1
|
Dai T, Xu Y, Yang X, Jiao B, Qiu M, Xue J, Arredondo F, Tyler BM. An Improved Transformation System for Phytophthora cinnamomi Using Green Fluorescent Protein. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:682754. [PMID: 34290684 PMCID: PMC8287854 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.682754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytophthora cinnamomi is a destructive pathogen causing root rot and dieback diseases on hundreds of economically and ecologically important plant species. Effective transformation systems enable modifications of candidate genes to understand the pathogenesis of P. cinnamomi. A previous study reported a polyethylene glycol and calcium dichloride (PEG/CaCl2)-mediated protoplast transformation method of P. cinnamomi. However, the virulence of the transformants was compromised. In this study, we selected ATCC 15400 as a suitable wild-type isolate for PEG/CaCl2 transformation using the green fluorescent protein after screening 11 P. cinnamomi isolates. Three transformants, namely, PcGFP-1, PcGFP-3, and PcGFP-5, consistently displayed a green fluorescence in their hyphae, chlamydospores, and sporangia. The randomly selected transformant PcGFP-1 was as virulent as the wild-type isolate in causing hypocotyl lesions on lupines. Fluorescent hyphae and haustoria were observed intracellularly and intercellularly in lupine tissues inoculated with PcGFP-1 zoospores. The potential application of this improved transformation system for functional genomics studies of P. cinnamomi is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Dai
- Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yue Xu
- Co-Innovation Center for the Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Fort Detrick, MD, United States.,ARS Research Participation Program, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Binbin Jiao
- Technical Center for Animal, Plant and Food Inspection and Quarantine of Shanghai Customs, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Qiu
- Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junxin Xue
- Technical Center for Animal, Plant and Food Inspection and Quarantine of Shanghai Customs, Shanghai, China
| | - Felipe Arredondo
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States.,Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Brett M Tyler
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States.,Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ah‐Fong AM, Boyd AM, Matson ME, Judelson HS. A Cas12a-based gene editing system for Phytophthora infestans reveals monoallelic expression of an elicitor. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:737-752. [PMID: 33724663 PMCID: PMC8126191 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Phytophthora infestans is a destructive pathogen of potato and a model for investigations of oomycete biology. The successful application of a CRISPR gene editing system to P. infestans is so far unreported. We discovered that it is difficult to express CRISPR/Cas9 but not a catalytically inactive form in transformants, suggesting that the active nuclease is toxic. We were able to achieve editing with CRISPR/Cas12a using vectors in which the nuclease and its guide RNA were expressed from a single transcript. Using the elicitor gene Inf1 as a target, we observed editing of one or both alleles in up to 13% of transformants. Editing was more efficient when guide RNA processing relied on the Cas12a direct repeat instead of ribozyme sequences. INF1 protein was not made when both alleles were edited in the same transformant, but surprisingly also when only one allele was altered. We discovered that the isolate used for editing, 1306, exhibited monoallelic expression of Inf1 due to insertion of a copia-like element in the promoter of one allele. The element exhibits features of active retrotransposons, including a target site duplication, long terminal repeats, and an intact polyprotein reading frame. Editing occurred more often on the transcribed allele, presumably due to differences in chromatin structure. The Cas12a system not only provides a tool for modifying genes in P. infestans, but also for other members of the genus by expanding the number of editable sites. Our work also highlights a natural mechanism that remodels oomycete genomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Audrey M.V. Ah‐Fong
- Department of Microbiology and Plant PathologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCaliforniaUSA
| | - Amy M. Boyd
- Department of Microbiology and Plant PathologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCaliforniaUSA
| | - Michael E.H. Matson
- Department of Microbiology and Plant PathologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCaliforniaUSA
| | - Howard S. Judelson
- Department of Microbiology and Plant PathologyUniversity of CaliforniaRiversideCaliforniaUSA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hettiarachchige IK, Ludlow EJ, Ekanayake PN, Brohier ND, Sahab S, Sawbridge TI, Spangenberg GC, Guthridge KM. Generation of Epichloë Strains Expressing Fluorescent Proteins Suitable for Studying Host-Endophyte Interactions and Characterisation of a T-DNA Integration Event. Microorganisms 2019; 8:E54. [PMID: 31892173 PMCID: PMC7023320 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8010054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Methods for the identification and localisation of endophytic fungi are required to study the establishment, development, and progression of host-symbiont interactions, as visible reactions or disease symptoms are generally absent from host plants. Fluorescent proteins have proved valuable as reporter gene products, allowing non-invasive detection in living cells. This study reports the introduction of genes for two fluorescent proteins, green fluorescent protein (GFP) and red fluorescent protein, DsRed, into the genomes of two distinct perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)-associated Epichloë endophyte strains using A. tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Comprehensive characterisation of reporter gene-containing endophyte strains was performed using molecular genetic, phenotypic, and bioinformatic tools. A combination of long read and short read sequencing of a selected transformant identified a single complex T-DNA insert of 35,530 bp containing multiple T-DNAs linked together. This approach allowed for comprehensive characterisation of T-DNA integration to single-base resolution, while revealing the unanticipated nature of T-DNA integration in the transformant analysed. These reporter gene endophyte strains were able to establish and maintain stable symbiotum with the host. In addition, the same endophyte strain labelled with two different fluorescent proteins were able to cohabit the same plant. This knowledge can be used to provide the basis to develop strategies to gain new insights into the host-endophyte interaction through independent and simultaneous monitoring in planta throughout its life cycle in greater detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inoka K. Hettiarachchige
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (E.J.L.); (P.N.E.); (N.D.B.); (S.S.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Emma J. Ludlow
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (E.J.L.); (P.N.E.); (N.D.B.); (S.S.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Piyumi N. Ekanayake
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (E.J.L.); (P.N.E.); (N.D.B.); (S.S.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Natasha D. Brohier
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (E.J.L.); (P.N.E.); (N.D.B.); (S.S.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Sareena Sahab
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (E.J.L.); (P.N.E.); (N.D.B.); (S.S.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
| | - Timothy I. Sawbridge
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (E.J.L.); (P.N.E.); (N.D.B.); (S.S.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - German C. Spangenberg
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (E.J.L.); (P.N.E.); (N.D.B.); (S.S.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
- School of Applied Systems Biology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Kathryn M. Guthridge
- Agriculture Victoria, AgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, Bundoora, VIC 3083, Australia; (I.K.H.); (E.J.L.); (P.N.E.); (N.D.B.); (S.S.); (T.I.S.); (G.C.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nandakumar M, Malathi P, Sundar AR, Viswanathan R. Use of Green Fluorescent Protein Expressing Colletotrichum falcatum, the Red Rot Pathogen for Precise Host–Pathogen Interaction Studies in Sugarcane. SUGAR TECH 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12355-019-00751-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
|
5
|
Zhang T, Ren P, De Jesus M, Chaturvedi V, Chaturvedi S. Green Fluorescent Protein Expression in Pseudogymnoascus destructans to Study Its Abiotic and Biotic Lifestyles. Mycopathologia 2018; 183:805-814. [PMID: 29987576 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-018-0285-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) is the etiologic agent of bat White-nose syndrome, a disease that has caused the unprecedented reduction in the hibernating bat populations across eastern North America. The Pd pathogenesis appears to be a complex adaptation of fungus in its abiotic (caves and mines) and biotic (bats) environments. There is a general lack of experimental tools for the study of Pd biology. We described the successful expression of codon-optimized synthetic green fluorescent protein sGFP in Pd. The sGFP(S65T) gene was first fused in frame with the Aspergillus nidulans promoter in the tumor-inducing plasmid pRF-HUE, and the resulting plasmid pHUE-sGFP(S65T) was transformed into Pd by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation system. The integration of sGFP(S65T) in Pd genome was analyzed by PCR, and single integration frequency of approximately 66% was confirmed by Southern hybridization. Fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometric analyses of two randomly selected transformants with single integration revealed high expression of sGFP in both spores and hyphal structures. The biology of mutants as judged by sporulation, growth rate, and urease production was not altered indicating sGFP is not toxic to Pd. Thus, we have generated a valuable tool that will facilitate the elucidation of Pd biology, ecology, and pathogenicity in real time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- Mycology Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Ren
- Mycology Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Magdia De Jesus
- Immunology and Infectious Disease Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Vishnu Chaturvedi
- Mycology Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA.
| | - Sudha Chaturvedi
- Mycology Laboratory, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wu D, Navet N, Liu Y, Uchida J, Tian M. Establishment of a simple and efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for Phytophthora palmivora. BMC Microbiol 2016; 16:204. [PMID: 27599726 PMCID: PMC5012004 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-016-0825-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As an agriculturally important oomycete genus, Phytophthora contains a large number of destructive plant pathogens that severely threaten agricultural production and natural ecosystems. Among them is the broad host range pathogen P. palmivora, which infects many economically important plant species. An essential way to dissect their pathogenesis mechanisms is genetic modification of candidate genes, which requires effective transformation systems. Four methods were developed for transformation of Phytophthora spp., including PEG(polyethylene glycol)/CaCl2 mediated protoplast transformation, electroporation of zoospores, microprojectile bombardment and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (AMT). Among them, AMT has many advantages over the other methods such as easy handling and mainly generating single-copy integration in the genome. An AMT method previously reported for P. infestans and P. palmivora has barely been used in oomycete research due to low success and low reproducibility. RESULTS In this study, we report a simple and efficient AMT system for P. palmivora. Using this system, we were able to reproducibly generate over 40 transformants using zoospores collected from culture grown in a single 100 mm-diameter petri dish. The generated GFP transformants constitutively expressed GFP readily detectable using a fluorescence microscope. All of the transformants tested using Southern blot analysis contained a single-copy T-DNA insertion. CONCLUSIONS This system is highly effective and reproducible for transformation of P. palmivora and expected to be adaptable for transformation of additional Phytophthora spp. and other oomycetes. Its establishment will greatly accelerate their functional genomic studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongliang Wu
- Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 3190 Maile Way, St. John 317, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
| | - Natasha Navet
- Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 3190 Maile Way, St. John 317, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
| | - Yingchao Liu
- Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 3190 Maile Way, St. John 317, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
- Present Address: College of Plant Protection, Agricultural University of Hebei, Baoding, China
| | - Janice Uchida
- Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 3190 Maile Way, St. John 317, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
| | - Miaoying Tian
- Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 3190 Maile Way, St. John 317, Honolulu, HI 96822 USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhu C, Yang X, Lv R, Li Z, Ding X, Tyler BM, Zhang X. Phytophthora capsici homologue of the cell cycle regulator SDA1 is required for sporangial morphology, mycelial growth and plant infection. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2016; 17:369-87. [PMID: 26095317 PMCID: PMC6638425 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
SDA1 encodes a highly conserved protein that is widely distributed in eukaryotic organisms. SDA1 is essential for cell cycle progression and organization of the actin cytoskeleton in yeasts and humans. In this study, we identified a Phytophthora capsici orthologue of yeast SDA1, named PcSDA1. In P. capsici, PcSDA1 is strongly expressed in three asexual developmental states (mycelium, sporangia and germinating cysts), as well as late in infection. Silencing or overexpression of PcSDA1 in P. capsici transformants affected the growth of hyphae and sporangiophores, sporangial development, cyst germination and zoospore release. Phalloidin staining confirmed that PcSDA1 is required for organization of the actin cytoskeleton. Moreover, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining and PcSDA1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions revealed that PcSDA1 is involved in the regulation of nuclear distribution in hyphae and sporangia. Both silenced and overexpression transformants showed severely diminished virulence. Thus, our results suggest that PcSDA1 plays a similar role in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and nuclear division in this filamentous organism as in non-filamentous yeasts and human cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chunyuan Zhu
- Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, 61, Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Xiaoyan Yang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, 61, Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Rongfei Lv
- Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, 61, Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Zhuang Li
- Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, 61, Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Xiaomeng Ding
- Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, 61, Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| | - Brett M Tyler
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Xiuguo Zhang
- Department of Plant Pathology, Shandong Agricultural University, 61, Daizong Street, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Poidevin L, Andreeva K, Khachatoorian C, Judelson HS. Comparisons of Ribosomal Protein Gene Promoters Indicate Superiority of Heterologous Regulatory Sequences for Expressing Transgenes in Phytophthora infestans. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0145612. [PMID: 26716454 PMCID: PMC4696810 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular genetics approaches in Phytophthora research can be hampered by the limited number of known constitutive promoters for expressing transgenes and the instability of transgene activity. We have therefore characterized genes encoding the cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins of Phytophthora and studied their suitability for expressing transgenes in P. infestans. Phytophthora spp. encode a standard complement of 79 cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins. Several genes are duplicated, and two appear to be pseudogenes. Half of the genes are expressed at similar levels during all stages of asexual development, and we discovered that the majority share a novel promoter motif named the PhRiboBox. This sequence is enriched in genes associated with transcription, translation, and DNA replication, including tRNA and rRNA biogenesis. Promoters from the three P. infestans genes encoding ribosomal proteins S9, L10, and L23 and their orthologs from P. capsici were tested for their ability to drive transgenes in stable transformants of P. infestans. Five of the six promoters yielded strong expression of a GUS reporter, but the stability of expression was higher using the P. capsici promoters. With the RPS9 and RPL10 promoters of P. infestans, about half of transformants stopped making GUS over two years of culture, while their P. capsici orthologs conferred stable expression. Since cross-talk between native and transgene loci may trigger gene silencing, we encourage the use of heterologous promoters in transformation studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Poidevin
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Kalina Andreeva
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Careen Khachatoorian
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
| | - Howard S. Judelson
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Meng Y, Zhang Q, Ding W, Shan W. Phytophthora parasitica: a model oomycete plant pathogen. Mycology 2014; 5:43-51. [PMID: 24999436 PMCID: PMC4066925 DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2014.917734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2014] [Revised: 03/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Oomycetes are eukaryotic microorganisms morphologically similar to but phylogenetically distant from true fungi. Most species in the genus Phytophthora of oomycetes are devastating plant pathogens, causing damages to both agricultural production and natural ecosystems. Tremendous progress has been achieved in recent years in diversity, evolution and lifestyles of oomycete plant pathogens, as well as on the understanding of genetic and molecular basis of oomycete-plant interactions. Phytophthora parasitica is a soilborne pathogen with a wide range of host plants and represents most species in the genus Phytophthora. In this review, we present some recent progress of P. parasitica research by highlighting important features that make it emerge as a model species of oomycete pathogens. The emerged model pathogen will facilitate improved understanding of oomycete biology and pathology that are crucial to the development of novel disease-control strategies and improved disease-control measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuling Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Wei Ding
- College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Weixing Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Armesto C, Maia FGM, de Abreu MS, Figueira ADR, da Silva BM, Monteiro FP. Genetic transformation with the gfp gene of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolates from coffee with blister spot. Braz J Microbiol 2012; 43:1222-9. [PMID: 24031947 PMCID: PMC3768879 DOI: 10.1590/s1517-838220120003000050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2011] [Revised: 08/31/2011] [Accepted: 06/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Blister spot (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) is now widespread in most coffee producing states of Brazil, becoming a limiting factor for production. The lack of data relating to the reproduction of typical symptoms (light green, oily patches) leaves a gap within the pathosystem, forcing the search for new methodologies for monitoring the disease. Monitoring of genetically modified organisms has proven to be an effective tool in understanding the host × pathogen interactions. Thus, the present study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of two systems of genetic transformation in obtaining mutants using the gfp reporter gene. Using the two transformation systems (PEG and electroporation) revealed the efficiency of both, confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin-B, when incorporated into the culture medium. The fungus maintained its cultural and morphological characteristics when compared to wild strains. When inoculated on coffee seedlings, it was found that the pathogenicity of the processed isolates had not changed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Armesto
- Laboratório de Diagnose e Controle de Doenças de Plantas, Universidade Federal de Lavras , Lavras, MG , Brasil
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
King M, Reeve W, Van der Hoek MB, Williams N, McComb J, O'Brien PA, Hardy GESJ. Defining the phosphite-regulated transcriptome of the plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi. Mol Genet Genomics 2010; 284:425-35. [PMID: 20882389 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-010-0579-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2010] [Accepted: 09/13/2010] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Phosphite, an analog of phosphate is used to control oomycete diseases on a wide range of horticultural crops and in native ecosystems. In this study, we investigated morphological and transcriptional changes induced in Phytophthora cinnamomi by phosphite. Cytological observations revealed that phosphite caused hyphal distortions and lysis of cell walls and had an adverse effect on hyphal growth. At the molecular level, the expression levels of 43 transcripts were changed. Many of these encoded proteins involved in cell wall synthesis, or cytoskeleton functioning. The results of both the microscopic and molecular investigations are consistent with phosphite inhibiting the function of the cytoskeleton and cell wall synthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michaela King
- Centre for Phytophthora Science and Management, School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Judelson HS, Narayan R, Fong AMVA, Tani S, Kim KS. Performance of a tetracycline-responsive transactivator system for regulating transgenes in the oomycete Phytophthora infestans. Curr Genet 2007; 51:297-307. [PMID: 17377792 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-007-0125-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2006] [Revised: 02/23/2007] [Accepted: 02/24/2007] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The oomycete genus Phytophthora includes many important plant pathogens for which extensive genome data exist, but lacking is an inducible expression system to study contributions of their genes to growth and pathogenicity. Here the adaptation of the reverse tetracycline transactivator (rtTA) system to P. infestans is described. Vectors were developed containing rtTA expressed from an oomycete promoter, and beta-glucuronidase (GUS) controlled by TetR binding sites fused to a minimal oomycete promoter. Transformants were obtained in which GUS was expressed in a dose-dependent manner by the rtTA inducer doxycycline, indicating that the gene switch functions in P. infestans. However, toxicity of rtTA hindered the isolation of transformants if expressed on the same plasmid as the nptII selection marker. Better results were obtained by cotransforming those genes on separate plasmids, with 92% of transformants acquiring both DNAs although only 4% expressed rtTA at detectable levels. Low levels of reporter activity were measured in such transformants, suggesting that rtTA activated transcription weakly. Also, significant variation in the sensitivity of isolates to doxycycline and tetracycline was observed. These results are useful both in terms of developing tools for functional genomics and understanding the fate of DNA during Phytophthora transformation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Howard S Judelson
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Affiliation(s)
- Sophien Kamoun
- Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lorang JM, Tuori RP, Martinez JP, Sawyer TL, Redman RS, Rollins JA, Wolpert TJ, Johnson KB, Rodriguez RJ, Dickman MB, Ciuffetti LM. Green fluorescent protein is lighting up fungal biology. Appl Environ Microbiol 2001; 67:1987-94. [PMID: 11319072 PMCID: PMC92827 DOI: 10.1128/aem.67.5.1987-1994.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J M Lorang
- Department of Botany & Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-2902, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|