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Yu M, Song T, Yu J, Cao H, Pan X, Qi Z, Du Y, Liu W, Liu Y. UvVelC is important for conidiation and pathogenicity in the rice false smut pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens. Virulence 2024; 15:2301243. [PMID: 38240294 PMCID: PMC10802205 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2023.2301243] [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: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Rice false smut disease is one of the most significant rice diseases worldwide. Ustilaginoidea virens is the causative agent of this disease. Although several developmental and pathogenic genes have been identified and functionally analyzed, the pathogenic molecular mechanisms of U. virens remain elusive. The velvet family regulatory proteins are involved in fungal development, conidiation, and pathogenicity. In this study, we demonstrated the function of the VelC homolog UvVELC in U. virens. We identified the velvet family protein UvVELC and characterized its functions using a target gene deletion-strategy. Deletion of UvVELC resulted in conidiation failure and pathogenicity. The UvVELC expression levels during infection suggested that this gene might be involved in the early infection process. UvVELC is also important in resistance to abiotic stresses, the utilization efficiency of glucose, stachyose, raffinose, and other sugars, and the expression of transport-related genes. Moreover, UvVELC could physically interact with UvVEA in yeast, and UvVELC/UvVEA double-knockout mutants also failed in conidiation and pathogenicity. These results indicate that UvVELC play a critical role in the conidiation and pathogenicity in U. virens. Functional analysis indicated that UvVELC-mediated conidiation and nutrient acquisition from rice regulates the pathogenicity of U. virens. Understanding the function of the UvVELC homolog could provide a potential molecular target for controlling rice false smut disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Yu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Tianqiao Song
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Junjie Yu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Huijuan Cao
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiayan Pan
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhongqiang Qi
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Du
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Wende Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Insistant of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China
| | - Yongfeng Liu
- Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, China
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Chen W, Son YE, Cho HJ, Choi D, Park HS, Yu JH. Phylogenomics analysis of velvet regulators in the fungal kingdom. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0371723. [PMID: 38179919 PMCID: PMC10845976 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03717-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
All life forms have evolved to respond appropriately to various environmental and internal cues. In the animal kingdom, the prototypical regulator class of such cellular responses is the Rel homology domain proteins including nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). Fungi, the close relatives of animals, have also evolved with their own NF-κB-like regulators called velvet family proteins to govern cellular and chemical development. Here, we conducted a detailed investigation of the taxonomic broad presence of velvet proteins. We observed that velvet proteins are widely distributed in the fungal kingdom. Moreover, we have identified and characterized 21 major velvet clades in fungi. We have further revealed that the highly conserved velvet domain is composed of three distinct motifs and acts as an evolutionarily independent domain, which can be shuffled with various functional domains. Such rearrangements of the velvet domain have resulted in the functional and type diversity of the present velvet regulators. Importantly, our in-deep analyses of the primary and 3D structures of the various velvet domains showed that the fungal velvet domains can be divided into two major clans: the VelB and the VosA clans. The 3D structure comparisons revealed a close similarity of the velvet domain with many other eukaryotic DNA-binding proteins, including those of the Rel, Runt, and signal transducer and activator of transcription families, sharing a common β-sandwich fold. Altogether, this study improves our understanding of velvet regulators in the fungal kingdom.IMPORTANCEFungi are the relatives of animals in Opisthokonta and closely associated with human life by interactive ways such as pathogenicity, food, and secondary metabolites including beneficial ones like penicillin and harmful ones like the carcinogenic aflatoxins. Similar to animals, fungi have also evolved with NF-κB-like velvet family regulators. The velvet proteins constitute a large protein family of fungal transcription factors sharing a common velvet domain and play a key role in coordinating fungal secondary metabolism, developmental and differentiation processes. Our current understanding on velvet regulators is mostly from Ascomycota fungi; however, they remain largely unknown outside Ascomycota. Therefore, this study performed a taxonomic broad investigation of velvet proteins across the fungal kingdom and conducted a detailed analysis on velvet distribution, structure, diversity, and evolution. The results provide a holistic view of velvet regulatory system in the fungal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanping Chen
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Ye-Eun Son
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - He-Jin Cho
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Dasol Choi
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Hee-Soo Park
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
- Department of Integrative Biology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Jae-Hyuk Yu
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Song J, Wang D, Han D, Zhang DD, Li R, Kong ZQ, Dai XF, Subbarao KV, Chen JY. Characterization of the Endophytic Bacillus subtilis KRS015 Strain for Its Biocontrol Efficacy Against Verticillium dahliae. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2024; 114:61-72. [PMID: 37530500 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-04-23-0142-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: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Endophytes play important roles in promoting plant growth and controlling plant diseases. Verticillium wilt is a vascular wilt disease caused by Verticillium dahliae, a widely distributed soilborne pathogen that causes significant economic losses on cotton each year. In this study, an endophyte KRS015, isolated from the seed of the Verticillium wilt-resistant Gossypium hirsutum 'Zhongzhimian No. 2', was identified as Bacillus subtilis by morphological, phylogenetic, physiological, and biochemical analyses. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by KRS015 or its cell-free fermentation extract had significant antagonistic effects on various pathogenic fungi, including V. dahliae. KRS015 reduced Verticillium wilt index and colonization of V. dahliae in treated cotton seedlings significantly; the disease reduction rate was ∼62%. KRS015 also promoted plant growth, potentially mediated by the growth-related cotton genes GhACL5 and GhCPD-3. The cell-free fermentation extract of KRS015 triggered a hypersensitivity response, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expression of resistance-related plant genes. VOCs from KRS015 also inhibited germination of conidia and the mycelial growth of V. dahliae, and were mediated by growth and development-related genes such as VdHapX, VdMcm1, Vdpf, and Vel1. These results suggest that KRS015 is a potential agent for controlling Verticillium wilt and promoting growth of cotton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Song
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Dan Wang
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Dongfei Han
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Dan-Dan Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China
| | - Ran Li
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Kong
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Dai
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China
| | - Krishna V Subbarao
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, c/o U.S. Agricultural Research Station, Salinas, CA 93905
| | - Jie-Yin Chen
- The State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Western Agricultural Research Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changji 831100, China
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Xiao L, Tang C, Klosterman SJ, Wang Y. VdTps2 Modulates Plant Colonization and Symptom Development in Verticillium dahliae. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2023; 36:572-583. [PMID: 36989041 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-03-23-0024-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The trehalose biosynthesis pathway is a potential target for antifungal drugs development. Trehalose phosphate synthase (TPS) and phosphatase are widely conserved components of trehalose biosynthesis in fungi. However, the role of trehalose biosynthesis in the vascular plant-pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae remains unclear. Here, we investigated the functions of the TPS complex, including VdTps1, VdTps2, and VdTps3 in V. dahliae. Unlike VdTps2, deletion of VdTps1 or VdTps3 did not alter any phenotypes compared with the wild-type strain. In contrast, the ΔVdTps2 strain showed severely depressed radial growth due to the abnormal swelling of the hyphal tips. Further, deletion of VdTps2 increased microsclerotia formation, melanin biosynthesis, and resistance to cell-wall perturbation and high-temperature stress. Virulence assays and quantification of fungal biomass revealed that deletion of VdTps2 delayed disease symptom development, as evident by the reduced virulence and decreased biomass of the ΔVdTps2 strain in plant stem tissue following inoculation. Additionally, increases in penetration peg formation observed in the ΔVdTps2 strain in the presence of H2O2 suggested that VdTps2 suppresses initial colonization. Our results also revealed the role of VdTps2 as a regulator of autophagy. Together, these results indicate that VdTps2 contributes to plant colonization and disease development. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyao Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Steven J Klosterman
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Salinas, U.S.A
| | - Yonglin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Beijing Key Laboratory for Forest Pest Control, College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
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Yu W, Pei R, Zhang Y, Tu Y, He B. Light regulation of secondary metabolism in fungi. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:57. [PMID: 37653453 PMCID: PMC10472637 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00374-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi have evolved unique metabolic regulation mechanisms for adapting to the changing environments. One of the key features of fungal adaptation is the production of secondary metabolites (SMs), which are essential for survival and beneficial to the organism. Many of these SMs are produced in response to the environmental cues, such as light. In all fungal species studied, the Velvet complex transcription factor VeA is a central player of the light regulatory network. In addition to growth and development, the intensity and wavelength of light affects the formation of a broad range of secondary metabolites. Recent studies, mainly on species of the genus Aspergillus, revealed that the dimer of VeA-VelB and LaeA does not only regulate gene expression in response to light, but can also be involved in regulating production of SMs. Furthermore, the complexes have a wide regulatory effect on different types of secondary metabolites. In this review, we discussed the role of light in the regulation of fungal secondary metabolism. In addition, we reviewed the photoreceptors, transcription factors, and signaling pathways that are involved in light-dependent regulation of secondary metabolism. The effects of transcription factors on the production of secondary metabolites, as well as the potential applications of light regulation for the production of pharmaceuticals and other products were discussed. Finally, we provided an overview of the current research in this field and suggested potential areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Yu
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, China
| | - Rongqiang Pei
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yufei Zhang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yayi Tu
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, China.
| | - Bin He
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Bioprocess Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Jiangxi Science & Technology Normal University, Nanchang, 330013, Jiangxi, China.
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Nagel A, Leonard M, Maurus I, Starke J, Schmitt K, Valerius O, Harting R, Braus GH. The Frq-Frh Complex Light-Dependently Delays Sfl1-Induced Microsclerotia Formation in Verticillium dahliae. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:725. [PMID: 37504714 PMCID: PMC10381341 DOI: 10.3390/jof9070725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The vascular plant pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae has to adapt to environmental changes outside and inside its host. V. dahliae harbors homologs of Neurospora crassa clock genes. The molecular functions and interactions of Frequency (Frq) and Frq-interacting RNA helicase (Frh) in controlling conidia or microsclerotia development were investigated in V. dahliae JR2. Fungal mutant strains carrying clock gene deletions, an FRH point mutation, or GFP gene fusions were analyzed on transcript, protein, and phenotypic levels as well as in pathogenicity assays on tomato plants. Our results support that the Frq-Frh complex is formed and that it promotes conidiation, but also that it suppresses and therefore delays V. dahliae microsclerotia formation in response to light. We investigated a possible link between the negative element Frq and positive regulator Suppressor of flocculation 1 (Sfl1) in microsclerotia formation to elucidate the regulatory molecular mechanism. Both Frq and Sfl1 are mainly present during the onset of microsclerotia formation with decreasing protein levels during further development. Induction of microsclerotia formation requires Sfl1 and can be delayed at early time points in the light through the Frq-Frh complex. Gaining further molecular knowledge on V. dahliae development will improve control of fungal growth and Verticillium wilt disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Nagel
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Miriam Leonard
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Isabel Maurus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jessica Starke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schmitt
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Valerius
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rebekka Harting
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard H Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany
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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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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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9
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Li K, Wang Y, Ge T, Larkin RP, Smart A, Johnson SB, Hao J. Risk Evaluation of Benzovindiflupyr Resistance of Verticillium dahliae Population in Maine. PLANT DISEASE 2023; 107:834-839. [PMID: 35997670 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-06-22-1384-re] [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
Verticillium dahliae causes Verticillium wilt, resulting in significant losses to potato production. Benzovindiflupyr, a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor, effectively controls V. dahliae. However, frequent applications of the chemical may expedite the development of fungicide resistance in the pathogen population. To evaluate the risk of benzovindiflupyr resistance, 38 V. dahliae strains were obtained from diseased potatoes in Maine. The sensitivity of the field population was determined based on effective concentration for 50% inhibition (EC50), which ranged from 0.07 to 11.28 μg ml-1 with a median of 1.08. Segregated clusters of EC50 values indicated that Maine V. dahliae populations have developed benzovindiflupyr resistance. By exposing conidia of V. dahliae to a high concentration of benzovindiflupyr, 18 benzovindiflupyr-resistant mutants were obtained. To examine their fitness, the mutants were continuously subculture-transferred for up to 10 generations. Mycelial growth, conidial production, competitiveness, pathogenicity, and cross resistance of the 10th generation mutants were examined. Results showed that 50% of the resistant mutants retained an adaptive level in mycelial growth, and 60% maintained conidial production similar to their parents. Pathogenicity did not change for any of the mutants. No cross resistance was detected between benzovindiflupyr and either azoxystrobin, boscalid, fluopyram, or pyrimethanil. Thus, the resistance risk in V. dahliae to benzovindiflupyr should be considered in Maine potato production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kedi Li
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, U.S.A
| | - Yan Wang
- College of Plant Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Tongling Ge
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, U.S.A
| | - Robert P Larkin
- USDA-ARS, New England Plant, Soil, and Water Laboratory, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, U.S.A
| | - Alicyn Smart
- Cooperative Extension, University of Maine, Bangor, ME 04401, U.S.A
| | - Steven B Johnson
- Cooperative Extension, University of Maine, Presque Isle, ME 04769, U.S.A
| | - Jianjun Hao
- School of Food and Agriculture, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, U.S.A
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10
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Maurus I, Harting R, Herrfurth C, Starke J, Nagel A, Mohnike L, Chen YY, Schmitt K, Bastakis E, Süß MT, Leonard M, Heimel K, Valerius O, Feussner I, Kronstad JW, Braus GH. Verticillium dahliae Vta3 promotes ELV1 virulence factor gene expression in xylem sap, but tames Mtf1-mediated late stages of fungus-plant interactions and microsclerotia formation. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011100. [PMID: 36716333 PMCID: PMC9910802 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Verticillium transcription activator of adhesion 3 (Vta3) is required for plant root colonization and pathogenicity of the soil-borne vascular fungus Verticillium dahliae. RNA sequencing identified Vta3-dependent genetic networks required for growth in tomato xylem sap. Vta3 affects the expression of more than 1,000 transcripts, including candidates with predicted functions in virulence and morphogenesis such as Egh16-like virulence factor 1 (Elv1) and Master transcription factor 1 (Mtf1). The genes encoding Elv1 and Mtf1 were deleted and their functions in V. dahliae growth and virulence on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants were investigated using genetics, plant infection experiments, gene expression studies and phytohormone analyses. Vta3 contributes to virulence by promoting ELV1 expression, which is dispensable for vegetative growth and conidiation. Vta3 decreases disease symptoms mediated by Mtf1 in advanced stages of tomato plant colonization, while Mtf1 induces the expression of fungal effector genes and tomato pathogenesis-related protein genes. The levels of pipecolic and salicylic acids functioning in tomato defense signaling against (hemi-) biotrophic pathogens depend on the presence of MTF1, which promotes the formation of resting structures at the end of the infection cycle. In summary, the presence of VTA3 alters gene expression of virulence factors and tames the Mtf1 genetic subnetwork for late stages of plant disease progression and subsequent survival of the fungus in the soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Maurus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Rebekka Harting
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Cornelia Herrfurth
- Department of Plant Biochemistry and Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jessica Starke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Alexandra Nagel
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Lennart Mohnike
- Department of Plant Biochemistry and Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ying-Yu Chen
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schmitt
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Emmanouil Bastakis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Marian T. Süß
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Miriam Leonard
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Kai Heimel
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Valerius
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Department of Plant Biochemistry and Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - James W. Kronstad
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Gerhard H. Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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11
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Zhu Y, Zhao M, Li T, Wang L, Liao C, Liu D, Zhang H, Zhao Y, Liu L, Ge X, Li B. Interactions between Verticillium dahliae and cotton: pathogenic mechanism and cotton resistance mechanism to Verticillium wilt. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1174281. [PMID: 37152175 PMCID: PMC10161258 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1174281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Cotton is widely grown in many countries around the world due to the huge economic value of the total natural fiber. Verticillium wilt, caused by the soil-borne pathogen Verticillium dahliae, is the most devastating disease that led to extensive yield losses and fiber quality reduction in cotton crops. Developing resistant cotton varieties through genetic engineering is an effective, economical, and durable strategy to control Verticillium wilt. However, there are few resistance gene resources in the currently planted cotton varieties, which has brought great challenges and difficulties for breeding through genetic engineering. Further revealing the molecular mechanism between V. dahliae and cotton interaction is crucial to discovering genes related to disease resistance. In this review, we elaborated on the pathogenic mechanism of V. dahliae and the resistance mechanism of cotton to Verticillium wilt. V. dahliae has evolved complex mechanisms to achieve pathogenicity in cotton, mainly including five aspects: (1) germination and growth of microsclerotia; (2) infection and successful colonization; (3) adaptation to the nutrient-deficient environment and competition of nutrients; (4) suppression and manipulation of cotton immune responses; (5) rapid reproduction and secretion of toxins. Cotton has evolved multiple physiological and biochemical responses to cope with V. dahliae infection, including modification of tissue structures, accumulation of antifungal substances, homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS), induction of Ca2+ signaling, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, hormone signaling, and PAMPs/effectors-triggered immune response (PTI/ETI). This review will provide an important reference for the breeding of new cotton germplasm resistant to Verticillium wilt through genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutao Zhu
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, China
- *Correspondence: Yutao Zhu, ; Bingbing Li,
| | - Mei Zhao
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, China
| | - Taotao Li
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, China
| | - Lianzhe Wang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, China
| | - Chunli Liao
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, China
| | - Dongxiao Liu
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, China
| | - Huamin Zhang
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, China
| | - Yanpeng Zhao
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lisen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Xiaoyang Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China
| | - Bingbing Li
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Henan University of Urban Construction, Pingdingshan, China
- *Correspondence: Yutao Zhu, ; Bingbing Li,
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12
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Tomato Xylem Sap Hydrophobins Vdh4 and Vdh5 Are Important for Late Stages of Verticillium dahliae Plant Infection. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8121252. [PMID: 36547586 PMCID: PMC9783231 DOI: 10.3390/jof8121252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Verticillium dahliae causes economic losses to a wide range of crops as a vascular fungal pathogen. This filamentous ascomycete spends long periods of its life cycle in the plant xylem, a unique environment that requires adaptive processes. Specifically, fungal proteins produced in the xylem sap of the plant host may play important roles in colonizing the plant vasculature and in inducing disease symptoms. RNA sequencing revealed over 1500 fungal transcripts that are significantly more abundant in cells grown in tomato xylem sap compared with pectin-rich medium. Of the 85 genes that are strongly induced in the xylem sap, four genes encode the hydrophobins Vdh1, Vdh2, Vdh4 and Vdh5. Vdh4 and Vhd5 are structurally distinct from each other and from the three other hydrophobins (Vdh1-3) annotated in V. dahliae JR2. Their functions in the life cycle and virulence of V. dahliae were explored using genetics, cell biology and plant infection experiments. Our data revealed that Vdh4 and Vdh5 are dispensable for V. dahliae development and stress response, while both contribute to full disease development in tomato plants by acting at later colonization stages. We conclude that Vdh4 and Vdh5 are functionally specialized fungal hydrophobins that support pathogenicity against plants.
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13
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Kong WL, Ni H, Wang WY, Wu XQ. Antifungal effects of volatile organic compounds produced by Trichoderma koningiopsis T2 against Verticillium dahliae. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1013468. [PMID: 36212874 PMCID: PMC9533717 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1013468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by microorganisms are considered promising environmental-safety fumigants for controlling soil-borne diseases. Verticillium dahliae, a notorious fungal pathogen, causes economically important wilt diseases in agriculture and forestry industries. Here, we determined the antifungal activity of VOCs produced by Trichoderma koningiopsis T2. The VOCs from T. koningiopsis T2 were trapped by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and tentatively identified through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The microsclerotia formation, cell wall-degrading enzymes and melanin synthesis of V. dahliae exposed to the VOC mixtures and selected single standards were examined. The results showed that the VOCs produced by strain T2 significantly inhibited the growth of V. dahliae mycelium and reduced the severity of Verticillium wilt in tobacco and cotton. Six individual compounds were identified in the volatilome of T. koningiopsis T2, and the dominant compounds were 3-octanone, 3-methyl-1-butanol, butanoic acid ethyl ester and 2-hexyl-furan. The VOCs of strain T2 exert a significant inhibitory effect on microsclerotia formation and decreased the activities of pectin lyase and endo-β-1,4-glucanase in V. dahliae. VOCs also downregulated the VdT3HR, VdT4HR, and VdSCD genes related to melanin synthesis by 29. 41-, 10. 49-, and 3.11-fold, respectively. Therefore, T. koningiopsis T2 has potential as a promising biofumigant for the biocontrol of Verticillium wilt disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Liang Kong
- Co-innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Prevention and Management of Invasive Species, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hang Ni
- Co-innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Prevention and Management of Invasive Species, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei-Yu Wang
- Co-innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Prevention and Management of Invasive Species, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Qin Wu
- Co-innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Prevention and Management of Invasive Species, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiao-Qin Wu,
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14
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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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15
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Adhesion as a Focus in Trichoderma–Root Interactions. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8040372. [PMID: 35448603 PMCID: PMC9026816 DOI: 10.3390/jof8040372] [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: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal spores, germlings, and mycelia adhere to substrates, including host tissues. The adhesive forces depend on the substrate and on the adhesins, the fungal cell surface proteins. Attachment is often a prerequisite for the invasion of the host, hence its importance. Adhesion visibly precedes colonization of root surfaces and outer cortex layers, but little is known about the molecular details. We propose that by starting from what is already known from other fungi, including yeast and other filamentous pathogens and symbionts, the mechanism and function of Trichoderma adhesion will become accessible. There is a sequence, and perhaps functional, homology to other rhizosphere-competent Sordariomycetes. Specifically, Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne pathogen that establishes itself in the xylem and causes destructive wilt disease. Metarhizium species are best-known as insect pathogens with biocontrol potential, but they also colonize roots. Verticillium orthologs of the yeast Flo8 transcription factor, Som1, and several other relevant genes are already under study for their roles in adhesion. Metarhizium encodes relevant adhesins. Trichoderma virens encodes homologs of Som1, as well as adhesin candidates. These genes should provide exciting leads toward the first step in the establishment of beneficial interactions with roots in the rhizosphere.
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16
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Secreted Secondary Metabolites Reduce Bacterial Wilt Severity of Tomato in Bacterial-Fungal Co-Infections. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9102123. [PMID: 34683444 PMCID: PMC8537627 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of plant disease in natural and agricultural ecosystems, it is essential to examine plant disease in multi-pathogen-host systems. Ralstonia solanacearum and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici are vascular wilt pathogens that can result in heavy yield losses in susceptible hosts such as tomato. Although both pathogens occupy the xylem, the costs of mixed infections on wilt disease are unknown. Here, we characterize the consequences of co-infection with R. solanacearum and F. oxysporum using tomato as the model host. Our results demonstrate that bacterial wilt severity is reduced in co-infections, that bikaverin synthesis by Fusarium contributes to bacterial wilt reduction, and that the arrival time of each microbe at the infection court is important in driving the severity of wilt disease. Further, analysis of the co-infection root secretome identified previously uncharacterized secreted metabolites that reduce R. solanacearum growth in vitro and provide protection to tomato seedlings against bacterial wilt disease. Taken together, these results highlight the need to understand the consequences of mixed infections in plant disease.
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17
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Harting R, Nagel A, Nesemann K, Höfer AM, Bastakis E, Kusch H, Stanley CE, Stöckli M, Kaever A, Hoff KJ, Stanke M, deMello AJ, Künzler M, Haney CH, Braus-Stromeyer SA, Braus GH. Pseudomonas Strains Induce Transcriptional and Morphological Changes and Reduce Root Colonization of Verticillium spp. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:652468. [PMID: 34108946 PMCID: PMC8180853 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.652468] [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: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytopathogenic Verticillia cause Verticillium wilt on numerous economically important crops. Plant infection begins at the roots, where the fungus is confronted with rhizosphere inhabiting bacteria. The effects of different fluorescent pseudomonads, including some known biocontrol agents of other plant pathogens, on fungal growth of the haploid Verticillium dahliae and/or the amphidiploid Verticillium longisporum were compared on pectin-rich medium, in microfluidic interaction channels, allowing visualization of single hyphae, or on Arabidopsis thaliana roots. We found that the potential for formation of bacterial lipopeptide syringomycin resulted in stronger growth reduction effects on saprophytic Aspergillus nidulans compared to Verticillium spp. A more detailed analyses on bacterial-fungal co-cultivation in narrow interaction channels of microfluidic devices revealed that the strongest inhibitory potential was found for Pseudomonas protegens CHA0, with its inhibitory potential depending on the presence of the GacS/GacA system controlling several bacterial metabolites. Hyphal tip polarity was altered when V. longisporum was confronted with pseudomonads in narrow interaction channels, resulting in a curly morphology instead of straight hyphal tip growth. These results support the hypothesis that the fungus attempts to evade the bacterial confrontation. Alterations due to co-cultivation with bacteria could not only be observed in fungal morphology but also in fungal transcriptome. P. protegens CHA0 alters transcriptional profiles of V. longisporum during 2 h liquid media co-cultivation in pectin-rich medium. Genes required for degradation of and growth on the carbon source pectin were down-regulated, whereas transcripts involved in redox processes were up-regulated. Thus, the secondary metabolite mediated effect of Pseudomonas isolates on Verticillium species results in a complex transcriptional response, leading to decreased growth with precautions for self-protection combined with the initiation of a change in fungal growth direction. This interplay of bacterial effects on the pathogen can be beneficial to protect plants from infection, as shown with A. thaliana root experiments. Treatment of the roots with bacteria prior to infection with V. dahliae resulted in a significant reduction of fungal root colonization. Taken together we demonstrate how pseudomonads interfere with the growth of Verticillium spp. and show that these bacteria could serve in plant protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekka Harting
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexandra Nagel
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kai Nesemann
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Annalena M Höfer
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Emmanouil Bastakis
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Harald Kusch
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Medical Informatics, University Medical Center, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claire E Stanley
- Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Alexander Kaever
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katharina J Hoff
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Mario Stanke
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, Universität Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andrew J deMello
- Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus Künzler
- Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cara H Haney
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Susanna A Braus-Stromeyer
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard H Braus
- Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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18
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Starke J, Harting R, Maurus I, Leonard M, Bremenkamp R, Heimel K, Kronstad JW, Braus GH. Unfolded Protein Response and Scaffold Independent Pheromone MAP Kinase Signaling Control Verticillium dahliae Growth, Development, and Plant Pathogenesis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7040305. [PMID: 33921172 PMCID: PMC8071499 DOI: 10.3390/jof7040305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Differentiation, growth, and virulence of the vascular plant pathogen Verticillium dahliae depend on a network of interconnected cellular signaling cascades. The transcription factor Hac1 of the endoplasmic reticulum-associated unfolded protein response (UPR) is required for initial root colonization, fungal growth, and vascular propagation by conidiation. Hac1 is essential for the formation of microsclerotia as long-time survival resting structures in the field. Single endoplasmic reticulum-associated enzymes for linoleic acid production as precursors for oxylipin signal molecules support fungal growth but not pathogenicity. Microsclerotia development, growth, and virulence further require the pheromone response mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, but without the Ham5 scaffold function. The MAPK phosphatase Rok1 limits resting structure development of V.dahliae, but promotes growth, conidiation, and virulence. The interplay between UPR and MAPK signaling cascades includes several potential targets for fungal growth control for supporting disease management of the vascular pathogen V.dahliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Starke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; (J.S.); (R.H.); (I.M.); (M.L.); (R.B.); (K.H.)
| | - Rebekka Harting
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; (J.S.); (R.H.); (I.M.); (M.L.); (R.B.); (K.H.)
| | - Isabel Maurus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; (J.S.); (R.H.); (I.M.); (M.L.); (R.B.); (K.H.)
| | - Miriam Leonard
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; (J.S.); (R.H.); (I.M.); (M.L.); (R.B.); (K.H.)
| | - Rica Bremenkamp
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; (J.S.); (R.H.); (I.M.); (M.L.); (R.B.); (K.H.)
| | - Kai Heimel
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; (J.S.); (R.H.); (I.M.); (M.L.); (R.B.); (K.H.)
| | - James W. Kronstad
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada;
| | - Gerhard H. Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; (J.S.); (R.H.); (I.M.); (M.L.); (R.B.); (K.H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)551-39-33771
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