1
|
Ferraz P, Brandão RL, Cássio F, Lucas C. Moniliophthora perniciosa, the Causal Agent of Cacao Witches' Broom Disease Is Killed in vitro by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Wickerhamomyces anomalus Yeasts. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:706675. [PMID: 34630345 PMCID: PMC8493218 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.706675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cacao plantations from South America have been afflicted with the severe fungal disease known as Witches’ Broom Disease (WBD), caused by the basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa. Yeasts are increasingly recognized as good fungal biocides, although their application is still mostly restricted to the postharvest control of plant and fruit decay. Their possible utilization in the field, in a preharvest phase, is nevertheless promising, particularly if the strains are locally adapted and evolved and if they belong to species considered safe for man and the environment. In this work, a group of yeast strains originating from sugarcane-based fermentative processes in Brazil, the cacao-producing country where the disease is most severe, were tested for their ability to antagonize M. perniciosa in vitro. Wickerhamomyces anomalus LBCM1105 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains LBCM1112 from spontaneous fermentations used to produce cachaça, and PE2 widely used in Brazil in the industrial production of bioethanol, efficiently antagonized six strains of M. perniciosa, originating from several South American countries. The two fastest growing fungal strains, both originating from Brazil, were further used to assess the mechanisms underlying the yeasts’ antagonism. Yeasts were able to inhibit fungal growth and kill the fungus at three different temperatures, under starvation, at different culture stages, or using an inoculum from old yeast cultures. Moreover, SEM analysis revealed that W. anomalus and S. cerevisiae PE2 cluster and adhere to the hyphae, push their surface, and fuse to them, ultimately draining the cells. This behavior concurs with that classified as necrotrophic parasitism/mycoparasitism. In particular, W. anomalus within the adhered clusters appear to be ligated to each other through roundish groups of fimbriae-like structures filled with bundles of microtubule-sized formations, which appear to close after cells detach, leaving a scar. SEM also revealed the formation of tube-like structures apparently connecting yeast to hypha. This evidence suggests W. anomalus cells form a network of yeast cells connecting with each other and with hyphae, supporting a possible cooperative collective killing and feeding strategy. The present results provide an initial step toward the formulation of a new eco-friendly and effective alternative for controlling cacao WBD using live yeast biocides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Ferraz
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.,Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Rogelio Lopes Brandão
- Nucleus of Research in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.,Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cândida Lucas
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability (IB-S), University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal.,Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), Department of Biology, University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ferraz P, Cássio F, Lucas C. Potential of Yeasts as Biocontrol Agents of the Phytopathogen Causing Cacao Witches' Broom Disease: Is Microbial Warfare a Solution? Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1766. [PMID: 31417539 PMCID: PMC6685038 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens are responsible for major crop losses worldwide, with a significant socio-economic impact on the life of millions of people who depend on agriculture-exclusive economy. This is the case of the Witches’ Broom Disease (WBD) affecting cacao plant and fruit in South and Central America. The severity and extent of this disease is prospected to impact the growing global chocolate market in a few decades. WBD is caused by the basidiomycete fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa. The methods used to contain the fungus mainly rely on chemical fungicides, such as copper-based compounds or azoles. Not only are these highly ineffective, but also their utilization is increasingly restricted by the cacao industry, in part because it promotes fungal resistance, in part related to consumers’ health concerns and environmental awareness. Therefore, the disease is being currently tentatively controlled through phytosanitary pruning, although the full removal of infected plant material is impossible and the fungus maintains persistent inoculum in the soil, or using an endophytic fungal parasite of Moniliophthora perniciosa which production is not sustainable. The growth of Moniliophthora perniciosa was reported as being antagonized in vitro by some yeasts, which suggests that they could be used as biological control agents, suppressing the fungus multiplication and containing its spread. Concurrently, some yeast-based products are used in the protection of fruits from postharvest fungal spoilage, and the extension of diverse food products shelf-life. These successful applications suggest that yeasts can be regarded a serious alternative also in the pre-harvest management of WBD and other fungal plant diseases. Yeasts’ GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) nature adds to their appropriateness for field application, not raising major ecological concerns as do the present more aggressive approaches. Importantly, mitigating WBD, in a sustainable manner, would predictably have a high socioeconomic impact, contributing to diminish poverty in the cacao-producing rural communities severely affected by the disease. This review discusses the importance/advantages and the challenges that such a strategy would have for WBD containment, and presents the available information on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying fungi antagonism by yeasts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Ferraz
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Fernanda Cássio
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Cândida Lucas
- Institute of Science and Innovation for Bio-Sustainability, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Brejová B, Lichancová H, Brázdovič F, Hegedűsová E, Forgáčová Jakúbková M, Hodorová V, Džugasová V, Baláž A, Zeiselová L, Cillingová A, Neboháčová M, Raclavský V, Tomáška Ľ, Lang BF, Vinař T, Nosek J. Genome sequence of the opportunistic human pathogen Magnusiomyces capitatus. Curr Genet 2018; 65:539-560. [PMID: 30456648 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-018-0904-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The yeast Magnusiomyces capitatus is an opportunistic human pathogen causing rare yet severe infections, especially in patients with hematological malignancies. Here, we report the 20.2 megabase genome sequence of an environmental strain of this species as well as the genome sequences of eight additional isolates from human and animal sources providing an insight into intraspecies variation. The distribution of single-nucleotide variants is indicative of genetic recombination events, supporting evidence for sexual reproduction in this heterothallic yeast. Using RNAseq-aided annotation, we identified genes for 6518 proteins including several expanded families such as kexin proteases and Hsp70 molecular chaperones. Several of these families are potentially associated with the ability of M. capitatus to infect and colonize humans. For the purpose of comparative analysis, we also determined the genome sequence of a closely related yeast, Magnusiomyces ingens. The genome sequences of M. capitatus and M. ingens exhibit many distinct features and represent a basis for further comparative and functional studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bronislava Brejová
- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Hana Lichancová
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Filip Brázdovič
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Eva Hegedűsová
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | | | - Viktória Hodorová
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Vladimíra Džugasová
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Andrej Baláž
- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Zeiselová
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Andrea Cillingová
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Martina Neboháčová
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Vladislav Raclavský
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Ľubomír Tomáška
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - B Franz Lang
- Robert Cedergren Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Tomáš Vinař
- Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jozef Nosek
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bajaj BK, Sharma S. Construction of killer industrial yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae hau-1 and its fermentation performance. Braz J Microbiol 2010; 41:477-85. [PMID: 24031519 PMCID: PMC3768693 DOI: 10.1590/s1517-838220100002000030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2008] [Revised: 04/10/2009] [Accepted: 11/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Saccharomyces cerevisiae HAU-1, a time tested industrial yeast possesses most of the desirable fermentation characteristics like fast growth and fermentation rate, osmotolerance, high ethanol tolerance, ability to ferment molasses, and to ferment at elevated temperatures etc. However, this yeast was found to be sensitive against the killer strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the present study, killer trait was introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae HAU-1 by protoplast fusion with Saccharomyces cerevisiae MTCC 475, a killer strain. The resultant fusants were characterized for desirable fermentation characteristics. All the technologically important characteristics of distillery yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae HAU-1 were retained in the fusants, and in addition the killer trait was also introduced into them. Further, the killer activity was found to be stably maintained during hostile conditions of ethanol fermentations in dextrose or molasses, and even during biomass recycling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bijender K Bajaj
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Jammu , Jammu-186 001 , India
| | | |
Collapse
|