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Betz R, Heidt S, Figueira-Galán D, Hartmann M, Langner T, Requena N. Alternative splicing regulation in plants by SP7-like effectors from symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7107. [PMID: 39160162 PMCID: PMC11333574 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51512-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Most plants in natural ecosystems associate with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to survive soil nutrient limitations. To engage in symbiosis, AM fungi secrete effector molecules that, similar to pathogenic effectors, reprogram plant cells. Here we show that the Glomeromycotina-specific SP7 effector family impacts on the alternative splicing program of their hosts. SP7-like effectors localize at nuclear condensates and interact with the plant mRNA processing machinery, most prominently with the splicing factor SR45 and the core splicing proteins U1-70K and U2AF35. Ectopic expression of these effectors in the crop plant potato and in Arabidopsis induced developmental changes that paralleled to the alternative splicing modulation of a specific subset of genes. We propose that SP7-like proteins act as negative regulators of SR45 to modulate the fate of specific mRNAs in arbuscule-containing cells. Unraveling the communication mechanisms between symbiotic fungi and their host plants will help to identify targets to improve plant nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Betz
- Joseph Kölreuter Institute for Plant Sciences. Molecular Phytopathology Department, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Sven Heidt
- Joseph Kölreuter Institute for Plant Sciences. Molecular Phytopathology Department, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - David Figueira-Galán
- Joseph Kölreuter Institute for Plant Sciences. Molecular Phytopathology Department, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Meike Hartmann
- Joseph Kölreuter Institute for Plant Sciences. Molecular Phytopathology Department, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Thorsten Langner
- Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen - Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Natalia Requena
- Joseph Kölreuter Institute for Plant Sciences. Molecular Phytopathology Department, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) - South Campus, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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2
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Vela S, Wolf ESA, Rollins JA, Cuevas HE, Vermerris W. Dual-RNA-sequencing to elucidate the interactions between sorghum and Colletotrichum sublineola. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2024; 5:1437344. [PMID: 39220294 PMCID: PMC11362643 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2024.1437344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
In warm and humid regions, the productivity of sorghum is significantly limited by the fungal hemibiotrophic pathogen Colletotrichum sublineola, the causal agent of anthracnose, a problematic disease of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) that can result in grain and biomass yield losses of up to 50%. Despite available genomic resources of both the host and fungal pathogen, the molecular basis of sorghum-C. sublineola interactions are poorly understood. By employing a dual-RNA sequencing approach, the molecular crosstalk between sorghum and C. sublineola can be elucidated. In this study, we examined the transcriptomes of four resistant sorghum accessions from the sorghum association panel (SAP) at varying time points post-infection with C. sublineola. Approximately 0.3% and 93% of the reads mapped to the genomes of C. sublineola and Sorghum bicolor, respectively. Expression profiling of in vitro versus in planta C. sublineola at 1-, 3-, and 5-days post-infection (dpi) indicated that genes encoding secreted candidate effectors, carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), and membrane transporters increased in expression during the transition from the biotrophic to the necrotrophic phase (3 dpi). The hallmark of the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)-triggered immunity in sorghum includes the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phytoalexins. The majority of effector candidates secreted by C. sublineola were predicted to be localized in the host apoplast, where they could interfere with the PAMP-triggered immunity response, specifically in the host ROS signaling pathway. The genes encoding critical molecular factors influencing pathogenicity identified in this study are a useful resource for subsequent genetic experiments aimed at validating their contributions to pathogen virulence. This comprehensive study not only provides a better understanding of the biology of C. sublineola but also supports the long-term goal of developing resistant sorghum cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saddie Vela
- Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Emily S. A. Wolf
- Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Jeffrey A. Rollins
- Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Hugo E. Cuevas
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Tropical Agriculture Research Station, Mayagüez, PR, United States
| | - Wilfred Vermerris
- Plant Molecular & Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- University of Florida Genetics Institute, Gainesville, FL, United States
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3
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Correa Marrero M, Jänes J, Baptista D, Beltrao P. Integrating Large-Scale Protein Structure Prediction into Human Genetics Research. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2024; 25:123-140. [PMID: 38621234 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-120622-020615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The last five years have seen impressive progress in deep learning models applied to protein research. Most notably, sequence-based structure predictions have seen transformative gains in the form of AlphaFold2 and related approaches. Millions of missense protein variants in the human population lack annotations, and these computational methods are a valuable means to prioritize variants for further analysis. Here, we review the recent progress in deep learning models applied to the prediction of protein structure and protein variants, with particular emphasis on their implications for human genetics and health. Improved prediction of protein structures facilitates annotations of the impact of variants on protein stability, protein-protein interaction interfaces, and small-molecule binding pockets. Moreover, it contributes to the study of host-pathogen interactions and the characterization of protein function. As genome sequencing in large cohorts becomes increasingly prevalent, we believe that better integration of state-of-the-art protein informatics technologies into human genetics research is of paramount importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Correa Marrero
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;
| | - Jürgen Jänes
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;
| | | | - Pedro Beltrao
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;
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4
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Chia KS, Kourelis J, Teulet A, Vickers M, Sakai T, Walker JF, Schornack S, Kamoun S, Carella P. The N-terminal domains of NLR immune receptors exhibit structural and functional similarities across divergent plant lineages. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:2491-2511. [PMID: 38598645 PMCID: PMC11218826 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins are a prominent class of intracellular immune receptors in plants. However, our understanding of plant NLR structure and function is limited to the evolutionarily young flowering plant clade. Here, we describe an extended spectrum of NLR diversity across divergent plant lineages and demonstrate the structural and functional similarities of N-terminal domains that trigger immune responses. We show that the broadly distributed coiled-coil (CC) and toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain families of nonflowering plants retain immune-related functions through translineage activation of cell death in the angiosperm Nicotiana benthamiana. We further examined a CC subfamily specific to nonflowering lineages and uncovered an essential N-terminal MAEPL motif that is functionally comparable with motifs in resistosome-forming CC-NLRs. Consistent with a conserved role in immunity, the ectopic activation of CCMAEPL in the nonflowering liverwort Marchantia polymorpha led to profound growth inhibition, defense gene activation, and signatures of cell death. Moreover, comparative transcriptomic analyses of CCMAEPL activity delineated a common CC-mediated immune program shared across evolutionarily divergent nonflowering and flowering plants. Collectively, our findings highlight the ancestral nature of NLR-mediated immunity during plant evolution that dates its origin to at least ∼500 million years ago.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khong-Sam Chia
- Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Jiorgos Kourelis
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Albin Teulet
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK
| | - Martin Vickers
- Computational and Systems Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Toshiyuki Sakai
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Joseph F Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | | | - Sophien Kamoun
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Philip Carella
- Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
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5
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Outram MA, Chen J, Broderick S, Li Z, Aditya S, Tasneem N, Arndell T, Blundell C, Ericsson DJ, Figueroa M, Sperschneider J, Dodds PN, Williams SJ. AvrSr27 is a zinc-bound effector with a modular structure important for immune recognition. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:314-329. [PMID: 38730532 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Effector proteins are central to the success of plant pathogens, while immunity in host plants is driven by receptor-mediated recognition of these effectors. Understanding the molecular details of effector-receptor interactions is key for the engineering of novel immune receptors. Here, we experimentally determined the crystal structure of the Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt) effector AvrSr27, which was not accurately predicted using AlphaFold2. We characterised the role of the conserved cysteine residues in AvrSr27 using in vitro biochemical assays and examined Sr27-mediated recognition using transient expression in Nicotiana spp. and wheat protoplasts. The AvrSr27 structure contains a novel β-strand rich modular fold consisting of two structurally similar domains that bind to Zn2+ ions. The N-terminal domain of AvrSr27 is sufficient for interaction with Sr27 and triggering cell death. We identified two Pgt proteins structurally related to AvrSr27 but with low sequence identity that can also associate with Sr27, albeit more weakly. Though only the full-length proteins, trigger Sr27-dependent cell death in transient expression systems. Collectively, our findings have important implications for utilising protein prediction platforms for effector proteins, and those embarking on bespoke engineering of immunity receptors as solutions to plant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A Outram
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Jian Chen
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Sean Broderick
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Zhao Li
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Shouvik Aditya
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Nuren Tasneem
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Taj Arndell
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Cheryl Blundell
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Daniel J Ericsson
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Australian Synchrotron, Macromolecular Crystallography, Clayton, Vic., 3186, Australia
| | - Melania Figueroa
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Jana Sperschneider
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Peter N Dodds
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Simon J Williams
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
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Prout JN, Williams A, Wanke A, Schornack S, Ton J, Field KJ. Mucoromycotina 'fine root endophytes': a new molecular model for plant-fungal mutualisms? TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 29:650-661. [PMID: 38102045 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The most studied plant-fungal symbioses to date are the interactions between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi of the Glomeromycotina clade. Advancements in phylogenetics and microbial community profiling have distinguished a group of symbiosis-forming fungi that resemble AM fungi as belonging instead to the Mucoromycotina. These enigmatic fungi are now known as Mucoromycotina 'fine root endophytes' and could provide a means to understand the origins of plant-fungal symbioses. Most of our knowledge of the mechanisms of fungal symbiosis comes from investigations using AM fungi. Here, we argue that inclusion of Mucoromycotina fine root endophytes in future studies will expand our understanding of the mechanisms, evolution, and ecology of plant-fungal symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- James N Prout
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Alex Williams
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Alan Wanke
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK
| | | | - Jurriaan Ton
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Katie J Field
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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7
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Dilla-Ermita CJ, Goldman P, Anchieta A, Feldmann MJ, Pincot DDA, Famula RA, Vachev M, Cole GS, Knapp SJ, Klosterman SJ, Henry PM. Secreted in Xylem 6 ( SIX6) Mediates Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae Race 1 Avirulence on FW1-Resistant Strawberry Cultivars. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2024; 37:530-541. [PMID: 38552146 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-02-24-0012-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: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof) race 1 is avirulent on cultivars with the dominant resistance gene FW1, while Fof race 2 is virulent on FW1-resistant cultivars. We hypothesized there was a gene-for-gene interaction between a gene at the FW1 locus and an avirulence gene (AvrFW1) in Fof race 1. To identify a candidate AvrFW1, we compared genomes of 24 Fof race 1 and three Fof race 2 isolates. We found one candidate gene that was present in race 1, was absent in race 2, was highly expressed in planta, and was homologous to a known effector, secreted in xylem 6 (SIX6). We knocked out SIX6 in two Fof race 1 isolates by homologous recombination. All SIX6 knockout transformants (ΔSIX6) gained virulence on FW1/fw1 cultivars, whereas ectopic transformants and the wildtype isolates remained avirulent. ΔSIX6 isolates were quantitatively less virulent on FW1/fw1 cultivars Fronteras and San Andreas than fw1/fw1 cultivars. Seedlings from an FW1/fw1 × fw1/fw1 population were genotyped for FW1 and tested for susceptibility to a SIX6 knockout isolate. Results suggested that additional minor-effect quantitative resistance genes could be present at the FW1 locus. This work demonstrates that SIX6 acts as an avirulence factor interacting with a resistance gene at the FW1 locus. The identification of AvrFW1 enables surveillance for Fof race 2 and provides insight into the mechanisms of FW1-mediated resistance. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 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)
- Christine Jade Dilla-Ermita
- Crop Improvement and Protection Research, USDA-ARS, 1636 E. Alisal St., Salinas, CA 93905
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616
| | - Polly Goldman
- Crop Improvement and Protection Research, USDA-ARS, 1636 E. Alisal St., Salinas, CA 93905
| | - Amy Anchieta
- Crop Improvement and Protection Research, USDA-ARS, 1636 E. Alisal St., Salinas, CA 93905
| | - Mitchell J Feldmann
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616
| | - Dominique D A Pincot
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616
| | - Randi A Famula
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616
| | - Mishi Vachev
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616
| | - Glenn S Cole
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616
| | - Steven J Knapp
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616
| | - Steven J Klosterman
- Crop Improvement and Protection Research, USDA-ARS, 1636 E. Alisal St., Salinas, CA 93905
| | - Peter M Henry
- Crop Improvement and Protection Research, USDA-ARS, 1636 E. Alisal St., Salinas, CA 93905
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De la Concepcion JC, Langner T, Fujisaki K, Yan X, Were V, Lam AHC, Saado I, Brabham HJ, Win J, Yoshida K, Talbot NJ, Terauchi R, Kamoun S, Banfield MJ. Zinc-finger (ZiF) fold secreted effectors form a functionally diverse family across lineages of the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012277. [PMID: 38885263 PMCID: PMC11213319 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Filamentous plant pathogens deliver effector proteins into host cells to suppress host defence responses and manipulate metabolic processes to support colonization. Understanding the evolution and molecular function of these effectors provides knowledge about pathogenesis and can suggest novel strategies to reduce damage caused by pathogens. However, effector proteins are highly variable, share weak sequence similarity and, although they can be grouped according to their structure, only a few structurally conserved effector families have been functionally characterized to date. Here, we demonstrate that Zinc-finger fold (ZiF) secreted proteins form a functionally diverse effector family in the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. This family relies on the Zinc-finger motif for protein stability and is ubiquitously present in blast fungus lineages infecting 13 different host species, forming different effector tribes. Homologs of the canonical ZiF effector, AVR-Pii, from rice infecting isolates are present in multiple M. oryzae lineages. Wheat infecting strains of the fungus also possess an AVR-Pii like allele that binds host Exo70 proteins and activates the immune receptor Pii. Furthermore, ZiF tribes may vary in the proteins they bind to, indicating functional diversification and an intricate effector/host interactome. Altogether, we uncovered a new effector family with a common protein fold that has functionally diversified in lineages of M. oryzae. This work expands our understanding of the diversity of M. oryzae effectors, the molecular basis of plant pathogenesis and may ultimately facilitate the development of new sources for pathogen resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos De la Concepcion
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Thorsten Langner
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Koki Fujisaki
- Division of Genomics and Breeding, Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, Iwate, Japan
| | - Xia Yan
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent Were
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Anson Ho Ching Lam
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Indira Saado
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Helen J. Brabham
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Joe Win
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Kentaro Yoshida
- Laboratory of Plant Genetics, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nicholas J. Talbot
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Ryohei Terauchi
- Division of Genomics and Breeding, Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, Iwate, Japan
- Laboratory of Crop Evolution, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Sophien Kamoun
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Mark J. Banfield
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
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Mukhopadhyay S, Garvetto A, Neuhauser S, Pérez-López E. Decoding the Arsenal: Protist Effectors and Their Impact on Photosynthetic Hosts. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2024; 37:498-506. [PMID: 38551366 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-11-23-0196-cr] [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: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Interactions between various microbial pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, and their plant hosts have traditionally been the focus of phytopathology. In recent years, a significant and growing interest in the study of eukaryotic microorganisms not classified among fungi or oomycetes has emerged. Many of these protists establish complex interactions with photosynthetic hosts, and understanding these interactions is crucial in understanding the dynamics of these parasites within traditional and emerging types of farming, including marine aquaculture. Many phytopathogenic protists are biotrophs with complex polyphasic life cycles, which makes them difficult or impossible to culture, a fact reflected in a wide gap in the availability of comprehensive genomic data when compared to fungal and oomycete plant pathogens. Furthermore, our ability to use available genomic resources for these protists is limited by the broad taxonomic distance that these organisms span, which makes comparisons with other genomic datasets difficult. The current rapid progress in genomics and computational tools for the prediction of protein functions and interactions is revolutionizing the landscape in plant pathology. This is also opening novel possibilities, specifically for a deeper understanding of protist effectors. Tools like AlphaFold2 enable structure-based function prediction of effector candidates with divergent protein sequences. In turn, this allows us to ask better biological questions and, coupled with innovative experimental strategies, will lead into a new era of effector research, especially for protists, to expand our knowledge on these elusive pathogens and their interactions with photosynthetic hosts. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 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)
- Soham Mukhopadhyay
- Départment de phytologie, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche et d'innovation sur les végétaux (CRIV), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Institute de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- L'Institute EDS, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Andrea Garvetto
- Institute of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sigrid Neuhauser
- Institute of Microbiology, Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Edel Pérez-López
- Départment de phytologie, Faculté des sciences de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche et d'innovation sur les végétaux (CRIV), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Institute de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- L'Institute EDS, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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10
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Oliveira JIN, Corradi N. Strain-specific evolution and host-specific regulation of transposable elements in the model plant symbiont Rhizophagus irregularis. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024; 14:jkae055. [PMID: 38507600 PMCID: PMC11075540 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are repetitive DNA that can create genome structure and regulation variability. The genome of Rhizophagus irregularis, a widely studied arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), comprises ∼50% repetitive sequences that include TEs. Despite their abundance, two-thirds of TEs remain unclassified, and their regulation among AMF life stages remains unknown. Here, we aimed to improve our understanding of TE diversity and regulation in this model species by curating repeat datasets obtained from chromosome-level assemblies and by investigating their expression across multiple conditions. Our analyses uncovered new TE superfamilies and families in this model symbiont and revealed significant differences in how these sequences evolve both within and between R. irregularis strains. With this curated TE annotation, we also found that the number of upregulated TE families in colonized roots is 4 times higher than in the extraradical mycelium, and their overall expression differs depending on the plant host. This work provides a fine-scale view of TE diversity and evolution in model plant symbionts and highlights their transcriptional dynamism and specificity during host-microbe interactions. We also provide Hidden Markov Model profiles of TE domains for future manual curation of uncharacterized sequences (https://github.com/jordana-olive/TE-manual-curation/tree/main).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicolas Corradi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5
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Martin FM, van der Heijden MGA. The mycorrhizal symbiosis: research frontiers in genomics, ecology, and agricultural application. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 242:1486-1506. [PMID: 38297461 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Mycorrhizal symbioses between plants and fungi are vital for the soil structure, nutrient cycling, plant diversity, and ecosystem sustainability. More than 250 000 plant species are associated with mycorrhizal fungi. Recent advances in genomics and related approaches have revolutionized our understanding of the biology and ecology of mycorrhizal associations. The genomes of 250+ mycorrhizal fungi have been released and hundreds of genes that play pivotal roles in regulating symbiosis development and metabolism have been characterized. rDNA metabarcoding and metatranscriptomics provide novel insights into the ecological cues driving mycorrhizal communities and functions expressed by these associations, linking genes to ecological traits such as nutrient acquisition and soil organic matter decomposition. Here, we review genomic studies that have revealed genes involved in nutrient uptake and symbiosis development, and discuss adaptations that are fundamental to the evolution of mycorrhizal lifestyles. We also evaluated the ecosystem services provided by mycorrhizal networks and discuss how mycorrhizal symbioses hold promise for sustainable agriculture and forestry by enhancing nutrient acquisition and stress tolerance. Overall, unraveling the intricate dynamics of mycorrhizal symbioses is paramount for promoting ecological sustainability and addressing current pressing environmental concerns. This review ends with major frontiers for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis M Martin
- Université de Lorraine, INRAE, UMR IAM, Champenoux, 54280, France
- Institute of Applied Mycology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Marcel G A van der Heijden
- Department of Agroecology & Environment, Plant-Soil Interactions, Agroscope, Zürich, 8046, Switzerland
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
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12
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Serrano K, Bezrutczyk M, Goudeau D, Dao T, O'Malley R, Malmstrom RR, Visel A, Scheller HV, Cole B. Spatial co-transcriptomics reveals discrete stages of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. NATURE PLANTS 2024; 10:673-688. [PMID: 38589485 PMCID: PMC11035146 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01666-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The symbiotic interaction of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is ancient and widespread. Plants provide AM fungi with carbon in exchange for nutrients and water, making this interaction a prime target for crop improvement. However, plant-fungal interactions are restricted to a small subset of root cells, precluding the application of most conventional functional genomic techniques to study the molecular bases of these interactions. Here we used single-nucleus and spatial RNA sequencing to explore both Medicago truncatula and Rhizophagus irregularis transcriptomes in AM symbiosis at cellular and spatial resolution. Integrated, spatially registered single-cell maps revealed infected and uninfected plant root cell types. We observed that cortex cells exhibit distinct transcriptome profiles during different stages of colonization by AM fungi, indicating dynamic interplay between both organisms during establishment of the cellular interface enabling successful symbiosis. Our study provides insight into a symbiotic relationship of major agricultural and environmental importance and demonstrates a paradigm combining single-cell and spatial transcriptomics for the analysis of complex organismal interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Serrano
- Joint Bioenergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Margaret Bezrutczyk
- Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Danielle Goudeau
- Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Thai Dao
- Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ronan O'Malley
- Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Rex R Malmstrom
- Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Axel Visel
- Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Henrik V Scheller
- Joint Bioenergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin Cole
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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13
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Yu DS, Outram MA, Smith A, McCombe CL, Khambalkar PB, Rima SA, Sun X, Ma L, Ericsson DJ, Jones DA, Williams SJ. The structural repertoire of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici effectors revealed by experimental and computational studies. eLife 2024; 12:RP89280. [PMID: 38411527 PMCID: PMC10942635 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89280] [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] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant pathogens secrete proteins, known as effectors, that function in the apoplast or inside plant cells to promote virulence. Effector recognition by cell-surface or cytosolic receptors results in the activation of defence pathways and plant immunity. Despite their importance, our general understanding of fungal effector function and recognition by immunity receptors remains poor. One complication often associated with effectors is their high sequence diversity and lack of identifiable sequence motifs precluding prediction of structure or function. In recent years, several studies have demonstrated that fungal effectors can be grouped into structural classes, despite significant sequence variation and existence across taxonomic groups. Using protein X-ray crystallography, we identify a new structural class of effectors hidden within the secreted in xylem (SIX) effectors from Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol). The recognised effectors Avr1 (SIX4) and Avr3 (SIX1) represent the founding members of the Fol dual-domain (FOLD) effector class, with members containing two distinct domains. Using AlphaFold2, we predicted the full SIX effector repertoire of Fol and show that SIX6 and SIX13 are also FOLD effectors, which we validated experimentally for SIX6. Based on structural prediction and comparisons, we show that FOLD effectors are present within three divisions of fungi and are expanded in pathogens and symbionts. Further structural comparisons demonstrate that Fol secretes effectors that adopt a limited number of structural folds during infection of tomato. This analysis also revealed a structural relationship between transcriptionally co-regulated effector pairs. We make use of the Avr1 structure to understand its recognition by the I receptor, which leads to disease resistance in tomato. This study represents an important advance in our understanding of Fol-tomato, and by extension plant-fungal interactions, which will assist in the development of novel control and engineering strategies to combat plant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Yu
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralia
| | - Megan A Outram
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralia
| | - Ashley Smith
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralia
| | - Carl L McCombe
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralia
| | - Pravin B Khambalkar
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralia
| | - Sharmin A Rima
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralia
| | - Xizhe Sun
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralia
- Key Laboratory of Hebei Province for Plant Physiology and Molecular Pathology, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Agriculture UniversityBaodingChina
| | - Lisong Ma
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralia
- State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural UniversityBaodingChina
| | - Daniel J Ericsson
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralia
- The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Australian SynchrotronClaytonAustralia
| | - David A Jones
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralia
| | - Simon J Williams
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralia
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14
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Frew A, Weinberger N, Powell JR, Watts-Williams SJ, Aguilar-Trigueros CA. Community assembly of root-colonizing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: beyond carbon and into defence? THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae007. [PMID: 38366019 PMCID: PMC10910849 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Frew
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
- Centre for Crop Health, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia
| | - Natascha Weinberger
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Jeff R Powell
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Stephanie J Watts-Williams
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The Waite Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia
| | - Carlos A Aguilar-Trigueros
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland
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15
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Schornack S, Kamoun S. EVO-MPMI: From fundamental science to practical applications. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 76:102469. [PMID: 37783039 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
In the unending coevolutionary dance between plants and microbes, each player impacts the evolution of the other. Here, we provide an overview of the burgeoning field of evolutionary molecular plant-microbe interactions (EVO-MPMI)-the study of mechanisms of plant-microbe interactions in the context of their evolutionary history-tracing its progression from foundational science to practical implementation. We present a snapshot of current research and delve into central concepts, such as conserved features and convergent evolution, as well as methodologies such as ancestral reconstruction. Moreover, we shed light on the practical applications of EVO-MPMI, particularly within the realm of disease control. Looking ahead, we discuss potential future trajectories for EVO-MPMI research, spotlighting the innovative tools and technologies propelling the discipline forward.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sophien Kamoun
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom.
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16
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Sperschneider J, Yildirir G, Rizzi YS, Malar C M, Mayrand Nicol A, Sorwar E, Villeneuve-Laroche M, Chen ECH, Iwasaki W, Brauer EK, Bosnich W, Gutjahr C, Corradi N. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi heterokaryons have two nuclear populations with distinct roles in host-plant interactions. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:2142-2153. [PMID: 37884816 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01495-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are prominent root symbionts that can carry thousands of nuclei deriving from two parental strains in a large syncytium. These co-existing genomes can also vary in abundance with changing environmental conditions. Here we assemble the nuclear genomes of all four publicly available AMF heterokaryons using PacBio high-fidelity and Hi-C sequencing. We find that the two co-existing genomes of these strains are phylogenetically related but differ in structure, content and epigenetics. We confirm that AMF heterokaryon genomes vary in relative abundance across conditions and show this can lead to nucleus-specific differences in expression during interactions with plants. Population analyses also reveal signatures of genetic exchange indicative of past events of sexual reproduction in these strains. This work uncovers the origin and contribution of two nuclear genomes in AMF heterokaryons and opens avenues for the improvement and environmental application of these strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Sperschneider
- Black Mountain Science and Innovation Park, CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Gokalp Yildirir
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yanina S Rizzi
- Plant Genetics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Mathu Malar C
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Essam Sorwar
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Eric C H Chen
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wataru Iwasaki
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Elizabeth K Brauer
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Whynn Bosnich
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Caroline Gutjahr
- Plant Genetics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Nicolas Corradi
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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