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Wu Y, Han S, Wang Y, Li Q, Kong L. Velvet Family Protein FpVelB Affects Virulence in Association with Secondary Metabolism in Fusarium pseudograminearum. Cells 2024; 13:950. [PMID: 38891082 PMCID: PMC11171821 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110950] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Fusarium pseudograminearum causes destructive crown disease in wheat. The velvet protein family is a crucial regulator in development, virulence, and secondary metabolism of fungi. We conducted a functional analysis of FpVelB using a gene replacement strategy. The deletion of FpVelB decreased radial growth and enhanced conidial production compared to that of wild type. Furthermore, FpVelB modulates the fungal responses to abiotic stress through diverse mechanisms. Significantly, virulence decreased after the deletion of FpVelB in both the stem base and head of wheat. Genome-wide gene expression profiling revealed that the regulation of genes by FpVelB is associated with several processes related to the aforementioned phenotype, including "immune", "membrane", and "antioxidant activity", particularly with regard to secondary metabolites. Most importantly, we demonstrated that FpVelB regulates pathogen virulence by influencing deoxynivalenol production and modulating the expression of the PKS11 gene. In conclusion, FpVelB is crucial for plant growth, asexual development, and abiotic stress response and is essential for full virulence via secondary metabolism in F. pseudograminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Lingxiao Kong
- Plant Protection Institute, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Integrated Pest Management Center of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of IPM on Crops in Northern Region of North China, Ministry of Agriculture, Baoding 071000, China; (Y.W.)
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2
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Li ZY, Sun Q, Ma N, Zhang FJ, Zhang S, Zhang ZQ, Wang XF, Sun P, You CX, Zhang Z. Inhibitory Effect of Tea Saponin on Major Apple-Disease-Inducing Fungi. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2023; 113:1853-1866. [PMID: 37311718 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-01-23-0014-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: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plant secondary metabolites are well known for their biological functions in defending against pathogenic microorganisms. Tea saponin (TS), one type of secondary metabolite of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), has been shown to be a valuable botanical pesticide. However, its antifungal activity in controlling the fungi Valsa mali, Botryosphaeria dothidea, and Alternaria alternata, which induce major diseases in apple (Malus domestica), has not been determined. In this study, we first determined that TS has higher inhibitory activity than catechins against the three types of fungi. We further utilized in vitro and in vivo assays to confirm that TS showed high antifungal activity against the three types of fungi, especially for V. mali and B. dothidea. In the in vivo assay, application of a 0.5% TS solution was able to restrain the fungus-induced necrotic area in detached apple leaves efficiently. Moreover, a greenhouse infection assay also confirmed that TS treatment significantly inhibited V. mali infection in leaves of apple seedlings. In addition, TS treatment activated plant immune responses by decreasing accumulation of reactive oxygen species and promoting the activity of pathogenesis-related proteins, including chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase. This indicated that TS might serve as a plant defense inducer to activate innate immunity to fight against fungal pathogen invasion. Therefore, our data indicated that TS might restrain fungal infection in two ways, by directly inhibiting the growth of fungi and by activating plant innate defense responses as a plant defense inducer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China, 271000
| | - Qian Sun
- Forestry Development Service Center of Guangrao, Dongying, Shandong, China, 257399
| | - Ning Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China, 271000
| | - Fu-Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China, 271000
- Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China, 832003
| | - Shuai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China, 271000
| | - Zheng-Qun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China, 271000
| | - Xiao-Fei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China, 271000
| | - Ping Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China, 271000
| | - Chun-Xiang You
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China, 271000
| | - Zhenlu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China, 271000
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3
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Meng FZ, Wang ZQ, Luo M, Wei WK, Yin LF, Yin WX, Schnabel G, Luo CX. The velvet family proteins mediate low resistance to isoprothiolane in Magnaporthe oryzae. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011011. [PMID: 37276223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Isoprothiolane (IPT) resistance has emerged in Magnaporthe oryzae, due to the long-term usage of IPT to control rice blast in China, yet the mechanisms of the resistance remain largely unknown. Through IPT adaptation on PDA medium, we obtained a variety of IPT-resistant mutants. Based on their EC50 values to IPT, the resistant mutants were mainly divided into three distinct categories, i.e., low resistance (LR, 6.5 ≤ EC50 < 13.0 μg/mL), moderate resistance 1 (MR-1, 13.0 ≤ EC50 < 25.0 μg/mL), and moderate resistance 2 (MR-2, 25.0 ≤ EC50 < 35.0 μg/mL). Molecular analysis of MoIRR (Magnaporthe oryzae isoprothiolane resistance related) gene demonstrated that it was associated only with the moderate resistance in MR-2 mutants, indicating that other mechanisms were associated with resistance in LR and MR-1 mutants. In this study, we mainly focused on the characterization of low resistance to IPT in M. oryzae. Mycelial growth and conidial germination were significantly reduced, indicating fitness penalties in LR mutants. Based on the differences of whole genome sequences between parental isolate and LR mutants, we identified a conserved MoVelB gene, encoding the velvet family transcription factor, and genetic transformation of wild type isolate verified that MoVelB gene was associated with the low resistance. Based on molecular analysis, we further demonstrated that the velvet family proteins VelB and VeA were indispensable for IPT toxicity and the deformation of the VelB-VeA-LaeA complex played a vital role for the low IPT-resistance in M. oryzae, most likely through the down-regulation of the secondary metabolism-related genes or CYP450 genes to reduce the toxicity of IPT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan-Zhu Meng
- The Hubei Key Lab of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zuo-Qian Wang
- Institute of Plant Protection and Soil Science, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Mei Luo
- The Hubei Key Lab of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wen-Kai Wei
- The Hubei Key Lab of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Liang-Fen Yin
- The Experimental Teaching Center of Crop Science, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei-Xiao Yin
- The Hubei Key Lab of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guido Schnabel
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Chao-Xi Luo
- The Hubei Key Lab of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Experimental Teaching Center of Crop Science, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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4
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Gao J, Zhou S, Tang W, Wang J, Liu H, Zhang Y, Wang L, Li X, Liu Z. The velvet proteins CsVosA and CsVelB coordinate growth, cell wall integrity, sporulation, conidial viability and pathogenicity in the rubber anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum siamense. Microbiol Res 2023; 268:127290. [PMID: 36571920 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127290] [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: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Colletotrichum siamense, a member of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides complex species, is the primary pathogen causing rubber anthracnose, which leads to significant economic loss in natural rubber production. Velvet family proteins are fungal-specific proteins and play an essential role in regulating development and secondary metabolism. In this study, we characterized two velvet proteins CsVosA and CsVelB in C. siamense as the orthologs of VosA and VelB in Aspergillus nidulans. CsVosA is located in the nucleus, and CsVelB displays a localization in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Deleting CsvosA or CsvelB results in a slow growth rate, and the CsvelB-knockout mutants also exhibit low mycelial density. CsVosA and CsVelB are involved in regulating chitin metabolism and distribution, leading to the variation in the cell wall integrity of C. siamense. Furthermore, disruption of CsvosA or CsvelB can decrease conidial production and viability, and the ΔCsvosA and ΔCsvelB mutants also lose the ability to produce fruiting bodies. Pathogenicity assays show that deleting CsvosA or CsvelB can lower the virulence, and the two velvet genes are essential for the full virulence of C. siamense. Based on the results of the yeast two-hybrid analysis and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, CsVosA can interact with CsVelB and form the complex CsVosA-CsVelB in the conidia of C. siamense, which may play essential roles in maintaining the cell wall integrity and conidial viability. In addition, CsVelB is also involved in regulating melanin production of C. siamense. In conclusion, CsVosA and CsVelB regulate vegetative growth, cell wall integrity, asexual/sexual sporulation, conidial viability and virulence in C. siamense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | | | - Wen Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China; One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Jinhong Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Huanqing Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Liya Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China; One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China; One Health Institute, Hainan University, Haikou, China.
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5
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Yang Y, Yu L, Qiu X, Xiong D, Tian C. A putative terpene cyclase gene ( CcPtc1) is required for fungal development and virulence in Cytospora chrysosperma. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1084828. [PMID: 36891381 PMCID: PMC9986285 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1084828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytospora chrysosperma is a destructive plant pathogenic fungus, which causes canker disease on numerous woody plants. However, knowledge concerning the interaction between C. chrysosperma and its host remains limited. Secondary metabolites produced by phytopathogens often play important roles in their virulence. Terpene cyclases (TC), polyketide synthases (PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) are the key components for the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Here, we characterized the functions of a putative terpene type secondary metabolite biosynthetic core gene CcPtc1 in C. chrysosperma, which was significantly up-regulated in the early stages of infection. Importantly, deletion of CcPtc1 greatly reduced fungal virulence to the poplar twigs and they also showed significantly reduced fungal growth and conidiation compared with the wild-type (WT) strain. Furthermore, toxicity test of the crude extraction from each strain showed that the toxicity of crude extraction secreted by ΔCcPtc1 were strongly compromised in comparison with the WT strain. Subsequently, the untargeted metabolomics analyses between ΔCcPtc1 mutant and WT strain were conducted, which revealed 193 significantly different abundant metabolites (DAMs) inΔCcPtc1 mutant compared to the WT strain, including 90 significantly downregulated metabolites and 103 significantly up-regulated metabolites, respectively. Among them, four key metabolic pathways that reported to be important for fungal virulence were enriched, including pantothenate and coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis. Moreover, we also detected significant alterations in a series of terpenoids, among which (+)-ar-turmerone, pulegone, ethyl chrysanthemumate, and genipin were significantly down-regulated, while cuminaldehyde and (±)-abscisic acid were significantly up-regulated. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that CcPtc1 acts as a virulence-related secondary metabolism factor and provides new insights into the pathogenesis of C. chrysosperma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Yang
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Yu
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolin Qiu
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Dianguang Xiong
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Chengming Tian
- The Key Laboratory for Silviculture and Conservation of Ministry of Education, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
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6
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Chen YZ, Wang SR, Li T, Zhang GC, Yang J. Antifungal Activity of 6-Methylcoumarin against Valsa mali and Its Possible Mechanism of Action. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 9:jof9010005. [PMID: 36675826 PMCID: PMC9861068 DOI: 10.3390/jof9010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Valsa canker of apple (VCA) caused by Valsa mali severely affected apple production in east Asia. With the increase in drug resistance, there is an urgent need for efficient and environmentally friendly antifungal agents. Coumarins have attracted much attention due to their excellent antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens. In this study, the antifungal activity of several coumarins against phytopathogenic fungi was evaluated, and then the antifungal activity of the screened 6-MCM against V. mali and its underlying mechanism was further investigated. The results of the in vitro antifungal activity assay showed that some coumarins had significant inhibitory effects on V. mali. Notably, 400 mg/L of 6-MCM had the best antifungal activity of 94.6%. Further experiments showed that 6-MCM slowed down the growth of V. mali mycelia and the germination of spores in a concentration-dependent manner, with EC50 of 185.49 and 54.62 mg/L, respectively. In addition, 6-MCM treatment increased mycelial conductivity, extracellular protein leakage, and MDA content, resulting in damage to the cell membrane. Moreover, 6-MCM significantly reduced the cell wall degrading enzymes secreted by V. mali, including EG, PG and PL, thereby limiting its pathogenic capacity. SEM and TEM results showed that 6-MCM treatment had a significant effect on the morphology and ultrastructure of mycelial cells. Inoculation of isolated apple branches found that the application of 6-MCM effectively inhibited the development of VCA and significantly reduced the incidence. All these results suggest that 6-MCM has the potential as a green substitute for VCA control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Ze Chen
- School of Biological Sciences, Guizhou Education University, Wudang District, Guiyang 550018, China
| | - Shu-Ren Wang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Forest Protection, School of Forest, Northeast Forestry University, Hexing Road 26, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Tao Li
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Forest Protection, School of Forest, Northeast Forestry University, Hexing Road 26, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Guo-Cai Zhang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Forest Protection, School of Forest, Northeast Forestry University, Hexing Road 26, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150040, China
- Correspondence: (G.-C.Z.); (J.Y.)
| | - Jing Yang
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Forest Protection, School of Forest, Northeast Forestry University, Hexing Road 26, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150040, China
- College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Huaxi District, Guiyang 550025, China
- Correspondence: (G.-C.Z.); (J.Y.)
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7
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Lin X, Huang S, Huber DJ, Zhang Q, Wan X, Peng J, Luo D, Dong X, Zhu S. Melatonin Treatment Affects Wax Composition and Maintains Storage Quality in 'Kongxin' Plum ( Prunus salicina L. cv) during Postharvest. Foods 2022; 11:foods11243972. [PMID: 36553714 PMCID: PMC9778571 DOI: 10.3390/foods11243972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cuticular wax is an essential barrier against biological and abiotic stress and is also an important factor affecting fruit storage quality. This paper investigated the effect of melatonin treatment on cuticular wax and the storage quality of plum fruit at low temperature storage of 4 ± 1 °C. 'Kongxin' plum was treated with 150 μmol·L-1 melatonin, dried overnight at room temperature 25 ± 1 °C, and then stored at 4 ± 1 °C for 40 d. The microstructure of the fruit epidermis was examined after 0, 20, and 40 d of storage, and the wax composition and fruit storage quality were measured at 10 d intervals. The results demonstrated that melatonin promoted the disintegration and thickening of rod-shaped waxy crystals of 'Kongxin' plum fruit and inhibited the combination of disintegrated wax and inner wax. Melatonin maintained fruit firmness and decreased the correlation between fruit firmness and other storage quality parameters. The correlation between firmness and wax composition was enhanced. Melatonin promoted long-chain alkanes that were positively correlated with firmness and water retention and strengthened the correlation between the length of the alkane chain and storage quality parameters but reduced the difference between alkane isomers and storage quality parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Lin
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
| | - Shian Huang
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
- Guiyang Agricultural Reclamation Investment Development Group Co., Ltd., Guizhou 550001, China
| | - Donald J. Huber
- Horticultural Sciences Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0690, USA
| | - Qin Zhang
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
| | - Xuan Wan
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
| | - Junsen Peng
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
| | - Dengcan Luo
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
| | - Xiaoqing Dong
- Fruit Crops Center of Guizhou Engineering Research, College of Agricultural, Guizhou University, Guizhou 550025, China
- Correspondence: (X.D.); (S.Z.)
| | - Shouliang Zhu
- Guizhou Workstation for Fruit and Vegetables, Guizhou 550025, China
- Correspondence: (X.D.); (S.Z.)
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Xu L, Zhang X, Zheng D, Chang Y, Zhang F, Wang Y, Huang L. VmMon1-Ccz1 Complex Is Required for Conidiation, Autophagy, and Virulence in Valsa mali. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2022; 35:906-916. [PMID: 35793146 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-03-22-0071-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: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Apple Valsa canker caused by Valsa mali is a serious disease in eastern Asia, especially in China. In our previous proteomics study, monensin sensitivity 1 protein in Valsa mali (VmMon1) was identified to be significantly upregulated during V. mali infection. It was reported Mon1 protein formed a heterodimer called MC (Mon1-Ccz1) complex with caffeine, calcium, and zinc sensitivity 1 protein (Ccz1) in yeast. However, Ccz1 had not been identified in plant-pathogenic fungi such as Fusarium graminearum and Magnaporthe oryzae. Here, we identified a Ccz1 ortholog VmCcz1 in V. mali, by using DELTA-BLAST. The interaction of VmMon1 and VmCcz1 were verified using yeast two-hybrid assay, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Further yeast three-hybrid screenings determined that VmRab7 (Ras-related protein in V. mali) interacted with the MC complex. Targeted gene deletion showed that the ∆VmMon1 and ∆VmCcz1 mutants were defective in vegetative growth, conidiation, and pathogenicity. In addition, both mutants were more sensitive to osmotic and oxidative stresses and intracellular protein transport inhibitors. Cytological examination revealed that the ∆VmMon1 and ∆VmCcz1 mutants were impaired in vacuole fusion and autophagy. More importantly, expression of pectinase genes decreased in both mutants compared with those of the wild type during infection. Overall, our study identified Mon1 and Ccz1 genes in V. mali and provided evidence that VmMon1 and VmCcz1 are critical components that modulate vacuole fusion and autophagy, thereby affecting the development, conidiation, and pathogenicity of V. mali. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 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)
- Liangsheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaolong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Dian Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yali Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Feiran Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yinghao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
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9
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Yu M, Yu J, Cao H, Pan X, Song T, Qi Z, Du Y, Huang S, Liu Y. The Velvet Protein UvVEA Regulates Conidiation and Chlamydospore Formation in Ustilaginoidea virens. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050479. [PMID: 35628735 PMCID: PMC9148152 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050479] [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: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Rice false smut, caused by Ustilaginoidea virens, is a serious disease of rice worldwide, severely reducing the quantity and quality of rice production. The conserved fungal velvet proteins are global regulators of diverse cellular processes. We identified and functionally characterized two velvet genes, UvVEA and UvVELB, in U. virens. The deletion of these genes affected the conidiation of U. virens but had no effect on the virulence of this pathogen. Interestingly, the ΔUvVEA mutants appeared in the form of smaller false smut balls with a reduced number of chlamydospores compared with the wide-type strains. In addition, the deletion of UvVEA affected the expression of some transmembrane transport genes during chlamydospore formation and rice false smut balls development. Furthermore, the ΔUvVEA mutants were shown to be defective in the utilization of glucose. These findings proved the regulatory mechanism underlying the formation of rice false smut balls and chlamydospores and provided a basis for the further exploration of the mechanism of these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311400, China; (M.Y.); (S.H.)
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; (J.Y.); (H.C.); (X.P.); (T.S.); (Z.Q.); (Y.D.)
| | - Junjie Yu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; (J.Y.); (H.C.); (X.P.); (T.S.); (Z.Q.); (Y.D.)
| | - Huijuan Cao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; (J.Y.); (H.C.); (X.P.); (T.S.); (Z.Q.); (Y.D.)
| | - Xiayan Pan
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; (J.Y.); (H.C.); (X.P.); (T.S.); (Z.Q.); (Y.D.)
| | - Tianqiao Song
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; (J.Y.); (H.C.); (X.P.); (T.S.); (Z.Q.); (Y.D.)
| | - Zhongqiang Qi
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; (J.Y.); (H.C.); (X.P.); (T.S.); (Z.Q.); (Y.D.)
| | - Yan Du
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; (J.Y.); (H.C.); (X.P.); (T.S.); (Z.Q.); (Y.D.)
| | - Shiwen Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 311400, China; (M.Y.); (S.H.)
| | - Yongfeng Liu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; (J.Y.); (H.C.); (X.P.); (T.S.); (Z.Q.); (Y.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-25-8439-1002
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10
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A Velvet Transcription Factor Specifically Activates Mating through a Novel Mating-Responsive Protein in the Human Fungal Pathogen Cryptococcus deneoformans. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0265321. [PMID: 35471092 PMCID: PMC9241590 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02653-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual reproduction facilitates infection by the production of both a lineage advantage and infectious sexual spores in the ubiquitous human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus deneoformans. However, the regulatory determinants specific for initiating mating remain poorly understood. Here, we identified a velvet family regulator, Cva1, that strongly promotes sexual reproduction in C. deneoformans. This regulation was determined to be specific, based on a comprehensive phenotypic analysis of cva1Δ under 26 distinct in vitro and in vivo growth conditions. We further revealed that Cva1 plays a critical role in the initiation of early mating events, including sexual cell-cell fusion, but is not important for the late sexual development stages or meiosis. Thus, Cva1 specifically contributes to mating activation. Importantly, a novel mating-responsive protein, Cfs1, serves as the key target of Cva1 during mating, since its absence nearly blocks cell-cell fusion in C. deneoformans and its sister species C. neoformans. Together, our findings provide insight into how C. deneoformans ensures the regulatory specificity of mating. IMPORTANCE The human fungal pathogen C. deneoformans is a model organism for studying fungal sexual reproduction, which is considered to be important to infection. However, the specific regulatory determinants for activation of sexual reproduction remain poorly understood. In this study, by combining transcriptomic and comprehensive phenotypic analysis, we identified a velvet family regulator Cva1 that specifically and critically elicits early mating events, including sexual cell-cell fusion. Significantly, Cva1 induces mating through the novel mating-responsive protein Cfs1, which is essential for cell-cell fusion in C. deneoformans and its sister species C. neoformans. Considering that Cva1 and Cfs1 are highly conserved in species belonging to Cryptococcaeceae, they may play conserved and specific roles in the initiation of sexual reproduction in this important fungal clade, which includes multiple human fungal pathogens.
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11
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Mechanisms of Trichoderma longibrachiatum T6 Fermentation against Valsa mali through Inhibiting Its Growth and Reproduction, Pathogenicity and Gene Expression. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8020113. [PMID: 35205867 PMCID: PMC8875883 DOI: 10.3390/jof8020113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Apple Valsa canker is one of the most serious diseases, having caused significant apple yield and economic loss in China. However, there is still no effective biological methods for controlling this disease. Our present study focused on the inhibitory activity and mechanisms of Trichoderma longibrachiatum (T6) fermentation on Valsa mali that causes apple Valsa canker (AVC). Our results showed that the T6 fermentation exhibited effective antifungal activity on the mycelial growth and conidia germination of V. mali, causing mycelium malformation and the hyphal disintegrating in comparison to the control. The activity of pathogenically related enzymes that are secreted from V. mali and the expression level of gene of V. mali were significantly inhibited and downregulated by treatment with T6 fermentation. In addition, the lesion area and number of pycnidia of V. mali formed on the branches were significantly reduced after treatment with the T6 fermentation through the pathogenicity test on the detached branches. Our results indicate that the possible mechanism of T6 fermentation against V. mali occurs through inhibiting its growth and reproduction, the pathogenic enzyme activity, and its related gene expression.
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12
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Meng XL, Yang R, Liu AT, Hu TL, Wang YN, Cao KQ, Wang ST. The Influence of Lower Temperature Induction of Valsa mali on the Infection of Apple Trees. PLANT DISEASE 2021; 105:2776-2780. [PMID: 33908791 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-01-21-0086-sc] [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: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Apple valsa canker (AVC), caused by Valsa mali, is one of the most important diseases of apple trees in China. AVC occurred severely along with cold winter or cold spring. However, the effect of lower temperature on V. mali is poorly understood. This study evaluated the influence of lower temperature pretreatment of V. mali on the infection of apple twigs and leaves. The results showed that exposing V. mali to lower temperatures (between -10°C and 10°C) for more than 18 h significantly increased the disease severity of apple leaves and twigs, with a higher lesion area ratio (LAR), lesion length, and disease incidence (DI) than that at 25°C. In addition, cold treatment ranging from -5°C to 10°C promoted colony growth. Meanwhile, the relative expression of four cell wall degrading enzyme (CWDE)-related genes pretreated at -5°C and 5°C were significantly higher than that at 25°C. The results indicated that the virulence of V. mali mycelium is sensitive to lower temperatures. After sensing lower temperature changes, V. mali can adjust its infection of apple trees by regulating the expression of pathogenicity gene and growth rate. Spring has very frequent temperature changes, and V. mali is highly invasive in this season. Therefore, more attention should be paid in spring to protecting apple trees from infection of V. mali, by reducing pruning wound formation in spring and applying protective agents to pruning wounds in time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Long Meng
- College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Rui Yang
- College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - An-Tai Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Tong-le Hu
- College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Ya-Nan Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Ke-Qiang Cao
- College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
| | - Shu-Tong Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071000, China
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Huang Y, Yu C, Sun C, Saleem M, Li P, Li B, Wang C. β-Glucosidase VmGlu2 Contributes to the Virulence of Valsa mali in Apple Tree. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:695112. [PMID: 34394036 PMCID: PMC8361449 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.695112] [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: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The apple tree canker is caused by Valsa mali, which produces major pathogenic factors involving multiple cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs) and toxins. The β-glucosidases are among the main CWDEs, and thus, they play important roles in the virulence of necrotrophic pathogens. However, the specific roles of β-glucosidases in the virulence of V. mlai remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified a β-glucosidase gene, VmGlu2, which was upregulated during the V. mali infection. We found that VmGlu2 protein had high enzyme activity of β-glucosidase using p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG) as a substrate, while the VmGlu2 could convert phloridzin to phloretin with the release of glucose. The deletion and overexpression of VmGlu2 showed no effect on vegetative growth, but gene deletion mutants of V. mlai showed significantly reduced pycnidia formation. The gene deletion mutants had lower β-glucosidase activities and toxin levels as compared to the wild-type strain. Therefore, these mutants showed a reduced virulence. Moreover, the overexpression of VmGlu2 did not affect toxin levels, but it significantly enhanced β-glucosidase activities, which resulted in an increased pathogenicity. Thus, we conclude that VmGlu2 is required for the full virulence of V. mali. These results provide valuable evidence to the complex role of CWDEs in the fungal pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Mycology, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chunlei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Mycology, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Cuicui Sun
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Mycology, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Muhammad Saleem
- Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Pingliang Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Mycology, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Baohua Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Mycology, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | - Caixia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Crop Pest Management of Shandong Province, Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Applied Mycology, College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
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John E, Singh KB, Oliver RP, Tan K. Transcription factor control of virulence in phytopathogenic fungi. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:858-881. [PMID: 33973705 PMCID: PMC8232033 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Plant-pathogenic fungi are a significant threat to economic and food security worldwide. Novel protection strategies are required and therefore it is critical we understand the mechanisms by which these pathogens cause disease. Virulence factors and pathogenicity genes have been identified, but in many cases their roles remain elusive. It is becoming increasingly clear that gene regulation is vital to enable plant infection and transcription factors play an essential role. Efforts to determine their regulatory functions in plant-pathogenic fungi have expanded since the annotation of fungal genomes revealed the ubiquity of transcription factors from a broad range of families. This review establishes the significance of transcription factors as regulatory elements in plant-pathogenic fungi and provides a systematic overview of those that have been functionally characterized. Detailed analysis is provided on regulators from well-characterized families controlling various aspects of fungal metabolism, development, stress tolerance, and the production of virulence factors such as effectors and secondary metabolites. This covers conserved transcription factors with either specialized or nonspecialized roles, as well as recently identified regulators targeting key virulence pathways. Fundamental knowledge of transcription factor regulation in plant-pathogenic fungi provides avenues to identify novel virulence factors and improve our understanding of the regulatory networks linked to pathogen evolution, while transcription factors can themselves be specifically targeted for disease control. Areas requiring further insight regarding the molecular mechanisms and/or specific classes of transcription factors are identified, and direction for future investigation is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan John
- Centre for Crop and Disease ManagementCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Karam B. Singh
- Agriculture and FoodCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationFloreatWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Richard P. Oliver
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Kar‐Chun Tan
- Centre for Crop and Disease ManagementCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Molecular and Life SciencesCurtin UniversityBentleyWestern AustraliaAustralia
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15
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Höfer AM, Harting R, Aßmann NF, Gerke J, Schmitt K, Starke J, Bayram Ö, Tran VT, Valerius O, Braus-Stromeyer SA, Braus GH. The velvet protein Vel1 controls initial plant root colonization and conidia formation for xylem distribution in Verticillium wilt. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009434. [PMID: 33720931 PMCID: PMC7993770 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The conserved fungal velvet family regulatory proteins link development and secondary metabolite production. The velvet domain for DNA binding and dimerization is similar to the structure of the Rel homology domain of the mammalian NF-κB transcription factor. A comprehensive study addressed the functions of all four homologs of velvet domain encoding genes in the fungal life cycle of the soil-borne plant pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae. Genetic, cell biological, proteomic and metabolomic analyses of Vel1, Vel2, Vel3 and Vos1 were combined with plant pathogenicity experiments. Different phases of fungal growth, development and pathogenicity require V. dahliae velvet proteins, including Vel1-Vel2, Vel2-Vos1 and Vel3-Vos1 heterodimers, which are already present during vegetative hyphal growth. The major novel finding of this study is that Vel1 is necessary for initial plant root colonization and together with Vel3 for propagation in planta by conidiation. Vel1 is needed for disease symptom induction in tomato. Vel1, Vel2, and Vel3 control the formation of microsclerotia in senescent plants. Vel1 is the most important among all four V. dahliae velvet proteins with a wide variety of functions during all phases of the fungal life cycle in as well as ex planta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalena M. Höfer
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rebekka Harting
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nils F. Aßmann
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Gerke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schmitt
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jessica Starke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Özgür Bayram
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Van-Tuan Tran
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Valerius
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Susanna A. Braus-Stromeyer
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard H. Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Göttingen, Germany
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16
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Feng H, Xu M, Gao Y, Liang J, Guo F, Guo Y, Huang L. Vm-milR37 contributes to pathogenicity by regulating glutathione peroxidase gene VmGP in Valsa mali. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2021; 22:243-254. [PMID: 33278058 PMCID: PMC7814965 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs play important roles in various biological processes by regulating their corresponding target genes. However, the function and regulatory mechanism of fungal microRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) are still largely unknown. In this study, a milRNA (Vm-milR37) was isolated and identified from Valsa mali, which causes the most serious disease on the trunk of apple trees in China. Based on the results of deep sequencing and quantitative reverse transcription PCR, Vm-milR37 was found to be expressed in the mycelium, while it was not expressed during the V. mali infection process. Overexpression of Vm-milR37 did not affect vegetative growth, but significantly decreased pathogenicity. Based on degradome sequencing, the target of Vm-milR37 was identified as VmGP, a glutathione peroxidase. The expression of Vm-milR37 and VmGP showed a divergent trend in V. mali-apple interaction samples and Vm-milR37 overexpression transformants. The expression of VmGP could be suppressed significantly by Vm-milR37 when coexpressed in tobacco leaves. Deletion of VmGP showed significantly reduced pathogenicity compared with the wild type. VmGP deletion mutants showed more sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide. Apple leaves inoculated with Vm-milR37 overexpression transformants and VmGP deletion mutant displayed increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species compared with the wild type. Thus, Vm-milR37 plays a critical role in pathogenicity by regulating VmGP, which contributes to the oxidative stress response during V. mali infection. These results provide important evidence to define the roles of milRNAs and their corresponding target genes in pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Ming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Life SciencesNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Yuqi Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Jiahao Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Feiran Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingChina
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17
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Wang Y, Jiang L, Wang MM, Feng JT. Baseline sensitivity and action mechanism of the sterol demethylation inhibitor flusilazole to Valsa mali. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 171:104722. [PMID: 33357544 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2020.104722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The apple Valsa canker caused by Valsa mali is a devastating branch disease that has seriously threatened the development of the apple industry worldwide. In current study, a total of 115 V. mali strains collected from different apple orchards in Shaanxi Province of China during 2016 and 2017 were tested for their sensitivity to flusilazole. The average EC50 (effective concentrations causing 50% mycelial growth inhibition) value of all tested strains for flusilazole was 0.0892 (±0.0036) μg/mL and the frequency distribution of the EC50 values was unimodal. Flusilazole exhibited both excellent protective and curative activity on detached apple branches, which was significantly better than the commonly used fungicide thiophanate-methyl. After flusilazole treatment, mycelia twisted with offshoot of top increased, the V. mali strains lost the ability of fruiting body production, and cell membrane permeability of the mycelia increased while ergosterol content and pectinase activity decreased. The expression of pectinase genes involved in virulence down-regulated after flusilazole treatment. This study is the first report on the baseline sensitivity of V. mali to flusilazole. These results indicated that flusilazole has a great potential to play an important role in the management of Valsa canker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wang
- College of plant protection, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- College of plant protection, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Miao-Miao Wang
- College of plant protection, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jun-Tao Feng
- College of plant protection, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
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18
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Wang W, Nie J, Lv L, Gong W, Wang S, Yang M, Xu L, Li M, Du H, Huang L. A Valsa mali Effector Protein 1 Targets Apple ( Malus domestica) Pathogenesis-Related 10 Protein to Promote Virulence. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:741342. [PMID: 34691119 PMCID: PMC8528966 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.741342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
To successfully colonize the plants, the pathogenic microbes secrete a mass of effector proteins which manipulate host immunity. Apple valsa canker is a destructive disease caused by the weakly parasitic fungus Valsa mali. A previous study indicated that the V. mali effector protein 1 (VmEP1) is an essential virulence factor. However, the pathogenic mechanism of VmEP1 in V. mali remains poorly understood. In this study, we found that the apple (Malus domestica) pathogenesis-related 10 proteins (MdPR10) are the virulence target of VmEP1 using a yeast two-hybrid screening. By bimolecular fluorescence (BiFC) and coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP), we confirmed that the VmEP1 interacts with MdPR10 in vivo. Silencing of MdPR10 notably enhanced the V. mali infection, and overexpression of MdPR10 markedly reduced its infection, which corroborates its positive role in plant immunity against V. mali. Furthermore, we showed that the co-expression of VmEP1 with MdPR10 compromised the MdPR10-mediated resistance to V. mali. Taken together, our results revealed a mechanism by which a V. mali effector protein suppresses the host immune responses by interfering with the MdPR10-mediated resistance to V. mali during the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Yangling, China
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Jiajun Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Yangling, China
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Luqiong Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Yangling, China
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Wan Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Yangling, China
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Shuaile Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Yangling, China
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Mingming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Yangling, China
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Liangsheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Yangling, China
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Mingjun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Yangling, China
- College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Hongxia Du
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Yangling, China
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Yangling, China
- College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- *Correspondence: Lili Huang,
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19
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Xu M, Guo Y, Tian R, Gao C, Guo F, Voegele RT, Bao J, Li C, Jia C, Feng H, Huang L. Adaptive regulation of virulence genes by microRNA-like RNAs in Valsa mali. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 227:899-913. [PMID: 32222083 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in plants and animals. However, little information is known about the action mechanism and function of fungal microRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs). In this study, combining deep sequencing, molecular and histological assays, milRNAs and their targets in the phytopathogenic fungus Valsa mali were isolated and identified. A critical milRNA, Vm-milR16, was identified to adaptively regulate the expression of virulence genes. Fourteen isolated milRNAs showed high expression abundance. Based on the assessment of a pathogenicity function of these milRNAs, Vm-milR16 was found to be a critical milRNA in V. mali by regulating sucrose non-fermenting 1 (VmSNF1), 4,5-DOPA dioxygenase extradiol (VmDODA), and a hypothetical protein (VmHy1). During V. mali infection, Vm-milR16 is downregulated, while its targets are upregulated. Overexpression of Vm-milR16, but not mutated Vm-milR16, significantly reduces the expression of targets and virulence of V. mali. Furthermore, deletion of VmSNF1, VmDODA and VmHy1 significantly reduce virulence of V. mali. All three targets seem to be essential for oxidative stress response and VmSNF1 is required for expression of pectinase genes during V. mali-host interaction. Our results demonstrate Vm-milRNAs contributing to the infection of V. mali on apple trees by adaptively regulating virulence genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Runze Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Chen Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Feiran Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Ralf T Voegele
- Department of Phytopathology, Institute of Phytomedicine, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jiyuan Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Chenjing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Conghui Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Hao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas and College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
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20
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Tiley AMM, White HJ, Foster GD, Bailey AM. The ZtvelB Gene Is Required for Vegetative Growth and Sporulation in the Wheat Pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2210. [PMID: 31632366 PMCID: PMC6779691 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ascomycete fungus Zymoseptoria tritici is the causal agent of Septoria Tritici Blotch (STB), a major disease of wheat across Europe. Current understanding of the genetic components and the environmental cues which influence development and pathogenicity of this fungus is limited. The velvet B gene, velB, has conserved roles in development, secondary metabolism, and pathogenicity across fungi. The function of this gene is best characterised in the model ascomycete fungus Aspergillus nidulans, where it is involved in co-ordinating the light response with downstream processes. There is limited knowledge of the role of light in Z. tritici, and of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the light response. We show that Z. tritici is able to detect light, and that the vegetative morphology of this fungus is influenced by light conditions. We also identify and characterise the Z. tritici velB gene, ZtvelB, by gene disruption. The ΔztvelB deletion mutants were fixed in a filamentous growth pattern and are unable to form yeast-like vegetative cells. Their morphology was similar under light and dark conditions, showing an impairment in light-responsive growth. In addition, the ΔztvelB mutants produced abnormal pycnidia that were impaired in macropycnidiospore production but could still produce viable infectious micropycnidiospores. Our results show that ZtvelB is required for yeast-like growth and asexual sporulation in Z. tritici, and we provide evidence for a role of ZtvelB in integrating light perception and developmental regulation in this important plant pathogenic fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M M Tiley
- Molecular Plant Pathology and Fungal Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah J White
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, O'Brien Centre for Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gary D Foster
- Molecular Plant Pathology and Fungal Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Andy M Bailey
- Molecular Plant Pathology and Fungal Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Wu Y, Yin Z, Xu L, Feng H, Huang L. VmPacC Is Required for Acidification and Virulence in Valsa mali. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1981. [PMID: 30190714 PMCID: PMC6115506 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the transcription factor PacC has been characterised in several pathogenic fungi, and it affects virulence via several mechanisms. In this study, we examined the role of the PacC homolog VmPacC in Valsa mali, the causal agent of apple canker disease. We found that the expression of VmPacC was up-regulated in neutral and alkaline pH and during infection. At pH 6–10, the radial growth of a VmPacC deletion mutant decreased compared to wild-type. In addition, the sensitivity to oxidative stress of the VmPacC deletion mutant was impaired, as its growth was more severely inhibited by H2O2 than that of the wild-type. The lesion size caused by the VmPacC deletion mutant was smaller than that of the wild-type on apple leaves and twigs. Interestingly, expression of pectinase genes increased in deletion mutant during infection. To further confirm the negative regulation, we generated dominant activated C-27 allele mutants that constitutively express VmPacC. The pectinase activity of activated mutants was reduced at pH 4. We further observed that V. mali can acidify the pH during infection, and that the capacity for acidification was impaired after VmPacC deletion. Furthermore, VmPacC is involved in the generation of citric acid, which affects virulence. These results indicate that VmPacC is part of the fungal responses to neutral and alkaline pH and oxidative stress. More importantly, VmPacC is required for acidification of its environment and for full virulence in V. mali.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Zhiyuan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Liangsheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Hao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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Wu Y, Xu L, Yin Z, Feng H, Huang L. Transcription factor VmSeb1 is required for the growth, development, and virulence in Valsa mali. Microb Pathog 2018; 123:132-138. [PMID: 29959044 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factor Seb1 contains two C2H2 zinc finger motifs which are similar to the Msn2/4 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The homologous proteins of Seb1 function to regulate the response to various stresses or decomposing and utilizing pectin in some fungi. In this study, we characterized a homologue of Seb1 gene, VmSeb1, in Valsa mali, which causes a highly destructive bark disease on apple. VmSeb1 deletion mutant showed a drastic reduction in growth rate in vitro. It is also important for conidiation because VmSeb1 deletion mutant formed more pycnidia on PDA medium. Deletion mutant of VmSeb1 increased melanin genes expression. In addition, the sensitivity to oxidative stress increased and cell wall inhibitor in VmSeb1 deletion mutant, as its growth was more severely inhibited by H2O2 and Congo red than that in the wild-type. The virulence assay showed that the lesion length caused by the VmSeb1 deletion mutant was smaller compared to wild-type on detached apple twigs. However, expression of pectinase genes and pectinase activity in deletion mutant were the same as those of the wild-type during infection. These results indicate that VmSeb1 plays important roles in growth, asexual development, response to oxidative stress, maintenance of cell wall integrity, and virulence. However, VmSeb1 is not involved in the regulation of pectinase genes expression in V. mali.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Liangsheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Zhiyuan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Hao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, China-Australia Joint Research Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, Yangling, 712100, China.
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