNA at 1.46 × 103 copies/µl, gDNA at 500 fg/µl, and cell suspension at 1.4 × 104 cfu/ml by real-time PCR. Our method also detected P. citrulli from diseased plants without the need for a DNA extraction phase. Therefore, the primer set and real-time PCR methods newly developed in this study could be applied for the specific detection of P. citrulli in plants or seeds with high sensitivity and robustness, providing the potential to manage BFB in cucurbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeonheui Ham
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Bang Wool Lee
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Kyongnim Kim
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Woohyung Lee
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Yong Hwan Lee
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Dong Suk Park
- Microbial Safety Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
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Mousa S, Nyaruaba R, Yang H, Wei H. Engineering seed microenvironment with embedded bacteriophages and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:503. [PMID: 39604853 PMCID: PMC11600732 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03657-y] [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: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 11/15/2024] [Indexed: 11/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Engineering the seed microenvironment with embedded bacteriophages and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) shows promise for enhancing germination, mitigating biotic and abiotic stressors, and improving resilience under challenging environmental conditions. This study aimed to enhance potato seed germination and control bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum and salinity by using novel technology to encapsulate, preserve, and deliver phage therapy and rhizobacteria. RESULTS Silk fibroin and trehalose biomaterial combined with the phage P-PSG11 and Pseudomonas lalkuanensis were applied to potato seeds. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate pathogen suppression, salt tolerance, and plant growth enhancement. The combination of silk and trehalose effectively preserved both phage and bacteria for ≥ 8 weeks, maintaining both phage titers and bacterial colony counts. Seeds coated with the P-PSG11 and P. lalkuanensis mixture exhibited the highest germination rate at 93.5%, followed by P. lalkuanensis at 86.3%. In vivo evaluations showed significant increases in root length (72.7%, 61.0%, and 22.5%), plant height (71.5%, 65.1%, and 8.2%), and dry matter (129.1%, 125.7%, and 13.1%) for the P-PSG11 and P. lalkuanensis mixture, P. lalkuanensis, and P-PSG11, respectively. The incidence of wilt was significantly reduced by 88.2% and 81.2%, and salinity was mitigated by 83.3% and 79.2% for the P-PSG11 and P. lalkuanensis mixture and P. lalkuanensis treatment, respectively, compared to the control (p < 0.001). The viability of preserved P-PSG11 and P. lalkuanensis was confirmed after one year using phage titers and bacterial colonies. CONCLUSION This innovative approach enhanced plant growth, promoted seed germination, controlled wilt disease, and mitigated soil salinity.
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Grants
- ZDRW-ZS-2016-4 National Biosafety Laboratory, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
- ZDRW-ZS-2016-4 National Biosafety Laboratory, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
- ZDRW-ZS-2016-4 National Biosafety Laboratory, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
- ZDRW-ZS-2016-4 National Biosafety Laboratory, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar Mousa
- Center for Pathogens Research, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Faculty of Agriculture, Agricultural Botany Department, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Raphael Nyaruaba
- Center for Pathogens Research, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hang Yang
- Center for Pathogens Research, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongping Wei
- Center for Pathogens Research, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.
- International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Guo YX, Fan T, Liu XQ, Chen MJ, Zhang NN, Chen YH, Wang XD. Nanosecond-pulsed plasma protects against bacterial fruit blotch and promotes melon seedling growth. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2024; 104:7917-7927. [PMID: 38829244 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), known as the 'cancer' of cucurbits, is a seed-borne disease of melons caused by Acidovorax citrulli. Traditional chemical treatments for BFB are ineffective and adversely affect the environment. Using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) nanosecond-pulsed plasma technology, melon seeds were treated to promote germination and growth and to control BFB. RESULTS Based on the evaluation parameters of seed germination, seedling growth, leaf yellowing and bacterial infection after seed plasma treatments, 9 min at 20 kV was selected as the optimal plasma discharge parameter. In this study, seedling growth was significantly improved after treating melon seeds carrying A. citrulli using this discharge parameter. The number of first true leaves measured on the eighth day was 2.3 times higher and the disease index was reduced by 60.5% compared to the control group. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared measurements show that plasma treatments penetrate the seed coat and denature polysaccharides and proteins in the seed kernel, affecting their growth and sterilization properties. CONCLUSION Pre-sowing treatment of melon seeds carrying A. citrulli using nanosecond-pulsed plasma technology can effectively control seedling BFB disease and promote melon seedling growth by optimizing DBD parameters. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Xi Guo
- College of Sciences/Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Storage Materials and Technologies, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Ting Fan
- College of Sciences/Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Storage Materials and Technologies, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Xiao-Qin Liu
- Department of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Man-Jie Chen
- College of Sciences/Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Storage Materials and Technologies, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Na-Na Zhang
- College of Sciences/Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Storage Materials and Technologies, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Yu-He Chen
- College of Sciences/Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Storage Materials and Technologies, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Wang
- Department of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
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5
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Brill A, Menagen B, Malach E, Zelinger E, Avnir D, Burdman S, Hayouka Z. Entrapment of antimicrobial compounds in a metal matrix for crop protection. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e70005. [PMID: 39268832 PMCID: PMC11393771 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.70005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Agricultural yields are often limited by damage caused by pathogenic microorganisms, including plant-pathogenic bacteria. The chemical control options to cope with bacterial diseases in agriculture are limited, predominantly relying on copper-based products. These compounds, however, possess limited efficacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel technologies to manage bacterial plant diseases and reduce food loss. In this study, a new antimicrobial agent was developed using a doping method that entraps small bioactive organic molecules inside copper as the metal matrix. The food preservative agent lauroyl arginate ethyl ester (ethyl lauroyl arginate; LAE) was chosen as the doped organic compound. The new composites were termed LAE@[Cu]. Bactericidal assays against Acidovorax citrulli, a severe plant pathogen, revealed that LAE and copper in the composites possess a synergistic interaction as compared with each component individually. LAE@[Cu] composites were further characterised in terms of chemical properties and in planta assays demonstrated their potential for further development as crop protection agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya Brill
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentThe Hebrew University of JerusalemRehovotIsrael
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentThe Hebrew University of JerusalemRehovotIsrael
| | - Barak Menagen
- Institute of ChemistryThe Hebrew University of JerusalemJerusalemIsrael
| | - Einav Malach
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentThe Hebrew University of JerusalemRehovotIsrael
| | - Einat Zelinger
- Interdepartmental Core Facility, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentThe Hebrew University of JerusalemRehovotIsrael
| | - David Avnir
- Institute of ChemistryThe Hebrew University of JerusalemJerusalemIsrael
| | - Saul Burdman
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentThe Hebrew University of JerusalemRehovotIsrael
| | - Zvi Hayouka
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and EnvironmentThe Hebrew University of JerusalemRehovotIsrael
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Jin C, Matsuo H, Nakayama Y, Shigita G, Inoue Y, Kato K, Takano Y. A deletion in FLS2 and its expansion after domestication caused global dissemination of melon cultivars defective in flagellin recognition. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 119:1671-1684. [PMID: 38924650 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
FLAGELLIN SENSING 2 (FLS2) encodes a pattern recognition receptor that perceives bacterial flagellin. While putative FLS2 orthologs are broadly conserved in plants, their functional characterization remains limited. Here, we report the identification of orthologs in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and melon (C. melo), named CsFLS2 and CmFLS2, respectively. Homology searching identified CsFLS2, and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) demonstrated that CsFLS2 is required for flg22-triggered ROS generation. Interestingly, genome re-sequencing of melon cv. Lennon and subsequent genomic PCR revealed that Lennon has two CmFLS2 haplotypes, haplotype I encoding full-length CmFLS2 and haplotype II encoding a truncated form. We show that VIGS-mediated knockdown of CmFLS2 haplotype I resulted in a significant reduction in both flg22-triggered ROS generation and immunity to a bacterial pathogen in melon cv. Lennon. Remarkably, genomic PCR of CmFLS2 revealed that 68% of tested commercial melon cultivars possess only CmFLS2 haplotype II: these cultivars thus lack functional CmFLS2. To explore evolutionary aspects of CmFLS2 haplotype II occurrence, we genotyped the CmFLS2 locus in 142 melon accessions by genomic PCR and analyzed 437 released sequences. The results suggest that CmFLS2 haplotype II is derived from C. melo subsp. melo. Furthermore, we suggest that the proportion of CmFLS2 haplotype II increased among the improved melo group compared with the primitive melo group. Collectively, these findings suggest that the deleted FLS2 locus generated in the primitive melo subspecies expanded after domestication, resulting in the spread of commercial melon cultivars defective in flagellin recognition, which is critical for bacterial immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chujia Jin
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Hiroki Matsuo
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Yoshizo Nakayama
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Gentaro Shigita
- Laboratory of Plant Biodiversity Research, Department of Life Science Systems, Technical University of Munich, Freising, 85354, Germany
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Inoue
- Laboratory of Plant Genetics, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Kenji Kato
- Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Takano
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
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Shahwar D, Khan Z, Park Y. Molecular Markers for Marker-Assisted Breeding for Biotic and Abiotic Stress in Melon ( Cucumis melo L.): A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6307. [PMID: 38928017 PMCID: PMC11204097 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126307] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a globally grown crop renowned for its juice and flavor. Despite growth in production, the melon industry faces several challenges owing to a wide range of biotic and abiotic stresses throughout the growth and development of melon. The aim of the review article is to consolidate current knowledge on the genetic mechanism of both biotic and abiotic stress in melon, facilitating the development of robust, disease-resistant melon varieties. A comprehensive literature review was performed, focusing on recent genetic and molecular advancements related to biotic and abiotic stress responses in melons. The review emphasizes the identification and analysis of quantitative trait loci (QTLs), functional genes, and molecular markers in two sections. The initial section provides a comprehensive summary of the QTLs and major and minor functional genes, and the establishment of molecular markers associated with biotic (viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens, and nematodes) and abiotic stress (cold/chilling, drought, salt, and toxic compounds). The latter section briefly outlines the molecular markers employed to facilitate marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) and identify cultivars resistant to biotic and abiotic stressors, emphasizing their relevance in strategic marker-assisted melon breeding. These insights could guide the incorporation of specific traits, culminating in developing novel varieties, equipped to withstand diseases and environmental stresses by targeted breeding, that meet both consumer preferences and the needs of melon breeders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durre Shahwar
- Plant Genomics and Molecular Breeding Laboratory, Department of Horticultural Bioscience, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Republic of Korea;
| | - Zeba Khan
- Center for Agricultural Education, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India;
| | - Younghoon Park
- Plant Genomics and Molecular Breeding Laboratory, Department of Horticultural Bioscience, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Republic of Korea;
- Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Republic of Korea
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8
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Erdrich SH, Schurr U, Frunzke J, Arsova B. Seed coating with phages for sustainable plant biocontrol of plant pathogens and influence of the seed coat mucilage. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14507. [PMID: 38884488 PMCID: PMC11181459 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathogens resistant to classical control strategies pose a significant threat to crop yield, with seeds being a major transmission route. Bacteriophages, viruses targeting bacteria, offer an environmentally sustainable biocontrol solution. In this study, we isolated and characterized two novel phages, Athelas and Alfirin, which infect Pseudomonas syringae and Agrobacterium fabrum, respectively, and included the recently published Pfeifenkraut phage infecting Xanthomonas translucens. Using a simple immersion method, phages coated onto seeds successfully lysed bacteria post air-drying. The seed coat mucilage (SCM), a polysaccharide-polymer matrix exuded by seeds, plays a critical role in phage binding. Seeds with removed mucilage formed five to 10 times less lysis zones compared to those with mucilage. The podovirus Athelas showed the highest mucilage dependency. Phages from the Autographiviridae family also depended on mucilage for seed adhesion. Comparative analysis of Arabidopsis SCM mutants suggested the diffusible cellulose as a key component for phage binding. Long-term activity tests demonstrated high phage stability on seed surfaces and significantly increasing seedling survival rates in the presence of pathogens. Using non-virulent host strains enhanced phage presence on seeds but also has potential limitations. These findings highlight phage-based interventions as promising, sustainable strategies for combating pathogen resistance and improving crop yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian H. Erdrich
- Forschungszentrum JülichDepartment for Plant Sciences (IBG‐2), Institute of Bio‐ and GeosciencesJülichGermany
- Forschungszentrum JülichDepartment for Biotechnology (IBG‐1), Institute of Bio‐ and GeosciencesJülichGermany
| | - Ulrich Schurr
- Forschungszentrum JülichDepartment for Plant Sciences (IBG‐2), Institute of Bio‐ and GeosciencesJülichGermany
| | - Julia Frunzke
- Forschungszentrum JülichDepartment for Biotechnology (IBG‐1), Institute of Bio‐ and GeosciencesJülichGermany
| | - Borjana Arsova
- Forschungszentrum JülichDepartment for Plant Sciences (IBG‐2), Institute of Bio‐ and GeosciencesJülichGermany
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9
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Wang Z, Cheng W, Dong Z, Yao X, Deng X, Ou C. A CRISPR/LbCas12a-based method for detection of bacterial fruit blotch pathogens in watermelon. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0384623. [PMID: 38299831 PMCID: PMC10913525 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03846-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli is the main pathogen causing bacterial fruit blotch, which seriously threatens the global watermelon industry. At present, rapid, sensitive, and low-cost detection methods are urgently needed. The established CRISPR/LbCas12a visual detection method can specifically detect A. citrulli and does not cross-react with other pathogenic bacteria such as Erwinia tracheiphila, Pseudomonas syringae, and Xanthomonas campestris. The sensitivity of this method for genomic DNA detection is as low as 0.7 copies/μL, which is higher than conventional PCR and real-time PCR. In addition, this method only takes 2.5 h from DNA extraction to quantitative detection and does not require complex operation and sample treatment. Additionally, the technique was applied to test real watermelon seed samples for A. citrulli, and the results were contrasted with those of real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and conventional PCR. The high sensitivity and specificity have broad application prospects in the rapid detection of bacterial fruit blotch bacterial pathogens of watermelon.IMPORTANCEBacterial fruit blotch, Acidovorax citrulli, is an important seed-borne bacterial disease of watermelon, melon, and other cucurbits. The lack of rapid, sensitive, and reliable pathogen detection methods has hampered research on fruit spot disease prevention and control. Here, we demonstrate the CRISPR/Cas12a system to analyze aspects of the specificity and sensitivity of A. citrulli and to test actual watermelon seed samples. The results showed that the CRISPR/Cas12a-based free-amplification method for detecting bacterial fruit blotch pathogens of watermelons was specific for A. citrulli target genes and 100-fold more sensitive than conventional PCR with quantitative real-time PCR. This method provides a new technical tool for the detection of A. citrulli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zelu Wang
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Anti-aging Chinese Herbal Medicine, School of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, Anhui, China
| | - Wenhui Cheng
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Anti-aging Chinese Herbal Medicine, School of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, Anhui, China
| | - Zhiyu Dong
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Anti-aging Chinese Herbal Medicine, School of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, Anhui, China
| | - Xiamei Yao
- School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xu Deng
- Southern Subtropicals Grops Research Institute, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Chun Ou
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Anti-aging Chinese Herbal Medicine, School of Biology and Food Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, Anhui, China
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10
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Pérez-Montaño F, Jiménez-Guerrero I, Tamir-Ariel D, Burdman S. Virulence-Related Assays for Investigation of the Acidovorax citrulli-Cucurbitaceae Pathosystem. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2751:81-94. [PMID: 38265711 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3617-6_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli is one of the most important pathogens of cucurbit crops, mainly melon and watermelon. Although A. citrulli is able to infect all aerial parts of the plant, fruits are highly sensitive to the bacterium. Therefore, the disease is known as bacterial fruit blotch (BFB). The unavailability of effective tools for managing BFB, including the lack of resistant varieties, exacerbates the threat this disease poses to the cucurbit industry. However, despite the economic importance of BFB, still little is known about basic aspects of A. citrulli-plant interactions. Here, we present diverse techniques that have recently been developed for investigation of basic aspects of BFB, including identification of virulence determinants of the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dafna Tamir-Ariel
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Saul Burdman
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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11
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Jiménez-Guerrero I, Sonawane M, Eckshtain-Levi N, Tuang ZK, da Silva GM, Pérez-Montaño F, Leibman-Markus M, Gupta R, Noda-Garcia L, Bar M, Burdman S. Natural variation in a short region of the Acidovorax citrulli type III-secreted effector AopW1 is associated with differences in cytotoxicity and host adaptation. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 117:516-540. [PMID: 37864805 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial fruit blotch, caused by Acidovorax citrulli, is a serious disease of melon and watermelon. The strains of the pathogen belong to two major genetic groups: group I strains are strongly associated with melon, while group II strains are more aggressive on watermelon. A. citrulli secretes many protein effectors to the host cell via the type III secretion system. Here we characterized AopW1, an effector that shares similarity to the actin cytoskeleton-disrupting effector HopW1 of Pseudomonas syringae and with effectors from other plant-pathogenic bacterial species. AopW1 has a highly variable region (HVR) within amino acid positions 147 to 192, showing 14 amino acid differences between group I and II variants. We show that group I AopW1 is more toxic to yeast and Nicotiana benthamiana cells than group II AopW1, having stronger actin filament disruption activity, and increased ability to induce cell death and reduce callose deposition. We further demonstrated the importance of some amino acid positions within the HVR for AopW1 cytotoxicity. Cellular analyses revealed that AopW1 also localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplasts, and plant endosomes. We also show that overexpression of the endosome-associated protein EHD1 attenuates AopW1-induced cell death and increases defense responses. Finally, we show that sequence variation in AopW1 plays a significant role in the adaptation of group I and II strains to their preferred hosts, melon and watermelon, respectively. This study provides new insights into the HopW1 family of bacterial effectors and provides first evidence on the involvement of EHD1 in response to biotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Jiménez-Guerrero
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Monica Sonawane
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noam Eckshtain-Levi
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Za Khai Tuang
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gustavo Mateus da Silva
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Francisco Pérez-Montaño
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Microbiology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Meirav Leibman-Markus
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Rupali Gupta
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Lianet Noda-Garcia
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Maya Bar
- Department of Plant Pathology and Weed Research, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Saul Burdman
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
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12
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Wang X, Kan Y, Bai K, Xu X, Chen X, Yu C, Shi J, Jiang N, Li J, Luo L. A novel double-ribonuclease toxin-antitoxin system linked to the stress response and survival of Acidovorax citrulli. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0216923. [PMID: 37819152 PMCID: PMC10714953 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02169-23] [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: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), which is caused by the seed-borne bacterium Acidovorax citrulli, is a devastating disease affecting cucurbit crops throughout the world. Although seed fermentation and treatment with disinfectants can provide effective management of BFB, they cannot completely guarantee pathogen-free seedstock, which suggests that A. citrulli is a highly stress-resistant pathogen. Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems are common among a diverse range of bacteria and have been reported to play a role in bacterial stress response. However, there is currently much debate about the relationship between TA systems and stress response in bacteria. The current study characterized a novel TA system (Aave_1720-Aave_1719) from A. citrulli that affects both biofilm formation and survival in response to sodium hypochlorite stress. The mechanism of neutralization differed from typical TA systems as two separate mechanisms were associated with the antitoxin, which exhibited characteristics of both type II and type V TA systems. The Aave_1720-Aave_1719 system described here also constitutes the first known report of a double-ribonuclease TA system in bacteria, which expands our understanding of the range of regulatory mechanisms utilized by bacterial TA systems, providing new insight into the survival of A. citrulli in response to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Yumin Kan
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Kaihong Bai
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoli Xu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Chengxuan Yu
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Shi
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Na Jiang
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Jianqiang Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
| | - Laixin Luo
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Seed Disease Testing and Control, Beijing, China
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13
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Heo L, Han Y, Cho Y, Choi J, Lee J, Han SW. A putative glucose 6-phosphate isomerase has pleiotropic functions on virulence and other mechanisms in Acidovorax citrulli. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1275438. [PMID: 38023913 PMCID: PMC10664246 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1275438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli (Ac) is a causal agent of watermelon bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) disease. Because resistance cultivars/lines have not yet been developed, it is imperative to elucidate Ac's virulence factors and their mechanisms to develop resistant cultivars/lines in different crops, including watermelon. The glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) is a reversible enzyme in both glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways in living organisms. However, the functions of GPI are not characterized in Ac. In this study, we determined the roles of GpiAc (GPI in Ac) by proteomic and phenotypic analyses of the mutant lacking GPI. The mutant displayed significantly reduced virulence to watermelon in two different virulence assays. The mutant's growth patterns were comparable to the wild-type strain in rich medium and M9 with glucose but not with fructose. The comparative proteome analysis markedly identified proteins related to virulence, motility, and cell wall/membrane/envelope. In the mutant, biofilm formation and twitching halo production were reduced. We further demonstrated that the mutant was less tolerant to osmotic stress and lysozyme treatment than the wild-type strain. Interestingly, the tolerance to alkali conditions was remarkably enhanced in the mutant. These results reveal that GpiAc is involved not only in virulence and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis but also in biofilm formation, twitching motility, and tolerance to diverse external stresses suggesting the pleiotropic roles of GpiAc in Ac. Our study provides fundamental and valuable information on the functions of previously uncharacterized glucose 6-phosphate isomerase and its virulence mechanism in Ac.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Sang-Wook Han
- Department of Plant Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Republic of Korea
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14
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Yang L, Zhao M, Zhang X, Jiang J, Fei N, Ji W, Ye Y, Guan W, Yang Y, Zhao T. Acidovorax citrulli type III effector AopU interferes with plant immune responses and interacts with a watermelon E3 ubiquitin ligase. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1275032. [PMID: 37876782 PMCID: PMC10590900 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1275032] [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: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli is a seed-borne bacterium that causes bacterial fruit blotch of watermelon and other cucurbit plants worldwide. It uses a type III secretion system to inject type III effectors (T3Es) into plant cells, which affect the host immune responses and facilitate pathogen colonization. However, the current understanding of the specific molecular mechanisms and targets of these effectors in A. citrulli is limited. In this study, we characterized a novel T3E called AopU in A. citrulli group II strain Aac5, which shares homology with XopU in Xanthomonas oryzae. The Agrobacterium-mediated gene transient expression system was used to study the effect of AopU on host immunity. The results showed that AopU localized on the cell membrane and nucleus of Nicotiana benthamiana, inhibited reactive oxygen species burst induced by flg22 and the expression of marker genes associated with pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity, but activated salicylic acid and jasmonic acid signal pathways. Further investigations revealed that AopU interacts with E3 ubiquitin ligase ClE3R in watermelon, both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, the deletion of aopU did not affect the virulence of A. citrulli, suggesting that AopU may have functional redundancy with other effectors in terms of its role in virulence. Collectively, these findings provide new insights into the mechanism of plant immune responses regulated by A. citrulli T3Es.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Yang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Plant Protection College, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Zhao
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nuoya Fei
- Department of Plant Pathology, Plant Protection College, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Weiqin Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfeng Ye
- Horticultural Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Wei Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuwen Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Tingchang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya, China
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15
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Ogonkov A, Brosius PE, Zeng Q, Sasso S, Nagel R. Not All Acidovorax Are Created Equal: Gibberellin Biosynthesis in the Turfgrass Pathogen Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2023; 36:647-655. [PMID: 37227226 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-02-23-0017-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
In recent years Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae was identified as a major cause of bacterial etiolation and decline (BED) in turfgrasses and has become a growing economical concern for the turfgrass industry. The symptoms of BED resemble those of "bakanae," or foolish seedling disease, of rice (Oryzae sativa), in which the gibberellins produced by the infecting fungus, Fusarium fujikuroi, contribute to the symptom development. Additionally, an operon coding for the enzymes necessary for bacterial gibberellin production was recently characterized in plant-pathogenic bacteria belonging to the γ-proteobacteria. We therefore investigated whether this gibberellin operon might be present in A. avenae subsp. avenae. A homolog of the operon has been identified in two turfgrass-infecting A. avenae subsp. avenae phylogenetic groups but not in closely related phylogenetic groups or strains infecting other plants. Moreover, even within these two phylogenetic groups, the operon presence is not uniform. For that reason, the functionality of the operon was examined in one strain of each turfgrass-infecting phylogenetic group (A. avenae subsp. avenae strains KL3 and MD5). All nine operon genes were functionally characterized through heterologous expression in Escherichia coli and enzymatic activities were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. All enzymes were functional in both investigated strains, thus demonstrating the ability of phytopathogenic β-proteobacteria to produce biologically active GA4. This additional gibberellin produced by A. avenae subsp. avenae could disrupt phytohormonal balance and be a leading factor contributing to the pathogenicity on turf grasses. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Ogonkov
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Paula Emily Brosius
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Quan Zeng
- Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06511, U.S.A
| | - Severin Sasso
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Raimund Nagel
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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16
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Kan Y, Zhang Y, Lin W, Dong T. Differential plant cell responses to Acidovorax citrulli T3SS and T6SS reveal an effective strategy for controlling plant-associated pathogens. mBio 2023; 14:e0045923. [PMID: 37288971 PMCID: PMC10470598 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00459-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli is a gram-negative plant pathogen that employs the type Ⅲ secretion system (T3SS) to infect cucurbit crops and cause bacterial fruit blotch. This bacterium also possesses an active type Ⅵ secretion system (T6SS) with strong antibacterial and antifungal activities. However, how plant cells respond to these two secretion systems and whether there is any cross talk between T3SS and T6SS during infection remain unknown. Here, we employ transcriptomic analysis to compare cellular responses to the T3SS and the T6SS during in planta infection and report distinctive effects on multiple pathways. The T3SS-mediated differentially expressed genes were enriched in the pathways of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant-pathogen interaction, MAPK signaling pathway, and glutathione metabolism, while the T6SS uniquely affected genes were related to photosynthesis. The T6SS does not contribute to the in planta virulence of A. citrulli but is critical for the survival of the bacterium when mixed with watermelon phyllosphere bacteria. In addition, T3SS-mediated virulence is independent of the T6SS, and the inactivation of the T3SS does not affect the T6SS-mediated competition against a diverse set of bacterial pathogens that commonly contaminate edible plants or directly infect plants. A T6SS-active T3SS-null mutant (Acav) could inhibit the growth of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae significantly both in vitro and in vivo and also reduce symptoms of rice bacterial blight. In conclusion, our data demonstrate the T6SS in A. citrulli is nonpathogenic to the plant host and can be harnessed as a pathogen killer against plant-associated bacteria. IMPORTANCE Chemical pesticides are widely used to protect crops from various pathogens. Still, their extensive use has led to severe consequences, including drug resistance and environmental contamination. Here, we show that an engineered T6SS-active, but avirulent mutant of Acidovorax citrulli has strong inhibition capabilities against several pathogenic bacteria, demonstrating an effective strategy that is an alternative to chemical pesticides for sustainable agricultural practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumin Kan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanjie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenhui Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Dong
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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17
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Kim YR, Sang MK. Effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on growth, metabolism, and virulence of the plant pathogenic bacterium Acidovorax citrulli. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1228713. [PMID: 37692166 PMCID: PMC10485622 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1228713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli is a seed-borne bacterial pathogen that causes bacterial fruit blotch in cucurbits and severely affects the production of cucumbers and watermelons globally. In this study, we investigated the effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on the growth, metabolism, and virulence of A. citrulli. Bacterial population was not affected by DEHP exposure; moreover, significant changes were not observed in lipid peroxidation, membrane permeability, and nucleic acid leakage. However, palmitoleic acid content was increased in the cell membrane of DEHP-exposed A. citrulli. Further, DEHP exposure increased the activity of TCA cycle-related enzymes, including α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and succinyl-CoA synthetase, along with increase in the content of glutamate, succinate, fumarate, and malate in TCA cycle. Additionally, total 270 genes were differentially expressed by the treatment, of which 28 genes were upregulated and 242 genes, including those related to translation, flagellum-dependent cell motility, and flagellum assembly, were downregulated. Regarding virulence traits, swimming activity was decreased in DEHP-exposed A. citrulli; however, biofilm formation was not affected in in vitro assay. Moreover, relative expression of pathogenicity genes, including hrpX and hrpG, were decreased in DEHP-exposed A. citrulli compared to that of unexposed A. citrulli. Therefore, these results suggest that DEHP accumulation in soil could potentially influence the metabolism and virulence traits of A. citrulli.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mee Kyung Sang
- Division of Agricultural Microbiology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju, Republic of Korea
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18
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Yang Y, Fei N, Ji W, Qiao P, Yang L, Liu D, Guan W, Zhao T. pilA Gene Contributes to Virulence, Motility, Biofilm Formation, and Interspecific Competition of Bacteria in Acidovorax citrulli. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1806. [PMID: 37512977 PMCID: PMC10385852 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli, the causative agent of bacterial fruit blotch, can be divided into two main groups based on factors such as pathogenicity and host species preference. PilA is an important structural and functional component of type IV pili (T4P). Previous studies have found significant differences in pilA DNA sequences between group I and group II strains of A. citrulli. In this study, we characterized pilA in the group I strain pslb65 and the group II strain Aac5. pilA mutants, complementation strains, and cross-complementation strains were generated, and their biological phenotypes were analyzed to identify functional differences between pilA in the two groups. pilA deletion mutants (pslb65-ΔpilA and Aac5-ΔpilA) showed significantly reduced pathogenicity compared with the wild-type (WT) strains; pslb65-ΔpilA also completely lost twitching motility, whereas Aac5-ΔpilA only partially lost motility. In King's B medium, there were no significant differences in biofilm formation between pslb65-ΔpilA and WT pslb65, but Aac5-ΔpilA showed significantly reduced biofilm formation compared to WT Aac5. In M9 minimal medium, both mutants showed significantly lower biofilm formation compared to the corresponding WT strains, although biofilm formation was recovered in the complementation strains. The biofilm formation capacity was somewhat recovered in the cross-complementation strains but remained significantly lower than in the WT strains. The interspecies competitive abilities of pslb65-ΔpilA and Aac5-ΔpilA were significantly lower than in the WT strains; Aac5-ΔpilA was more strongly competitive than pslb65-ΔpilA, and the complementation strains recovered competitiveness to WT levels. Furthermore, the cross-complementation strains showed stronger competitive abilities than the corresponding WT strains. The relative expression levels of genes related to T4P and the type VI secretion system were then assessed in the pilA mutants via quantitative PCR. The results showed significant differences in the relative expression levels of multiple genes in pslb65-ΔpilA and Aac5-ΔpilA compared to the corresponding WT stains. This indicated the presence of specific differences in pilA function between the two A. citrulli groups, but the regulatory mechanisms involved require further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwen Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
| | - Nuoya Fei
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- College of Life Sciences, Jilin Normal University, Siping 136000, China
| | - Weiqin Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Pei Qiao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Linlin Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Department of Plant Pathology, Plant Protection College, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Dehua Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- College of Plant Protection, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Wei Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Tingchang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sanya 572024, China
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19
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Koo YM, Heo AY, Choi HW. Isolation and Identification Antagonistic Bacterium Paenibacillus tianmuensis YM002 against Acidovorax citrulli. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1173695. [PMID: 37377812 PMCID: PMC10292757 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1173695] [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: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to screen antagonistic microorganisms against Acidovorax citrulli, the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch, which is known to induce sever diseases in cucurbit crops. From 240 bacterial strains isolated, only one unknown bacterial isolate, named YM002, showed significant antagonistic activity against A. citrulli KACC17909. Further experiments revealed that YM002 shows antagonistic activity against all tested A. citrulli strains, including KACC17000, KACC17001 and KACC17005, to different degrees. The phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences identified YM002 as Paenibacillus tianmuensis. Importantly, pretreatment of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) leaves with YM002 enhanced disease resistance as observed by significantly reduced necrotic symptom development and bacterial growth. YM002-induced resistance accompanied by enhanced expression of defense-related genes, such as PAL1, PR1-1a and CTR1. Importantly, culture filtrate of YM002 significantly suppressed biofilm formation and swimming motility of A. citrulli, which is indispensable for its full virulence. In addition to its antagonistic activity, YM002 showed a various plant growth promotion (PGP)-related traits, such as production of ammonia production, amylase production, ACC deaminase production, inodole-3-acetic acid production, extracellular protease production, siderophore production, and zinc solubilization activities. Indeed, treatment of cucumber roots with YM002 significantly enhanced plant growth parameters, such as fresh and dry weight of leaves or roots. This study suggests the potential of YM002 as an effective PGPR with biological control activity against Acidovorax citrulli in cucumber plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Mo Koo
- Department of Plant Medicals, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Cannabis Biotechnology, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
| | - A Yeong Heo
- Department of Plant Medicals, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Cannabis Biotechnology, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyong Woo Choi
- Department of Plant Medicals, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Cannabis Biotechnology, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
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20
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Zhao Z, Xiang J, Tian Q, Zhao W, Zhou T, Zhao L, Zhang Y. Development of one-step multiplex RT-PCR assay for rapid simultaneous detection of five RNA viruses and Acidovorax citrulli in major cucurbitaceous crops in China. Arch Microbiol 2022; 204:696. [DOI: 10.1007/s00203-022-03304-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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21
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Qiao P, Zhao M, Guan W, Walcott R, Ye Y, Yang Y, Zhao T. A putative multi-sensor hybrid histidine kinase, BarA Ac , inhibits the expression of the type III secretion system regulator HrpG in Acidovorax citrulli. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1064577. [PMID: 36532489 PMCID: PMC9748350 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1064577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), caused by Acidovorax citrulli, severely damages watermelon, melon, and other cucurbit crops worldwide. Although many virulence determinants have been identified in A. citrulli, including swimming motility, twitching motility, biofilm formation, and the type III secretion system (T3SS), research on their regulation is lacking. To study virulence regulation mechanisms, we found a putative histidine kinase BarA Ac that may be related to the T3SS regulator HrpG in A. citrulli. We deleted and characterized barAAc (Aave_2063) in A. citrulli Aac5 strain. Compared to the wild-type Aac5, virulence and early proliferation of barAAc mutant in host watermelon cotyledons were significantly increased, and induction of hypersensitive response in non-host tobacco was accelerated, while biofilm formation and swimming motility were significantly reduced. In addition, the transcriptomic analysis revealed that the expression of many T3SS-related genes was upregulated in the ΔbarAAc deletion mutant when cultured in KB medium. Meanwhile, the ΔbarAAc deletion mutant showed increased accumulation of the T3SS regulator HrpG in KB medium, which may account for the increased deployment of T3SS. This suggests that the putative histidine kinase BarA Ac is able to repress the T3SS expression by inhibiting HrpG in the KB medium, which appears to be important for rational energy allocation. In summary, our research provides further understanding of the regulatory network of A. citrulli virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Qiao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Zhao
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Wei Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ron Walcott
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Yunfeng Ye
- Horticultural Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Yuwen Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tingchang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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22
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Yeo SM, Hong J, Hossain MR, Jung HJ, Choe P, Nou IS. Genotyping by Sequencing (GBS)-Based QTL Mapping for Bacterial Fruit Blotch (BFB) in Watermelon. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13122250. [PMID: 36553516 PMCID: PMC9777634 DOI: 10.3390/genes13122250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), an economically important and nutritionally rich Cucurbitaceous crop grown worldwide, is severely affected by bacterial fruit blotch (BFB). Development of resistant cultivar is the most eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable way to tackle this disease. This requires wider understanding of the genetics of resistance to BFB. In this study, we identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with BFB resistance in an F2 mapping population developed from BFB-resistant 'PI 189225' (Citrullus amarus) and -susceptible 'SW 26' (C. lanatus) genotypes based on the polymorphic markers identified by genotyping by sequencing (GSB). A linkage map covering a total genetic distance of 3377.1 cM was constructed. Two QTLs for BFB resistance, namely, ClBFB10.1 and ClBFB10.2, both located on chromosome 10 explaining 18.84 and 15.41% of the phenotypic variations, respectively, were identified. Two SNP-based high-resolution melting (HRM) markers WmBFB10.1 and WmBFB10.2 having high positive correlation with resistance vs. susceptible alleles were developed. The efficacy of the markers was validated in another F2 population derived from SW34 × PI 189225. The highest phenotypic variation was found in the locus ClBFB10.2, which also contains three putative candidate genes for resistance to BFB. These findings will accelerate the development of BFB-resistant watermelon varieties via molecular breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Min Yeo
- Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongeui Hong
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Mohammad Rashed Hossain
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh
| | - Hee-Jeong Jung
- Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Phillip Choe
- PPS Farming Corporation, Yongin 17096, Republic of Korea
| | - Ill-Sup Nou
- Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence:
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23
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Ho BL, Chen JC, Huang TP, Fang SC. Protocorm-like-body extract of Phalaenopsis aphrodite combats watermelon fruit blotch disease. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1054586. [PMID: 36523623 PMCID: PMC9745142 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1054586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial fruit blotch, caused by the seedborne gram-negative bacterium Acidovorax citrulli, is one of the most destructive bacterial diseases of cucurbits (gourds) worldwide. Despite its prevalence, effective and reliable means to control bacterial fruit blotch remain limited. Transcriptomic analyses of tissue culture-based regeneration processes have revealed that organogenesis-associated cellular reprogramming is often associated with upregulation of stress- and defense-responsive genes. Yet, there is limited evidence supporting the notion that the reprogrammed cellular metabolism of the regenerated tissued confers bona fide antimicrobial activity. Here, we explored the anti-bacterial activity of protocorm-like-bodies (PLBs) of Phalaenopsis aphrodite. Encouragingly, we found that the PLB extract was potent in slowing growth of A. citrulli, reducing the number of bacteria attached to watermelon seeds, and alleviating disease symptoms of watermelon seedlings caused by A. citrulli. Because the anti-bacterial activity can be fractionated chemically, we predict that reprogrammed cellular activity during the PLB regeneration process produces metabolites with antibacterial activity. In conclusion, our data demonstrated the antibacterial activity in developing PLBs and revealed the potential of using orchid PLBs to discover chemicals to control bacterial fruit blotch disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Lin Ho
- Biotechnology Center in Southern Taiwan, Academia Sinica, Tainan, Taiwan
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jhun-Chen Chen
- Biotechnology Center in Southern Taiwan, Academia Sinica, Tainan, Taiwan
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Pi Huang
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Innovation and Development Center of Sustainable Agriculture, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Master’s and PhD Degree Program of Plant Health Care, Academy of Circular Economy, National Chung Hsing University, Nantou, Taiwan
| | - Su-Chiung Fang
- Biotechnology Center in Southern Taiwan, Academia Sinica, Tainan, Taiwan
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
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24
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Acidovorax citrulli Effector AopV Suppresses Plant Immunity and Interacts with Aromatic Dehydratase ADT6 in Watermelon. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911719. [PMID: 36233021 PMCID: PMC9570411 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) is a disease of cucurbit plants caused by Acidovorax citrulli. Although A. citrulli has great destructive potential, the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity of A. citrulli are not clear, particularly with regard to its type III secreted effectors. In this study, we characterized the type III secreted effector protein, AopV, from A. citrulli strain Aac5. We show that AopV significantly inhibits reactive oxygen species and the expression of PTI marker genes, and helps the growth of Pseudomonas syringae D36E in Nicotiana benthamiana. In addition, we found that the aromatic dehydratase ADT6 from watermelon was a target of AopV. AopV interacts with ADT6 in vivo and in vitro. Subcellular localization indicated ADT6 and AopV were co-located at the cell membrane. Together, our results reveal that AopV suppresses plant immunity and targets ADT6 in the cell membrane. These findings provide an new characterization of the molecular interaction of A. citrulli effector protein AopV with host cells.
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25
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Wang J, Liu J, Zhao Y, Sun M, Yu G, Fan J, Tian Y, Hu B. OxyR contributes to virulence of Acidovorax citrulli by regulating anti-oxidative stress and expression of flagellin FliC and type IV pili PilA. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:977281. [PMID: 36204623 PMCID: PMC9530317 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.977281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In many bacteria, OxyR acts as a transcriptional regulator that facilitates infection via degrading hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) generated by the host defense response. Previous studies showed that OxyR also plays an important role in regulating biofilm formation, cell motility, pili relate-genes expression, and surface polysaccharide production. However, the role of OxyR has not been determined in Acidovorax citrulli strain xjl12. In the current study, the qRT-PCR and western blot assays revealed that the expression level of oxyR was significantly induced by H2O2. The oxyR deletion mutant of A. citrulli was significantly impaired bacterial tolerance to oxidative stress and reduced catalase (CAT) activity. In addition, oxyR mutant resulted in reduced swimming motility, twitching motility, biofilm formation, virulence, and bacterial growth in planta by significantly affecting flagellin and type IV pili-related gene (fliC and pilA) expression. The qRT-PCR assays and western blot revealed that OxyR positively regulated the expression of fliC and pilA. Furthermore, bacterial one-hybrid assay demonstrated that OxyR directly affected pilA and fliC promoter. Through bacterial two-hybrid assay, it was found that OxyR can directly interact with PilA and FliC. These results suggest that OxyR plays a major role in the regulating of a variety of virulence traits, and provide a foundation for future research on the global effects of OxyR in A. citrulli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianan Wang
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Liu
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Institute of Plant Protection and Soil Fertilizer, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuqiang Zhao
- Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing, China
| | - Minghui Sun
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guixu Yu
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiaqin Fan
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanli Tian
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Yanli Tian,
| | - Baishi Hu
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
- Baishi Hu,
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26
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Ji W, Zhao M, Fei N, Yang L, Qiao P, Walcott R, Yang Y, Zhao T. Essential Acidovorax citrulli Virulence Gene hrpE Activates Host Immune Response against Pathogen. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169144. [PMID: 36012409 PMCID: PMC9409176 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) caused by Acidovorax citrulli (Ac) is a devastating watermelon disease that severely impacts the global watermelon industry. Like other Gram-negative bacteria, the type three secretion system (T3SS) is the main pathogenicity factor of A. citrulli. The T3SS apparatus gene hrpE codes for the Hrp pilus and serves as a conduit to secret effector proteins into host cells. In this study, we found that the deletion of hrpE in A. citrulli results in the loss of pathogenicity on hosts and the hypersensitive response on non-hosts. In addition, the A. citrulli hrpE mutant showed a reduction in in vitro growth, in planta colonization, swimming and twitching motility, and displayed increases in biofilm formation ability compared to the wild type. However, when HrpE was transiently expressed in hosts, the defense responses, including reactive oxygen species bursts, callose deposition, and expression of defense-related genes, were activated. Thus, the A. Citrulli growth in HrpE-pretreated hosts was suppressed. These results indicated that HrpE is essential for A. citrulli virulence but can also be used by hosts to help resist A. citrulli. Our findings provide a better understanding of the T3SS pathogenesis in A. citrulli, thus providing a molecular basis for biopesticide development, and facilitating the effective control of BFB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqin Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Mei Zhao
- Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Nuoya Fei
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Linlin Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Pei Qiao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ron Walcott
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Yuwen Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (T.Z.)
| | - Tingchang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (Y.Y.); (T.Z.)
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27
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Host-specific activation of a pathogen effector Aave_4606 from Acidovorax citrulli, the causal agent for bacterial fruit blotch. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 616:41-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.05.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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28
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The Effect of Necrotic Enteritis Challenge on Production Performance, Cecal Microbiome, and Cecal Tonsil Transcriptome in Broilers. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080839. [PMID: 36014961 PMCID: PMC9414309 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to identify the effects of experimental necrotic enteritis (NE) infection on the production performance, gut microbiome, and cecal tonsil transcriptome in broiler birds. A total of 192 chicks were not-induced (control) or induced with NE. NE was induced by inoculating Eimeria maxima at 14 d of age and Clostridium perfringens at 19, 20, and 21 d of age. NE challenge increased (p < 0.01) NE lesion score at 7 days post-E.maxima infection (dpi), decreased (p < 0.01) average weight gain and increased (p < 0.01) mortality at 7 and 14 dpi. NE challenge increased (p < 0.05) gut permeability at 5, 6, and 7 dpi and increased ileal C. perfringens load at 5 dpi. NE challenge increased (p < 0.01) Eimeria oocyst shedding at 5, 6, 7, 8 and 14 dpi. NE challenge decreased (p < 0.05) the relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae and increased (p < 0.05) the relative abundance of Campylobacteriaceae, Comamonadaceae, and Ruminococcaceae at 6 dpi. NE challenge upregulated (p < 0.05) genes related to immune response and downregulated (p < 0.05) genes related to lipid metabolism at 6 dpi. It can be concluded that NE infection decreased beneficial bacteria and increased gut permeability.
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29
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Rosenberg T, Jiménez-Guerrero I, Tamir-Ariel D, Yarnitzky T, Burdman S. The GDSL-Lipolytic Enzyme Lip1 Is Required for Full Virulence of the Cucurbit Pathogenic Bacterium Acidovorax citrulli. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10051016. [PMID: 35630458 PMCID: PMC9147443 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10051016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial fruit blotch caused by Acidovoraxcitrulli is a serious disease of cucurbit crops. Here we report characterization of a mutant strain of A. citrulli M6 defective in lip1, a gene encoding a lipolytic enzyme. The M6-lip1- mutant was detected in a mutant library screen aimed at identifying M6 mutants with altered levels of twitching motility. In this screen M6-lip1- was the only mutant that showed significantly larger twitching motility haloes around colonies than wild-type M6. Sequence analyses indicated that lip1 encodes a member of the GDSL family of secreted lipolytic enzymes. In line with this finding, lipolytic assays showed that the supernatants of M6-lip1- had lower lipolytic activity as compared with those of wild-type M6 and a lip1-complemented strain. The mutant was also affected in swimming motility and had compromised virulence on melon seedlings and on Nicotiana benthamiana leaves relative to wild-type and complemented strains. Lip1 contains a predicted N-terminal signal sequence for type II secretion. Evidence from our study confirms Lip1 is indeed secreted in a type II secretion-dependent manner, and this is required for full virulence of A. citrulli. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study reporting contribution of lipolytic activity to virulence of a plant-pathogenic Acidovorax species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tally Rosenberg
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; (T.R.); (I.J.-G.); (D.T.-A.); (T.Y.)
| | - Irene Jiménez-Guerrero
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; (T.R.); (I.J.-G.); (D.T.-A.); (T.Y.)
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Dafna Tamir-Ariel
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; (T.R.); (I.J.-G.); (D.T.-A.); (T.Y.)
| | - Tali Yarnitzky
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; (T.R.); (I.J.-G.); (D.T.-A.); (T.Y.)
| | - Saul Burdman
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; (T.R.); (I.J.-G.); (D.T.-A.); (T.Y.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +972-8-9489369
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30
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Jiao J, Yang M, Zhang T, Zhang Y, Yang M, Li M, Liu C, Song S, Bai T, Song C, Wang M, Pang H, Feng J, Zheng X. A sensitive visual method for onsite detection of quarantine pathogenic bacteria from horticultural crops using an LbCas12a variant system. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 426:128038. [PMID: 34953258 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pre-planting testing of seeds and plantlets for the existence of quarantine pathogens is an important phytosanitary measure. The CRISPR-mediated molecular diagnostic methodologies are being developed for pathogens detection, but many challenges remain. Here, we profiled an engineered Crispr/LbCas12a variant (LbCas12a-5M) that has more robust trans-cleavage activity and a wider PAM sequences (TNTN) preference than wild type. We developed a procedure for screening specific sequences of bacterial plant pathogens, and the designed species-specific crRNA displayed no cross-reactions with other bacterial species. Combined with a simple extraction of bacterial DNA, an LbCas12a-5M-based visual detection technique was established and optimized for detecting quarantine pathogens Erwinia amylovora and Acidovorax citrulli with detection limits up to 40 CFU/reaction and a sensitivity consistent with qPCR assay. This protocol was faster and simpler than qPCR, requiring 40 min or less from sample preparation. We further validated the potential application of the method by showing that it can be used for rapid and accurate diagnosis of A. citrulli on seeds of watermelon, with 100% agreement with the results of qPCR assay. The developed method simplifies the detection of pathogens and provides cost-effective countermeasures to quarantine interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Jiao
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Fruit and Cucurbit Biology, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Mengjie Yang
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Tengfei Zhang
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yingli Zhang
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Mengli Yang
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Ming Li
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Chonghuai Liu
- Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shangwei Song
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Tuanhui Bai
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Chunhui Song
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Miaomiao Wang
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Hongguang Pang
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Jiancan Feng
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
| | - Xianbo Zheng
- College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
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31
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Pei T, Kan Y, Wang Z, Tang M, Li H, Yan S, Cui Y, Zheng H, Luo H, Liang X, Dong T. Delivery of an Rhs-family nuclease effector reveals direct penetration of the gram-positive cell envelope by a type VI secretion system in Acidovorax citrulli. MLIFE 2022; 1:66-78. [PMID: 38818323 PMCID: PMC10989746 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a double-tubular nanomachine widely found in gram-negative bacteria. Its spear-like Hcp tube is capable of penetrating a neighboring cell for cytosol-to-cytosol protein delivery. However, gram-positive bacteria have been considered impenetrable to such T6SS action. Here we report that the T6SS of a plant pathogen, Acidovorax citrulli (AC), could deliver an Rhs-family nuclease effector RhsB to kill not only gram-negative but also gram-positive bacteria. Using bioinformatic, biochemical, and genetic assays, we systematically identified T6SS-secreted effectors and determined that RhsB is a crucial antibacterial effector. RhsB contains an N-terminal PAAR domain, a middle Rhs domain, and an unknown C-terminal domain. RhsB is subject to self-cleavage at both its N- and C-terminal domains and its secretion requires the upstream-encoded chaperone EagT2 and VgrG3. The toxic C-terminus of RhsB exhibits DNase activities and such toxicity is neutralized by either of the two downstream immunity proteins, RimB1 and RimB2. Deletion of rhsB significantly impairs the ability of killing Bacillus subtilis while ectopic expression of immunity proteins RimB1 or RimB2 confers protection. We demonstrate that the AC T6SS not only can effectively outcompete Escherichia coli and B. subtilis in planta but also is highly potent in killing other bacterial and fungal species. Collectively, these findings highlight the greatly expanded capabilities of T6SS in modulating microbiome compositions in complex environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong‐Tong Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yumin Kan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Zeng‐Hang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Ming‐Xuan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Shuangquan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yang Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hao‐Yu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Han Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaoye Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Tao Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and BiotechnologyShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of Immunology and MicrobiologySchool of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and TechnologyGuangdongChina
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Gašić K, Obradović M, Kuzmanović N, Zlatković N, Ivanović M, Ristić D, Obradović A. Isolation, Characterization and Draft Genome Analysis of Bacteriophages Infecting Acidovorax citrulli. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:803789. [PMID: 35185829 PMCID: PMC8851203 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.803789] [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] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial fruit blotch and seedling blight, caused by Acidovorax citrulli, is one of the most destructive diseases of melon and watermelon in many countries. Pathogen-free seed and cultural practices are major pillars of the disease control. However, use of bacteriophages as natural biocontrol agents might also contribute to the disease management. Therefore, we isolated 12 bacteriophages specific to A. citrulli, from phyllosphere and rhizosphere of diseased watermelon plants. The phage strains were characterized based on their host range, plaque and virion morphology, thermal inactivation point, adsorption rate, one step growth curve, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and genomic analysis. Transmission electron microscopy of three phage strains indicated that they belong to the order Caudovirales, family Siphoviridae. All phages lysed 30 out of 32 tested A. citrulli strains isolated in Serbia, and did not lyse other less related bacterial species. They produced clear plaques, 2 mm in diameter, on bacterial lawns of different A. citrulli strains after 24 h of incubation. The thermal inactivation point was 66 or 67°C. They were stable at pH 5–9, but were sensitive to chloroform and inactivated in either 5 or 10 min exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. RFLP analysis using EcoRI, BsmI and BamHI enzymes did not show genetic differences among the tested phages. Adsorption rate and one step growth curve were determined for the Acidovorax phage ACF1. Draft genome sequence of the ACF1 phage was 59.377 bp in size, with guanine-cytosine (GC) content 64.5%, including 89 open reading frames. This phage shared a very high genomic identity with Acidovorax phage ACPWH, isolated in South Korea. Evaluation of systemic nature of ACF1 strain showed that it can be absorbed by roots and translocated to upper parts of watermelon plants where it survived up to 10 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Gašić
- Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Mina Obradović
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nemanja Kuzmanović
- Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Julius Kühn-Institut, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Nevena Zlatković
- Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Milan Ivanović
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danijela Ristić
- Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksa Obradović
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Wang Y, Zhao Y, Xia L, Chen L, Liao Y, Chen B, Liu Y, Gong W, Tian Y, Hu B. yggS Encoding Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate Binding Protein Is Required for Acidovorax citrulli Virulence. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:783862. [PMID: 35087487 PMCID: PMC8787154 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.783862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial fruit blotch, caused by seed-borne pathogen Acidovorax citrulli, poses a serious threat to the production of cucurbits globally. Although the disease can cause substantial economic losses, limited information is available about the molecular mechanisms of virulence. This study identified that, a random transposon insertion mutant impaired in the ability to elicit a hypersensitive response on tobacco. The disrupted gene in this mutant was determined to be Aave_0638, which is predicted to encode a YggS family pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme. YggS is a highly conserved protein among multiple organisms, and is responsible for maintaining the homeostasis of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate and amino acids in cells. yggS deletion mutant of A. citrulli strain XjL12 displayed attenuated virulence, delayed hypersensitive response, less tolerance to H2O2 and pyridoxine, increased sensitivity to antibiotic β-chloro-D-alanine, and reduced swimming. In addition, RNA-Seq analysis demonstrated that yggS was involved in regulating the expression of certain pathogenicity-associated genes related to secretion, motility, quorum sensing and oxidative stress response. Importantly, YggS significantly affected type III secretion system and its effectors in vitro. Collectively, our results suggest that YggS is indispensable for A.citrulli virulence and expands the role of YggS in the biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanjie Wang
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuqiang Zhao
- Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-sen), Nanjing, China
| | - Liming Xia
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lin Chen
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yajie Liao
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Baohui Chen
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yiyang Liu
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weirong Gong
- Plant Protection and Quarantine Station of Province, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanli Tian
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Baishi Hu
- College of Plant Protection and Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
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34
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Tang X, Zhou Q, Zhan W, Hu D, Zhou R, Sun N, Chen S, Wu W, Xue W. Synthesis of novel antibacterial and antifungal quinoxaline derivatives. RSC Adv 2022; 12:2399-2407. [PMID: 35425241 PMCID: PMC8979181 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra07559d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A series of quinoxaline derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as antimicrobial agents against plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Some of these compounds exhibited significant antibacterial and antifungal activities in vitro. Compound 5k displayed good antibacterial activity against Acidovorax citrulli (Ac). Compounds 5j and 5t exhibited the most potent anti-RS (Rhizoctonia solani) activity, with the corresponding EC50 values of 8.54 and 12.01 μg mL-1, respectively, which are superior to that of the commercial azoxystrobin (26.17 μg mL-1). Further, the scanning electron microscopy results proved that compound 5j had certain effects on the cell morphology of RS. Moreover, an in vivo bioassay also demonstrated that the anti-RS activity of compound 5j could effectively control rice sheath blight. These results indicate that quinoxaline derivatives could be promising agricultural bactericides and fungicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Tang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Research and Development Center for Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University Guiyang 550025 P. R. China +86-851-88292090 +86-851-88292090
| | - Qing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Research and Development Center for Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University Guiyang 550025 P. R. China +86-851-88292090 +86-851-88292090
| | - Wenliang Zhan
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Research and Development Center for Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University Guiyang 550025 P. R. China +86-851-88292090 +86-851-88292090
| | - Die Hu
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Research and Development Center for Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University Guiyang 550025 P. R. China +86-851-88292090 +86-851-88292090
| | - Ran Zhou
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Research and Development Center for Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University Guiyang 550025 P. R. China +86-851-88292090 +86-851-88292090
| | - Nan Sun
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Research and Development Center for Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University Guiyang 550025 P. R. China +86-851-88292090 +86-851-88292090
| | - Shuai Chen
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Research and Development Center for Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University Guiyang 550025 P. R. China +86-851-88292090 +86-851-88292090
| | - Wenneng Wu
- Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering Institute, Guiyang University Guiyang 550003 P. R. China
| | - Wei Xue
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Research and Development Center for Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University Guiyang 550025 P. R. China +86-851-88292090 +86-851-88292090
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Guan X, Lin B, Xu Y, Yang G, Xu J, Zhang S, Li R, Wang S. Recent developments in pasteurising seeds and their products using radio frequency heating: a review. Int J Food Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ijfs.15497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Guan
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering Northwest A&F University Yangling Shaanxi 712100 China
| | - Biying Lin
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering Northwest A&F University Yangling Shaanxi 712100 China
| | - Yuanmei Xu
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering Northwest A&F University Yangling Shaanxi 712100 China
| | - Gaoji Yang
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering Northwest A&F University Yangling Shaanxi 712100 China
| | - Juanjuan Xu
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering Northwest A&F University Yangling Shaanxi 712100 China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering Northwest A&F University Yangling Shaanxi 712100 China
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering Washington State University Pullman WA 99164‐6120 USA
| | - Rui Li
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering Northwest A&F University Yangling Shaanxi 712100 China
| | - Shaojin Wang
- College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering Northwest A&F University Yangling Shaanxi 712100 China
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering Washington State University Pullman WA 99164‐6120 USA
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36
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Lee J, Heo L, Han SW. Comparative Proteomic Analysis for a Putative Pyridoxal Phosphate-Dependent Aminotransferase Required for Virulence in Acidovorax citrulli. THE PLANT PATHOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 37:673-680. [PMID: 34897258 PMCID: PMC8666244 DOI: 10.5423/ppj.nt.09.2021.0139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli (Ac) is the causative agent of bacterial fruit blotch disease in watermelon. Since resistant cultivars have not yet been developed, the virulence factors/mechanisms of Ac need to be characterized. This study reports the functions of a putative pyridoxal phosphate-dependent aminotransferase (PpdaAc) that transfers amino groups to its substrates and uses pyridoxal phosphate as a coenzyme. It was observed that a ppdaAc knockout mutant had a significantly reduced virulence in watermelon when introduced via germinated-seed inoculation as well as leaf infiltration. Comparative proteomic analysis predicted the cellular mechanisms related to PpdaAc. Apart from causing virulence, the PpdaAc may have significant roles in energy production, cell membrane, motility, chemotaxis, post-translational modifications, and iron-related mechanisms. Therefore, it is postulated that PpdaAc may possess pleiotropic effects. These results provide new insights into the functions of a previously unidentified PpdaAc in Ac.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sang-Wook Han
- Corresponding author: Phone) +82-31-670-3150, FAX) +82-2-670-8845, E-mail)
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37
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Chung MY, Kim H, Beuchat LR, Ryu JH. Antimicrobial activities of plant essential oil vapours against Acidovorax citrulli and Xanthomonas campestris on Cucurbitaceae, Brassicaceae and Solanaceae seeds. J Appl Microbiol 2021; 132:2189-2202. [PMID: 34724307 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIM This study was done to develop a seed decontamination treatment for organic seeds against plant pathogens (Acidovorax citrulli and Xanthomonas campestris) using essential oil (EO) vapours without affecting the seeds' germination rate. METHODS AND RESULTS By using a diffusion assay and determining minimum inhibitory and lethal concentrations, we screened two EO vapours which were most inhibitory to A. citrulli (cinnamon bark and garlic EO vapours) and X. campestris (onion and garlic EO vapours). After 48 h of exposure to EO vapours at 25°C and 43% or 85% relative humidity (RH), no significant decrease (p > 0.05) in germination rates was observed compared with those of control seeds. It was observed that EO vapour treatment at 25°C and 43% or 85% RH for 48 h caused significant population reductions (p ≤ 0.05) (ca. 0.3-2.6 log colony forming unit/g) compared to those of untreated seeds. CONCLUSION Applications of EO vapours showed significant (p ≤ 0.05) antimicrobial effects against A. citrulli and X. campestris on both laboratory mediums and plant seeds without decreasing the germination rate of seeds. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This study provides useful information for the development of natural seed sterilization treatments using EO vapours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Young Chung
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoikyung Kim
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Wonkwang University, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Larry R Beuchat
- Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia, USA
| | - Jee-Hoon Ryu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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38
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Guan X, Lin B, Wang P, Jiao Q, Zhang S, Li R, Wang S. Effects of adding polystyrene blocks in rectangular containers on radio frequency heating rate and uniformity of watermelon seeds. FOOD AND BIOPRODUCTS PROCESSING 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbp.2021.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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39
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Aharon E, Mookherjee A, Pérez-Montaño F, Mateus da Silva G, Sathyamoorthy R, Burdman S, Jurkevitch E. Secretion systems play a critical role in resistance to predation by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. Res Microbiol 2021; 172:103878. [PMID: 34492337 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2021.103878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus, a Gram-negative predatory bacterium belonging to the Bdellovibrio and like organisms (BALOs), predate on Gram-negative bacteria. BALO strains differ in prey range but so far, the genetic basis of resistance against BALO predation is hardly understood. We developed a loss-of-function approach to screen for sensitive mutants in a library of strain M6, a predation-resistant strain of the plant pathogen Acidovorax citrulli. The screen is based on tracking the growth of a B. bacteriovorus strain expressing the fluorescent reporter Tdtomato in mutant pools to reveal predation-sensitive variants. Two independent loci were identified in mutant strains exhibiting significant levels of susceptibility to the predator. Genes in the two loci were analysed using both protein sequence homology and protein structure modeling. Both were secretion-related proteins and thus associated to the bacterial cell wall. Successful complementation of gspK, a gene encoding for a minor pseudopilin protein confirmed the involvement of the type II secretion system in A. citrulli M6 resistance. This proof of concept study shows that our approach can identify key elements of the BALO-prey interaction, and it validates the hypothesis that mutational changes in a single gene can drastically impact prey resistance to BALO predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Einav Aharon
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Abhirup Mookherjee
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Francisco Pérez-Montaño
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel; Department of Microbiology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
| | - Gustavo Mateus da Silva
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Rajesh Sathyamoorthy
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Saul Burdman
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Edouard Jurkevitch
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
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40
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Kwon OK, Jeong AR, Jeong YJ, Kim YA, Shim J, Jang YJ, Lee GP, Park CJ. Incidence of Alternaria Species Associated with Watermelon Leaf Blight in Korea. THE PLANT PATHOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 37:329-338. [PMID: 34365744 PMCID: PMC8357571 DOI: 10.5423/ppj.oa.02.2021.0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Alternaria leaf blight is one of the most common diseases in watermelon worldwide. In Korea, however, the Alternaria species causing the watermelon leaf blight have not been investigated thoroughly. A total of 16 Alternaria isolates was recovered from diseased watermelon leaves with leaf blight symptoms, which were collected from 14 fields in Korea. Analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) were not competent to differentiate the Alternaria isolates. On the contrary, analysis of amplicon size of the histone H3 (HIS3) gene successfully differentiated the isolates into three Alternaria subgroups, and further sequence analysis of them identified three Alternaria spp. Alternaria tenuissima, A. gaisen, and A. alternata. Representative Alternaria isolates from three species induced dark brown leaf spot lesions on detached watermelon leaves, indicating that A. tenuissima, A. gaisen, and A. alternata are all causal agents of Alternaria leaf blight. Our results indicate that the Alternaria species associated watermelon leaf blight in Korea is more complex than reported previously. This is the first report regarding the population structure of Alternaria species causing watermelon leaf blight in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oh-Kyu Kwon
- Department of Molecular Biology, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea
| | - A-Ram Jeong
- Department of Molecular Biology, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea
| | - Yong-Jik Jeong
- Department of Bioresources Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea
| | - Young-Ah Kim
- Department of Bioresources Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea
| | - Jaekyung Shim
- Department of Molecular Biology, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea
| | - Yoon Jeong Jang
- Department of Plant Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Korea
| | - Gung Pyo Lee
- Department of Plant Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Korea
| | - Chang-Jin Park
- Department of Molecular Biology, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea
- Department of Bioresources Engineering, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Korea
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41
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Klomchit A, Calderin JD, Jaidee W, Watla-iad K, Brooks S. Napthoquinones from Neocosmospora sp.-Antibiotic Activity against Acidovorax citrulli, the Causative Agent of Bacterial Fruit Blotch in Watermelon and Melon. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:370. [PMID: 34066879 PMCID: PMC8151544 DOI: 10.3390/jof7050370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) is a bacterial disease that devastates Cucurbitaceae crops worldwide, causing significant economic losses. Currently, there is no means to treat or control the disease. This study focused on exploring the antibacterial properties of endophytic fungi against Acidovorax citrulli (Aac), the causative agent of BFB. Based on disc diffusion, time kill and MIC microdilution broth assays, four endophytes showed promise in controlling Aac. Nonetheless, only one strain, Neocosmospora sp. MFLUCC 17-0253, reduced the severity of disease on watermelon and melon seedlings up to 80%. Structure analysis revealed production of several compounds by the fungus. Three of these secondary metabolites, including mixture of 2-methoxy-6-methyl-7-acetonyl-8-hydroxy-1,4-maphthalenedione and 5,8-dihydroxy-7-acetonyl-1,4-naphthalenedione, anhydrojavanicin, and fusarnaphthoquinones B exhibited antagonistic activity against Aac. The chemical profile data in planta experiment analyzed by LC-Q/TOF-MS suggested successful colonization of endophytic fungi in their host plant and different metabolic profiles between treated and untreated seedling. Biofilm assay also demonstrated that secondary metabolites of Neocosmospora sp. MFLUCC 17-0253 significantly inhibited biofilm development of Aac. To the best of our knowledge, secondary metabolites that provide significant growth inhibition of Aac are reported for the first time. Thus, Neocosmospora sp. MFLUCC 17-0253 possesses high potential as a biocontrol agent for BFB disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthikan Klomchit
- School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand; (A.K.); (K.W.-i.)
| | - Jorge Daniel Calderin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61820, USA;
| | - Wuttichai Jaidee
- Medicinal Plant Innovation Center, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand;
| | - Kanchana Watla-iad
- School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand; (A.K.); (K.W.-i.)
| | - Siraprapa Brooks
- School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand; (A.K.); (K.W.-i.)
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42
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Ge Y, Luo L, Xia L, Luo X, Bi H, Gong H, Tian Y, Walcott RR, Hu B. Fermentation: An Unreliable Seed Treatment for Bacterial Fruit Blotch of Watermelon. PLANT DISEASE 2021; 105:1026-1033. [PMID: 33507094 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-05-20-1056-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli is a seedborne pathogen that causes bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), a global threat to watermelon production. Treating watermelon seeds to eliminate A. citrulli is a critical component of BFB management, and several strategies have been evaluated to mitigate the impact of the disease. In China, watermelon seed producers routinely incubate seeds in watermelon juice (fermentation) to reduce the risk of seed infection by A. citrulli and seedling transmission of BFB. However, there has been limited effort to evaluate the efficacy of fermentation in mitigating A. citrulli seed infection. The current study showed that fermented watermelon fruit juice could inhibit A. citrulli population growth and demonstrated that the low pH conditions, not the temperature dynamic, generated during fermentation might play a major role in A. citrulli growth inhibition and could induce the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state in A. citrulli. We developed an effective method that was based on propidium monoazide PCR to detect viable A. citrulli cells under low pH conditions or in fermented watermelon fruit juice. We also provided evidence that VBNC A. citrulli cells induced by fermented watermelon fruit juice could not be resuscitated and did not retain their virulence on watermelon seedlings. However, VBNC A. citrulli cells could be resuscitated in Luria-Bertani medium. Based on these observations, we conclude that fermentation in watermelon fruit juice may not be an effective seed treatment for BFB because it may increase the seed infection by A. citrulli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Ge
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Lan Luo
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Liming Xia
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xue Luo
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Hongkai Bi
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Hanxiao Gong
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yanli Tian
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ron R Walcott
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, U.S.A
| | - Baishi Hu
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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Seitz TJ, Schütte UME, Drown DM. Soil Disturbance Affects Plant Productivity via Soil Microbial Community Shifts. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:619711. [PMID: 33597939 PMCID: PMC7882522 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.619711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in climate research have discovered that permafrost is particularly vulnerable to the changes occurring in the atmosphere and climate, especially in Alaska where 85% of the land is underlain by mostly discontinuous permafrost. As permafrost thaws, research has shown that natural and anthropogenic soil disturbance causes microbial communities to undergo shifts in membership composition and biomass, as well as in functional diversity. Boreal forests are home to many plants that are integral to the subsistence diets of many Alaska Native communities. Yet, it is unclear how the observed shifts in soil microbes can affect above ground plant communities that are relied on as a major source of food. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that microbial communities associated with permafrost thaw affect plant productivity by growing five plant species found in Boreal forests and Tundra ecosystems, including low-bush cranberry and bog blueberry, with microbial communities from the active layer soils of a permafrost thaw gradient. We found that plant productivity was significantly affected by the microbial soil inoculants. Plants inoculated with communities from above thawing permafrost showed decreased productivity compared to plants inoculated with microbes from undisturbed soils. We used metagenomic sequencing to determine that microbial communities from disturbed soils above thawing permafrost differ in taxonomy from microbial communities in undisturbed soils above intact permafrost. The combination of these results indicates that a decrease in plant productivity can be linked to soil disturbance driven changes in microbial community membership and abundance. These data contribute to an understanding of how microbial communities can be affected by soil disturbance and climate change, and how those community shifts can further influence plant productivity in Boreal forests and more broadly, ecosystem health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor J. Seitz
- Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Ursel M. E. Schütte
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Devin M. Drown
- Department of Biology and Wildlife, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
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Kim M, Lee J, Heo L, Lee SJ, Han SW. Proteomic and Phenotypic Analyses of a Putative Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Required for Virulence in Acidovorax citrulli. THE PLANT PATHOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 37:36-46. [PMID: 33551695 PMCID: PMC7847757 DOI: 10.5423/ppj.oa.12.2020.0221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli (Ac) is the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch (BFB) in watermelon, a disease that poses a serious threat to watermelon production. Because of the lack of resistant cultivars against BFB, virulence factors or mechanisms need to be elucidated to control the disease. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is the enzyme involved in glycerol production from glucose during glycolysis. In this study, we report the functions of a putative glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in Ac (GlpdAc) using comparative proteomic analysis and phenotypic observation. A glpdAc knockout mutant, AcΔglpdAc(EV), lost virulence against watermelon in two pathogenicity tests. The putative 3D structure and amino acid sequence of GlpdAc showed high similarity with glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenases from other bacteria. Comparative proteomic analysis revealed that many proteins related to various metabolic pathways, including carbohydrate metabolism, were affected by GlpdAc. Although AcΔglpdAc(EV) could not use glucose as a sole carbon source, it showed growth in the presence of glycerol, indicating that GlpdAc is involved in glycolysis. AcΔglpdAc(EV) also displayed higher cell-to-cell aggregation than the wild-type bacteria, and tolerance to osmotic stress and ciprofloxacin was reduced and enhanced in the mutant, respectively. These results indicate that GlpdAc is involved in glycerol metabolism and other mechanisms, including virulence, demonstrating that the protein has pleiotropic effects. Our study expands the understanding of the functions of proteins associated with virulence in Ac.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minyoung Kim
- Department of Plant Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 7546, Korea
| | - Jongchan Lee
- Department of Plant Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 7546, Korea
| | - Lynn Heo
- Department of Plant Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 7546, Korea
| | - Sang Jun Lee
- Department of Systems Biotechnology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 17546, Korea
- Co-corresponding authors. S. J. Lee, Phone) +82-31-670-3356, FAX) +82-2-675-3108, E-mail) , S.-W. Han, Phone) +82-31-670-3150, FAX) +82-2-670-8845, E-mail) , ORCID, Sang Jun Lee https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2803-753X, Sang-Wook Han https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0893-1438
| | - Sang-Wook Han
- Department of Plant Science and Technology, Chung-Ang University, Anseong 7546, Korea
- Co-corresponding authors. S. J. Lee, Phone) +82-31-670-3356, FAX) +82-2-675-3108, E-mail) , S.-W. Han, Phone) +82-31-670-3150, FAX) +82-2-670-8845, E-mail) , ORCID, Sang Jun Lee https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2803-753X, Sang-Wook Han https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0893-1438
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Detailed analysis of the fatty acid composition of six plant-pathogenic bacteria. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2020; 1162:122454. [PMID: 33373896 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria show distinct and characteristic fatty acid (FA) patterns which can be modified by environmental conditions. In this study, we cultivated six plant-pathogenic bacteria of agricultural concern and performed a detailed analysis of the fatty acid composition. The study covered four strains of the gram-negative Xanthomonas campestris pathovar (pv) campestris (Xcc), Xanthomonas perforans (Xp), Acidovorax citrulli (Ac) and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst), and two strains of the gram-positive Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) and Streptomyces scabies (Ssc). After cultivation, freeze-dried bacteria samples were transesterified and analysed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry in full scan and selected ion monitoring (SIM) modes. Altogether, 44 different FAs were detected in the six strains with individual contributions of 0.01-43.8% to the total FAs. The variety in the six strains ranged between 12 and 31 individual FAs. The FA composition of Xcc, Xp, Cmm and Ssc were dominated by iso- and anteiso-fatty acids (especially i15:0, a15:0, i16:0), which is typical for most bacteria. In contrast to this, Ac and Pst showed only saturated and monounsaturated FAs. Four of the six bacteria showed similar FA patterns as reported before in the literature. Differences were observed in the case of Cmm where many more FAs were detected in the present study. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, the FA pattern of Xp was presented for the first time.
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Shin HJ, Kim H, Beuchat LR, Ryu JH. Antimicrobial activities of organic acid vapors against Acidovorax citrulli, Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes on Cucurbitaceae seeds. Food Microbiol 2020; 92:103569. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2020.103569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Zhang X, Yang Y, Zhao M, Yang L, Jiang J, Walcott R, Yang S, Zhao T. Acidovorax citrulli Type III Effector AopP Suppresses Plant Immunity by Targeting the Watermelon Transcription Factor WRKY6. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:579218. [PMID: 33329640 PMCID: PMC7718035 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.579218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli (Ac) is the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), and BFB poses a threat to global watermelon production. Despite its economic importance, the molecular mechanisms underlying Ac pathogenicity and virulence are not well understood, particularly with regard to its type III secreted effectors. We identify a new effector, AopP, in Ac and confirm its secretion and translocation. AopP suppresses reactive oxygen species burst and salicylic acid (SA) content and significantly contributes to virulence. Interestingly, AopP interacts with a watermelon transcription factor, ClWRKY6, in vivo and in vitro. ClWRKY6 shows typical nuclear localization, and AopP and ClWRKY6 co-localize in the nucleus. Ac infection, SA, and the pathogen-associated molecular pattern flg22 Ac promote ClWRKY6 production, suggesting that ClWRKY6 is involved in plant immunity and SA signaling. Furthermore, ClWRKY6 positively regulates PTI and SA production when expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana. Importantly, AopP reduces ClWRKY6 mRNA and ClWRKY6 protein levels, suggesting that AopP suppresses plant immunity by targeting ClWRKY6. In summary, we identify a novel effector associated with the virulence mechanism of Ac, which interacts with the transcription factor of the natural host, watermelon. The findings of this study provide insights into the mechanisms of watermelon immune responses and may facilitate molecular breeding for bacterial fruit blotch resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuwen Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Zhao
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Linlin Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ron Walcott
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Shanshan Yang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tingchang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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Himananto O, Yoohat K, Danwisetkanjana K, Kumpoosiri M, Rukpratanporn S, Theppawong Y, Phuengwas S, Makornwattana M, Charlermroj R, Karoonuthaisiri N, Thummabenjapone P, Kositcharoenkul N, Gajanandana O. Double antibody pairs sandwich-ELISA (DAPS-ELISA) detects Acidovorax citrulli serotypes with broad coverage. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237940. [PMID: 32853255 PMCID: PMC7451559 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidovorax citrulli, a seedborne bacterium and quarantine pest, causes the devastating bacterial fruit blotch disease in cucurbit plants. Immunological assays such as ELISA are widely used in routine field inspections for this bacterium. However, to the best of our knowledge, none of the currently available monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) can detect all common A. citrulli strains. We therefore aimed to produce a panel of MAbs and to develop an ELISA-based method capable of detecting all A. citrulli strains. We used a high-throughput bead array technique to screen and characterize A. citrulli-specific MAbs produced from hybridoma clones. The hybridoma library was simultaneously screened against five A. citrulli strains (PSA, KK9, SQA, SQB and P) and the closely related bacterium, Delftia acidovorans. Three MAbs exhibiting different binding patterns to A. citrulli were used to develop an ELISA-based method called “double antibody pairs sandwich ELISA” (DAPS-ELISA). DAPS-ELISA employing mixtures of MAbs was able to specifically detect all 16 A. citrulli strains tested without cross-reactivity with other bacteria. By contrast, our previously developed MAb capture-sandwich ELISA (MC-sELISA) and a commercial test kit detected only 15 and 14 of 16 strains, respectively. The sensitivity of the DAPS-ELISA ranged from 5×105 to 1×106 CFU/mL, while those of the MC-sELISA and the commercial test kit ranged from 5×104 to 1×107 CFU/mL and 5×104 to 5×105 CFU/mL, respectively. DAPS-ELISA thus represents an alternative method enabling rapid, accurate, and inexpensive detection of all A. citrulli strains. The method can be applied to seed testing prior to planting as well as to routine field inspections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orawan Himananto
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, Thailand
- * E-mail:
| | - Kirana Yoohat
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Kannawat Danwisetkanjana
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Mallika Kumpoosiri
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Sombat Rukpratanporn
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Yada Theppawong
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Sudtida Phuengwas
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Manlika Makornwattana
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Ratthaphol Charlermroj
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Nitsara Karoonuthaisiri
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Petcharat Thummabenjapone
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | | | - Oraprapai Gajanandana
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Pathum Thani, Thailand
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Zhang X, Zhao M, Jiang J, Yang L, Yang Y, Yang S, Walcott R, Qiu D, Zhao T. Identification and Functional Analysis of AopN, an Acidovorax Citrulli Effector that Induces Programmed Cell Death in Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E6050. [PMID: 32842656 PMCID: PMC7504669 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21176050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), caused by Acidovorax citrulli, seriously affects watermelon and other cucurbit crops, resulting in significant economic losses. However, the pathogenicity mechanism of A. citrulli is not well understood. Plant pathogenic bacteria often suppress the plant immune response by secreting effector proteins. Thus, identifying A. citrulli effector proteins and determining their functions may improve our understanding of the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms. In this study, a novel effector, AopN, which is localized on the cell membrane of Nicotiana benthamiana, was identified. The functional analysis revealed that AopN significantly inhibited the flg22-induced reactive oxygen species burst. AopN induced a programmed cell death (PCD) response. Unlike its homologous protein, the ability of AopN to induce PCD was dependent on two motifs of unknown functions (including DUP4129 and Cpta_toxin), but was not dependent on LXXLL domain. More importantly, the virulence of the aopN mutant of A. citrulli in N. benthamiana significantly decreased, indicating that it was a core effector. Further analysis revealed that AopN interacted with watermelon ClHIPP and ClLTP, which responds to A. citrulli strain Aac5 infection at the transcription level. Collectively, these findings indicate that AopN suppresses plant immunity and activates the effector-triggered immunity pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (X.Z.); (J.J.); (L.Y.); (Y.Y.); (D.Q.)
| | - Mei Zhao
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (M.Z.); (R.W.)
| | - Jie Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (X.Z.); (J.J.); (L.Y.); (Y.Y.); (D.Q.)
| | - Linlin Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (X.Z.); (J.J.); (L.Y.); (Y.Y.); (D.Q.)
| | - Yuwen Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (X.Z.); (J.J.); (L.Y.); (Y.Y.); (D.Q.)
| | - Shanshan Yang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China;
| | - Ron Walcott
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (M.Z.); (R.W.)
| | - Dewen Qiu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (X.Z.); (J.J.); (L.Y.); (Y.Y.); (D.Q.)
| | - Tingchang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (X.Z.); (J.J.); (L.Y.); (Y.Y.); (D.Q.)
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50
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Islam MR, Hossain MR, Jesse DMI, Jung HJ, Kim HT, Park JI, Nou IS. Characterization, identification and expression profiling of genome-wide R-genes in melon and their putative roles in bacterial fruit blotch resistance. BMC Genet 2020; 21:80. [PMID: 32698865 PMCID: PMC7376666 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-020-00885-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bacterial fruit blotch (BFB), a disease caused by Acidovorax citrulli, results in significant economic losses in melon. The causal QTLs and genes for resistance to this disease have yet to be identified. Resistance (R)-genes play vital roles in resistance to plant diseases. Since the complete genome sequence of melon is available and genome-wide identification of R-genes has been performed for this important crop, comprehensive expression profiling may lead to the identification of putative candidate genes that function in the response to BFB. Results We identified melon accessions that are resistant and susceptible to BFB through repeated bioassays and characterized all 70 R-genes in melon, including their gene structures, chromosomal locations, domain organizations, motif distributions, and syntenic relationships. Several disease resistance-related domains were identified, including NBS, TIR, LRR, CC, RLK, and DUF domains, and the genes were categorized based on the domains of their encoded proteins. In addition, we profiled the expression patterns of the genes in melon accessions with contrasting levels of BFB resistance at 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 6 d after inoculation with A. citrulli. Six R-genes exhibited consistent expression patterns (MELO3C023441, MELO3C016529, MELO3C022157, MELO3C022146, MELO3C025518, and MELO3C004303), with higher expression levels in the resistant vs. susceptible accession. Conclusion We identified six putative candidate R-genes against BFB in melon. Upon functional validation, these genes could be targeted for manipulation via breeding and biotechnological approaches to improve BFB resistance in melon in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Rafiqul Islam
- Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biotechnology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Rashed Hossain
- Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea.,Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, 2202, Bangladesh
| | | | - Hee-Jeong Jung
- Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoy-Taek Kim
- Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-In Park
- Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Ill-Sup Nou
- Department of Horticulture, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea.
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