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Wen T, Ting C, Qing-Yan L, Bosen Z, Hui-Shan G, Jian-Hua Z. Advances in the mechanisms and applications of RNA silencing in crop protection. Yi Chuan 2024; 46:266-278. [PMID: 38632090 DOI: 10.16288/j.yczz.23-322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
RNA silencing (or RNA interference, RNAi) is a conserved mechanism for regulating gene expression in eukaryotes, which plays vital roles in plant development and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. The discovery of trans-kingdom RNAi and interspecies RNAi provides a theoretical basis for exploiting RNAi-based crop protection strategies. Here, we summarize the canonical RNAi mechanisms in plants and review representative studies associated with plant-pathogen interactions. Meanwhile, we also elaborate upon the principles of host-induced gene silencing, spray-induced gene silencing and microbe-induced gene silencing, and discuss their applications in crop protection, thereby providing help to establish novel RNAi-based crop protection strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chen Ting
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Liu Qing-Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhang Bosen
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Guo Hui-Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhao Jian-Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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2
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Yu X, Lin X, Zhou T, Cao L, Hu K, Li F, Qu S. Host-induced gene silencing in wild apple germplasm Malus hupehensis confers resistance to the fungal pathogen Botryosphaeria dothidea. Plant J 2024. [PMID: 38430515 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/04/2024]
Abstract
Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) is an inherent mechanism of plant resistance to fungal pathogens, resulting from cross-kingdom RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by small RNAs (sRNAs) delivered from plants into invading fungi. Introducing artificial sRNA precursors into crops can trigger HIGS of selected fungal genes, and thus has potential applications in agricultural disease control. To investigate the HIGS of apple (Malus sp.) during the interaction with Botryosphaeria dothidea, the pathogenic fungus causing apple ring rot disease, we evaluated whether apple miRNAs can be transported into and target genes in B. dothidea. Indeed, miR159a from Malus hupehensis, a wild apple germplasm with B. dothidea resistance, silenced the fungal sugar transporter gene BdSTP. The accumulation of miR159a in extracellular vesicles (EVs) of both infected M. hupehensis and invading B. dothidea suggests that this miRNA of the host is transported into the fungus via the EV pathway. Knockout of BdSTP caused defects in fungal growth and proliferation, whereas knockin of a miR159a-insensitive version of BdSTP resulted in increased pathogenicity. Inhibition of miR159a in M. hupehensis substantially enhanced plant sensitivity to B. dothidea, indicating miR159a-mediated HIGS against BdSTP being integral to apple immunity. Introducing artificial sRNA precursors targeting BdSTP and BdALS, an acetolactate synthase gene, into M. hupehensis revealed that double-stranded RNAs were more potent than engineered MIRNAs in triggering HIGS alternative to those natural of apple and inhibiting infection. These results provide preliminary evidence for cross-kingdom RNAi in the apple-B. dothidea interaction and establish HIGS as a potential disease control strategy in apple.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Yu
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Xinxin Lin
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Tingting Zhou
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Lifang Cao
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Kaixu Hu
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Fangzhu Li
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, P.R. China
| | - Shenchun Qu
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, P.R. China
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Dallaire A. A conserved osmoregulation mechanism wired for mutual benefit. New Phytol 2023; 240:1337-1339. [PMID: 37551030 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
This article is a Commentary on Fan et al. (2023), 240: 1497–1518.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Dallaire
- Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, TW9 3DS, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
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Hao G, Naumann TA, Chen H, Bai G, McCormick S, Kim HS, Tian B, Trick HN, Naldrett MJ, Proctor R. Fusarium graminearum Effector FgNls1 Targets Plant Nuclei to Induce Wheat Head Blight. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 2023; 36:478-488. [PMID: 36853197 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-12-22-0254-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat and barley worldwide. Effectors suppress host immunity and promote disease development. The genome of F. graminearum contains hundreds of effectors with unknown function. Therefore, investigations of the functions of these effectors will facilitate developing novel strategies to enhance wheat resistance to FHB. We characterized a F. graminearum effector, FgNls1, containing a signal peptide and multiple eukaryotic nuclear localization signals. A fusion protein of green fluorescent protein and FgNls1 accumulated in plant cell nuclei when transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana. FgNls1 suppressed Bax-induced cell death when co-expressed in N. benthamiana. We revealed that the expression of FgNLS1 was induced in wheat spikes infected with F. graminearum. The Fgnls1 mutants significantly reduced initial infection and FHB spread within a spike. The function of FgNLS1 was restored in the Fgnls1-complemented strains. Wheat histone 2B was identified as an interacting protein by FgNls1-affinity chromatography. Furthermore, transgenic wheat plants that silence FgNLS1 expression had significantly lower FHB severity than control plants. This study demonstrates a critical role of FgNls1 in F. graminearum pathogenesis and indicates that host-induced gene silencing targeting F. graminearum effectors is a promising approach to enhance FHB resistance. [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)
- Guixia Hao
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, 1815 N. University, Peoria, IL 61604, U.S.A
| | - Todd A Naumann
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, 1815 N. University, Peoria, IL 61604, U.S.A
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, U.S.A
| | - Guihua Bai
- Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, U.S.A
- USDA-ARS, Hard Winter Wheat Genetics Research Unit, Manhattan, KS 66506, U.S.A
| | - Susan McCormick
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, 1815 N. University, Peoria, IL 61604, U.S.A
| | - Hye-Seon Kim
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, 1815 N. University, Peoria, IL 61604, U.S.A
| | - Bin Tian
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, U.S.A
| | - Harold N Trick
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, U.S.A
| | - Michael J Naldrett
- Nebraska Center for Biotechnology, Beadle Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, U.S.A
| | - Robert Proctor
- USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research Unit, 1815 N. University, Peoria, IL 61604, U.S.A
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5
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Xu Y, Qiu Y, Zhang Y, Li X. A cAMP phosphodiesterase is essential for sclerotia formation and virulence in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1175552. [PMID: 37324679 PMCID: PMC10264682 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1175552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a plant pathogenic fungus that causes white mold or stem rot diseases. It affects mostly dicotyledonous crops, resulting in significant economic losses worldwide. Sclerotia formation is a special feature of S. sclerotiorum, allowing its survival in soil for extended periods and facilitates the spread of the pathogen. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of how sclerotia are formed and how virulence is achieved in S. sclerotiorum are not fully understood. Here, we report the identification of a mutant that cannot form sclerotia using a forward genetics approach. Next-generation sequencing of the mutant's whole genome revealed candidate genes. Through knockout experiments, the causal gene was found to encode a cAMP phosphodiesterase (SsPDE2). From mutant phenotypic examinations, we found that SsPDE2 plays essential roles not only in sclerotia formation, but also in the regulation of oxalic acid accumulation, infection cushion functionality and virulence. Downregulation of SsSMK1 transcripts in Sspde2 mutants revealed that these morphological defects are likely caused by cAMP-dependent inhibition of MAPK signaling. Moreover, when we introduced HIGS construct targeting SsPDE2 in Nicotiana benthamiana, largely compromised virulence was observed against S. sclerotiorum. Taken together, SsPDE2 is indispensable for key biological processes of S. sclerotiorum and can potentially serve as a HIGS target to control stem rot in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Yilan Qiu
- Department of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuelin Zhang
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Xin Li
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Prasad K, Yogendra K, Sanivarapu H, Rajasekaran K, Cary JW, Sharma KK, Bhatnagar-Mathur P. Multiplexed Host-Induced Gene Silencing of Aspergillus flavus Genes Confers Aflatoxin Resistance in Groundnut. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15050319. [PMID: 37235354 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15050319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Aflatoxins are immunosuppressive and carcinogenic secondary metabolites, produced by the filamentous ascomycete Aspergillus flavus, that are hazardous to animal and human health. In this study, we show that multiplexed host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) of Aspergillus flavus genes essential for fungal sporulation and aflatoxin production (nsdC, veA, aflR, and aflM) confers enhanced resistance to Aspergillus infection and aflatoxin contamination in groundnut (<20 ppb). Comparative proteomic analysis of contrasting groundnut genotypes (WT and near-isogenic HIGS lines) supported a better understanding of the molecular processes underlying the induced resistance and identified several groundnut metabolites that might play a significant role in resistance to Aspergillus infection and aflatoxin contamination. Fungal differentiation and pathogenicity proteins, including calmodulin, transcriptional activator-HacA, kynurenine 3-monooxygenase 2, VeA, VelC, and several aflatoxin pathway biosynthetic enzymes, were downregulated in Aspergillus infecting the HIGS lines. Additionally, in the resistant HIGS lines, a number of host resistance proteins associated with fatty acid metabolism were strongly induced, including phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase, lysophosphatidic acyltransferase-5, palmitoyl-monogalactosyldiacylglycerol Δ-7 desaturase, ceramide kinase-related protein, sphingolipid Δ-8 desaturase, and phospholipase-D. Combined, this knowledge can be used for groundnut pre-breeding and breeding programs to provide a safe and secure food supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyani Prasad
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad 502324, India
| | - Kalenahalli Yogendra
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad 502324, India
| | - Hemalatha Sanivarapu
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad 502324, India
| | - Kanniah Rajasekaran
- Southern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA/ARS), New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
| | - Jeffrey W Cary
- Southern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA/ARS), New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
| | - Kiran K Sharma
- Sustainable Agriculture Program, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), India Habitat Center, New Delhi 110003, India
| | - Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur
- International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), El Batán, Texcoco 56237, Mexico
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Wang S, Xie X, Che X, Lai W, Ren Y, Fan X, Hu W, Tang M, Chen H. Host- and virus-induced gene silencing of HOG1-MAPK cascade genes in Rhizophagus irregularis inhibit arbuscule development and reduce resistance of plants to drought stress. Plant Biotechnol J 2023; 21:866-883. [PMID: 36609693 PMCID: PMC10037146 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can form beneficial associations with the most terrestrial vascular plant species. AM fungi not only facilitate plant nutrient acquisition but also enhance plant tolerance to various environmental stresses such as drought stress. However, the molecular mechanisms by which AM fungal mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades mediate the host adaptation to drought stimulus remains to be investigated. Recently, many studies have shown that virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) and host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) strategies are used for functional studies of AM fungi. Here, we identify the three HOG1 (High Osmolarity Glycerol 1)-MAPK cascade genes RiSte11, RiPbs2 and RiHog1 from Rhizophagus irregularis. The expression levels of the three HOG1-MAPK genes are significantly increased in mycorrhizal roots of the plant Astragalus sinicus under severe drought stress. RiHog1 protein was predominantly localized in the nucleus of yeast in response to 1 M sorbitol treatment, and RiPbs2 interacts with RiSte11 or RiHog1 directly by pull-down assay. Importantly, VIGS or HIGS of RiSte11, RiPbs2 or RiHog1 hampers arbuscule development and decreases relative water content in plants during AM symbiosis. Moreover, silencing of HOG1-MAPK cascade genes led to the decreased expression of drought-resistant genes (RiAQPs, RiTPSs, RiNTH1 and Ri14-3-3) in the AM fungal symbiont in response to drought stress. Taken together, this study demonstrates that VIGS or HIGS of AM fungal HOG1-MAPK cascade inhibits arbuscule development and expression of AM fungal drought-resistant genes under drought stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape ArchitectureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xianan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape ArchitectureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xianrong Che
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape ArchitectureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Wenzhen Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape ArchitectureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ying Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape ArchitectureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Xiaoning Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape ArchitectureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Wentao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape ArchitectureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ming Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape ArchitectureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Hui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Key Laboratory for Innovative Development and Utilization of Forest Plant Germplasm, College of Forestry and Landscape ArchitectureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
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Lin L, Fan J, Li P, Liu D, Ren S, Lin K, Fang Y, Lin C, Wang Y, Wu J. The Sclerotinia sclerotiorum-inducible promoter pBnGH17D7 in Brassica napus: isolation, characterization, and application in host-induced gene silencing. J Exp Bot 2022; 73:6663-6677. [PMID: 35927220 PMCID: PMC9629790 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR), caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is among the most devastating diseases in Brassica napus worldwide. Conventional breeding for SSR resistance in Brassica species is challenging due to the limited availability of resistant germplasm. Therefore, genetic engineering is an attractive approach for developing SSR-resistant Brassica crops. Compared with the constitutive promoter, an S. sclerotiorum-inducible promoter would avoid ectopic expression of defense genes that may cause plant growth deficits. In this study, we generated a S. sclerotiorum-inducible promoter. pBnGH17D7, from the promoter of B. napus glycosyl hydrolase 17 gene (pBnGH17). Specifically, 5'-deletion and promoter activity analyses in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants defined a 189 bp region of pBnGH17 which was indispensable for S. sclerotiorum-induced response. Compared with pBnGH17, pBnGH17D7 showed a similar response upon S. sclerotiorum infection, but lower activity in plant tissues in the absence of S. sclerotiorum infection. Moreover, we revealed that the transcription factor BnTGA7 directly binds to the TGACG motif in pBnGH17D7 to activate BnGH17. Ultimately, pBnGH17D7 was exploited for engineering Sclerotinia-resistant B. napus via host-induced gene silencing. It induces high expression of siRNAs against the S. sclerotiorum pathogenic factor gene specifically during infection, leading to increased resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Lin
- Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Jialin Fan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Panpan Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Dongxiao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Sichao Ren
- Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Keyun Lin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yujie Fang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Chen Lin
- Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
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Wang M, Dean RA. Host induced gene silencing of Magnaporthe oryzae by targeting pathogenicity and development genes to control rice blast disease. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:959641. [PMID: 36035704 PMCID: PMC9403838 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.959641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Rice blast disease caused by the hemi-biotrophic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is the most destructive disease of rice world-wide. Traditional disease resistance strategies for the control of rice blast disease have not proved durable. HIGS (host induced gene silencing) is being developed as an alternative strategy. Six genes (CRZ1, PMC1, MAGB, LHS1, CYP51A, CYP51B) that play important roles in pathogenicity and development of M. oryzae were chosen for HIGS. HIGS vectors were transformed into rice calli through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and T0, T1 and T2 generations of transgenic rice plants were generated. Except for PMC1 and LHS1, HIGS transgenic rice plants challenged with M. oryzae showed significantly reduced disease compared with non-silenced control plants. Following infection with M. oryzae of HIGS transgenic plants, expression levels of target genes were reduced as demonstrated by Quantitative RT-PCR. In addition, treating M. oryzae with small RNA derived from the target genes inhibited fungal growth. These findings suggest RNA silencing signals can be transferred from host to an invasive fungus and that HIGS has potential to generate resistant rice against M. oryzae.
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Kong L, Shi X, Chen D, Yang N, Yin C, Yang J, Wang G, Huang W, Peng H, Peng D, Liu S. Host-induced silencing of a nematode chitin synthase gene enhances resistance of soybeans to both pathogenic Heterodera glycines and Fusarium oxysporum. Plant Biotechnol J 2022; 20:809-811. [PMID: 35301818 PMCID: PMC9055809 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lingan Kong
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xue Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Deng Chen
- College of Plant ProtectionChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Nan Yang
- College of Plant ProtectionChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Changfa Yin
- Institute of Plant ProtectionJiangxi Academy of Agricultural SciencesNanchangChina
| | - Jun Yang
- College of Plant ProtectionChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Gaofeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Wenkun Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Huan Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Deliang Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Shiming Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect PestsInstitute of Plant ProtectionChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
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11
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Zhang T, Zhao JH, Fang YY, Guo HS, Jin Y. Exploring the Effectiveness and Durability of Trans-Kingdom Silencing of Fungal Genes in the Vascular Pathogen Verticillium dahliae. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2742. [PMID: 35269884 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) based on trans-kingdom RNA interference (RNAi) has been successfully exploited to engineer host resistance to pests and pathogens, including fungi and oomycetes. However, revealing the mechanisms underlying trans-kingdom RNAi between hosts and pathogens lags behind applications. The effectiveness and durability of trans-kingdom silencing of pathogenic genes are uncharacterized. In this study, using our transgenic 35S-VdH1i cotton plants in which dsVdH1-derived small RNAs (siVdH1) accumulated, small RNA sequencing analysis revealed that siVdH1s exclusively occur within the double-stranded (ds)VdH1 region, and no transitive siRNAs were produced beyond this region in recovered hyphae of Verticillium dahliae (V. dahliae). Accordingly, we found that VdH1 silencing was reduced over time in recovered hyphae cultured in vitro, inferring that once the fungus got rid of the 35S-VdH1i cotton plants would gradually regain their pathogenicity. To explore whether continually exporting dsRNAs/siRNAs from transgenic plants into recipient fungal cells guaranteed the effectiveness and stability of HIGS, we created GFP/RFP double-labeled V. dahliae and transgenic Arabidopsis expressing dsGFP (35S-GFPi plants). Confocal images visually demonstrate the efficient silencing of GFP in V. dahliae that colonized host vascular tissues. Taken together, our results demonstrate that HIGS effectively triggers long-lasting trans-kingdom RNAi during plant vasculature V. dahliae interactions, despite no amplification or transitivity of RNAi being noted in this soil-borne fungal pathogen.
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12
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Jhu MY, Farhi M, Wang L, Zumstein K, Sinha NR. Investigating Host and Parasitic Plant Interaction by Tissue-Specific Gene Analyses on Tomato and Cuscuta campestris Interface at Three Haustorial Developmental Stages. Front Plant Sci 2022; 12:764843. [PMID: 35222447 PMCID: PMC8866705 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.764843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic weeds cause billions of dollars in agricultural losses each year worldwide. Cuscuta campestris (C. campestris), one of the most widespread and destructive parasitic plants in the United States, severely reduces yield in tomato plants. Reducing the spread of parasitic weeds requires understanding the interaction between parasites and hosts. Several studies have identified factors needed for parasitic plant germination and haustorium induction, and genes involved in host defense responses. However, knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the interactions between host and parasitic plants, specifically at the interface between the two organisms, is relatively limited. A detailed investigation of the crosstalk between the host and parasite at the tissue-specific level would enable development of effective parasite control strategies. To focus on the haustorial interface, we used laser-capture microdissection (LCM) with RNA-seq on early, intermediate and mature haustorial stages. In addition, the tomato host tissue that immediately surround the haustoria was collected to obtain tissue- resolution RNA-Seq profiles for C. campestris and tomato at the parasitism interface. After conducting RNA-Seq analysis and constructing gene coexpression networks (GCNs), we identified CcHB7, CcPMEI, and CcERF1 as putative key regulators involved in C. campestris haustorium organogenesis, and three potential regulators, SlPR1, SlCuRe1-like, and SlNLR, in tomatoes that are involved in perceiving signals from the parasite. We used host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) transgenic tomatoes to knock-down the candidate genes in C. campestris and produced CRISPR transgenic tomatoes to knock out candidate genes in tomatoes. The interactions of C. campestris with these transgenic lines were tested and compared with that in wild-type tomatoes. The results of this study reveal the tissue-resolution gene regulatory mechanisms at the parasitic plant-host interface and provide the potential of developing a parasite-resistant system in tomatoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Yao Jhu
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
- Crop Science Centre, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Moran Farhi
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
- The Better Meat Co., West Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kristina Zumstein
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Neelima R. Sinha
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
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13
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Chen X, Pei Z, Liu H, Huang J, Chen X, Luo C, Hsiang T, Zheng L. Host-induced gene silencing of fungal-specific genes of Ustilaginoidea virens confers effective resistance to rice false smut. Plant Biotechnol J 2022; 20:253-255. [PMID: 34850522 PMCID: PMC8753348 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant PathologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Zhangxin Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant PathologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Hao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant PathologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Junbin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant PathologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Xiaolin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant PathologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Chaoxi Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant PathologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Tom Hsiang
- School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of GuelphGuelphCanada
| | - Lu Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology/Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant PathologyHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
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14
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Zhao M, Wang C, Wan J, Li Z, Liu D, Yamamoto N, Zhou E, Shu C. Functional validation of pathogenicity genes in rice sheath blight pathogen Rhizoctonia solani by a novel host-induced gene silencing system. Mol Plant Pathol 2021; 22:1587-1598. [PMID: 34453407 PMCID: PMC8578826 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Rice sheath blight, caused by the soilborne fungus Rhizoctonia solani, causes severe yield losses worldwide. Elucidation of the pathogenic mechanism of R. solani is highly desired. However, the lack of a stable genetic transformation system has made it challenging to examine genes' functions in this fungus. Here, we present functional validation of pathogenicity genes in the rice sheath blight pathogen R. solani by a newly established tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) system using the virulent R. solani AG-1 IA strain GD-118. RNA interference constructs of 33 candidate pathogenicity genes were infiltrated into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves with the TRV-HIGS system. Of these constructs, 29 resulted in a significant reduction in necrosis caused by GD-118 infection. For further validation of one of the positive genes, trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (Rstps2), stable rice transformants harbouring the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) construct for Rstps2 were created. The transformants exhibited reduced gene expression of Rstps2, virulence, and trehalose accumulation in GD-118. We showed that the dsRNA for Rstps2 was taken up by GD-118 mycelia and sclerotial differentiation of GD-118 was inhibited. These findings offer gene identification opportunities for the rice sheath blight pathogen and a theoretical basis for controlling this disease by spray-induced gene silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Zhao
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease ControlDepartment of Plant PathologySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Chenjiaozi Wang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease ControlDepartment of Plant PathologySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Jun Wan
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease ControlDepartment of Plant PathologySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Zanfeng Li
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease ControlDepartment of Plant PathologySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Dilin Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Technology in Rice BreedingGuangzhouChina
| | - Naoki Yamamoto
- College of AgronomySichuan Agricultural UniversityChengduChina
| | - Erxun Zhou
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease ControlDepartment of Plant PathologySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Canwei Shu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease ControlDepartment of Plant PathologySouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
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15
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Li X, Huang R, Liu J, Xu G, Yuan M. Engineering false smut resistance rice via host-induced gene silencing of two chitin synthase genes of Ustilaginoidea virens. Plant Biotechnol J 2021; 19:2386-2388. [PMID: 34558165 PMCID: PMC8633497 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Renyan Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiyun Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guoyong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, Institute for Advanced Sciences, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng Yuan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, National Center of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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16
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Rana K, Ding Y, Banga SS, Liao H, Zhao S, Yu Y, Qian W. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Thioredoxin1 (SsTrx1) is required for pathogenicity and oxidative stress tolerance. Mol Plant Pathol 2021; 22:1413-1426. [PMID: 34459563 PMCID: PMC8518572 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infects host plant tissues by inducing necrosis to source nutrients needed for its establishment. Tissue necrosis results from an enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the site of infection and apoptosis. Pathogens have evolved ROS scavenging mechanisms to withstand host-induced oxidative damage. However, the genes associated with ROS scavenging pathways are yet to be fully investigated in S. sclerotiorum. We selected the S. sclerotiorum Thioredoxin1 gene (SsTrx1) for our investigations as its expression is significantly induced during S. sclerotiorum infection. RNA interference-induced silencing of SsTrx1 in S. sclerotiorum affected the hyphal growth rate, mycelial morphology, and sclerotial development under in vitro conditions. These outcomes confirmed the involvement of SsTrx1 in promoting pathogenicity and oxidative stress tolerance of S. sclerotiorum. We next constructed an SsTrx1-based host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) vector and mobilized it into Arabidopsis thaliana (HIGS-A) and Nicotiana benthamiana (HIGS-N). The disease resistance analysis revealed significantly reduced pathogenicity and disease progression in the transformed genotypes as compared to the nontransformed and empty vector controls. The relative gene expression of SsTrx1 increased under oxidative stress. Taken together, our results show that normal expression of SsTrx1 is crucial for pathogenicity and oxidative stress tolerance of S. sclerotiorum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kusum Rana
- College of Agronomy and BiotechnologySouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland AgricultureMinistry of EducationChongqingChina
| | - Yijuan Ding
- College of Agronomy and BiotechnologySouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland AgricultureMinistry of EducationChongqingChina
| | - Surinder S. Banga
- Department of Plant Breeding and GeneticsPunjab Agricultural UniversityLudhianaIndia
| | - Hongmei Liao
- College of Agronomy and BiotechnologySouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland AgricultureMinistry of EducationChongqingChina
| | - Siqi Zhao
- College of Agronomy and BiotechnologySouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland AgricultureMinistry of EducationChongqingChina
| | - Yang Yu
- College of Plant ProtectionSouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Wei Qian
- College of Agronomy and BiotechnologySouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland AgricultureMinistry of EducationChongqingChina
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17
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Ding Y, Chen Y, Yan B, Liao H, Dong M, Meng X, Wan H, Qian W. Host-Induced Gene Silencing of a Multifunction Gene Sscnd1 Enhances Plant Resistance Against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:693334. [PMID: 34690946 PMCID: PMC8531507 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.693334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating necrotrophic fungal pathogen and has a substantial economic impact on crop production worldwide. Magnaporthe appressoria-specific (MAS) proteins have been suggested to be involved in the appressorium formation in Magnaporthe oryzae. Sscnd1, an MAS homolog gene, is highly induced at the early infection stage of S. sclerotiorum. Knock-down the expression of Sscnd1 gene severely reduced the virulence of S. sclerotiorum on intact rapeseed leaves, and their virulence was partially restored on wounded leaves. The Sscnd1 gene-silenced strains exhibited a defect in compound appressorium formation and cell integrity. The instantaneous silencing of Sscnd1 by tobacco rattle virus (TRV)-mediated host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) resulted in a significant reduction in disease development in tobacco. Three transgenic HIGS Arabidopsis lines displayed high levels of resistance to S. sclerotiorum and decreased Sscnd1 expression. Production of specific Sscnd1 siRNA in transgenic HIGS Arabidopsis lines was confirmed by stem-loop qRT-PCR. This study revealed that the compound appressorium-related gene Sscnd1 is required for cell integrity and full virulence in S. sclerotiorum and that Sclerotinia stem rot can be controlled by expressing the silencing constructs of Sscnd1 in host plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijuan Ding
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Yangui Chen
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Baoqin Yan
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongmei Liao
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Mengquan Dong
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinran Meng
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Huafang Wan
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Qian
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
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18
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Zhang S, Zhu P, Cao B, Ma S, Li R, Wang X, Zhao A. An APSES Transcription Factor Xbp1 Is Required for Sclerotial Development, Appressoria Formation, and Pathogenicity in Ciboria shiraiana. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:739686. [PMID: 34646256 PMCID: PMC8503677 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.739686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sclerotinia diseases are important plant fungal diseases that, causes huge economic worldwide losses every year. Ciboria shiraiana is the main pathogen that results in mulberry sclerotia diseases. Sclerotia and appressoria play important roles in long-term pathogen survival and in host infection during life and disease cycles. However, the molecular mechanisms of sclerotial development and appressoria formation in C. shiraiana have not been well studied. Here, an Asm1p, Phd1p, Sok2p, Efg1p and StuAp (APSES)-type transcription factor in C. shiraiana, CsXbp1, involved in sclerotial development and appressoria formation was functionally characterized. Bioinformatics analyses showed that CsXbp1 contained an APSES-type DNA binding domain. The expression levels of CsXbp1 were higher in sclerotia and during later stages of infection. Compared with wild-type strains, hyphal growth was slower, the number and weight of sclerotia were reduced significantly, and appressoria formation was obviously delayed in CsXbp1 RNA interference (RNAi) strains. Moreover, the CsXbp1 RNAi strains showed weakened pathogenicity owing to compound appressoria defects. Tobacco rattle virus-mediated host-induced gene silencing enabled Nicotiana benthamiana to increase its resistance to C. shiraiana by reducing the CsXbp1 transcripts level. Thus, CsXbp1 plays vital roles in sclerotial formation, appressoria formation, and pathogenicity in C. shiraiana. This study provides new insights into the infection mechanisms of C. shiraiana and plant resistance breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Panpan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Boning Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,College of Life Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, China
| | - Shuyu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ruolan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xie Wang
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Sichuan, China
| | - Aichun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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19
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Bao W, Li A, Zhang Y, Diao P, Zhao Q, Yan T, Zhou Z, Duan H, Li X, Wuriyanghan H. Improvement of host-induced gene silencing efficiency via polycistronic-tRNA-amiR expression for multiple target genes and characterization of RNAi mechanism in Mythimna separata. Plant Biotechnol J 2021; 19:1370-1385. [PMID: 33484609 PMCID: PMC8313139 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) emerged as a new strategy for pest control. However, RNAi efficiency is reported to be low in Lepidoptera, which are composed of many important crop pests. To address this, we generated transgenic plants to develop HIGS effects in a maize pest, Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), by targeting chitinase encoding genes. More importantly, we developed an artificial microRNA (amiR) based PTA (polycistronic-tRNA-amiR) system for silencing multiple target genes. Compared with hpRNA (hairpin RNA), transgenic expression of a PTA cassette including an amiR for the gut-specific dsRNA nuclease gene MsREase, resulted in improved knockdown efficiency and caused more pronounced developmental abnormalities in recipient insects. When target gene siRNAs were analysed after HIGS and direct dsRNA/siRNA feeding, common features such as sense polarity and siRNA hotspot regions were observed, however, they differed in siRNA transitivity and major 20-24nt siRNA species. Core RNAi genes were identified in M. separata, and biochemical activities of MsAGO2, MsSID1 and MsDcr2 were confirmed by EMSA (electrophoretic mobility shift assay) and dsRNA cleavage assays, respectively. Taken together, we provide compelling evidence for the existence of the RNAi mechanism in M. separata by analysis of both siRNA signatures and RNAi machinery components, and the PTA system could potentially be useful for future RNAi control of lepidopteran pests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhua Bao
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationSchool of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Aoga Li
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationSchool of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationSchool of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Pengfei Diao
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationSchool of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Qiqi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationSchool of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Ting Yan
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationSchool of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Zikai Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationSchool of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Huimin Duan
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationSchool of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
| | - Xugang Li
- Sino‐German Joint Research Center on Agricultural BiologyState Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life SciencesShandong Agricultural UniversityTai'anChina
| | - Hada Wuriyanghan
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop BiotechnologyMinistry of EducationSchool of Life SciencesInner Mongolia UniversityHohhotChina
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20
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Hada A, Patil BL, Bajpai A, Kesiraju K, Dinesh-Kumar S, Paraselli B, Sreevathsa R, Rao U. Micro RNA-induced gene silencing strategy for the delivery of siRNAs targeting Meloidogyne incognita in a model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Pest Manag Sci 2021; 77:3396-3405. [PMID: 33786977 DOI: 10.1002/ps.6384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Occurrence of multiple biotic stresses on crop plants result in drastic yield losses which may have severe impact on the food security. It is a challenge to design strategies for simultaneous management of these multiple stresses. Hence, establishment of innovative approaches that aid in their management is critical. Here, we have introgressed a micro RNA-induced gene silencing (MIGS) based combinatorial gene construct containing seven target gene sequences of cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD), cotton leaf hopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula), cotton whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) and root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). RESULTS Stable transgenic lines of Nicotiana benthamiana were generated with the T-DNA harboring Arabidopsis miR173 target site fused to fragments of Sec23 and ecdysone receptor (EcR) genes of cotton leaf hopper and cotton whitefly. It also contained C2/replication associated protein (C2/Rep) and C4 (movement protein) along with βC1 gene of betasatellite to target CLCuD, and two FMRFamide-like peptide (FLP) genes, Mi-flp14 and Mi-flp18 of M. incognita. These transgenic plants were assessed for the amenability of MIGS approach for pest control by efficacy evaluation against M. incognita. Results showed successful production of small interfering RNA (siRNA) through the tasiRNA (trans-acting siRNA) pathway in the transgenic plants corresponding to Mi-flp18 gene. Furthermore, we observed reduced Mi-flp14 and Mi-flp18 transcripts (up to 2.37 ± 0.12-fold) in females extracted from transgenic plants. The average number of galls, total endoparasites, egg masses and number of eggs per egg mass reduced were in the range 27-62%, 39-70%, 38-65% and 34-49%, respectively. More importantly, MIGS transgenic plants showed 80% reduction in the nematode multiplication factor (MF). CONCLUSION This study demonstrates successful validation of the MIGS approach in the model plant, N. benthamiana for efficacy against M. incognita, as a prelude to translation to cotton. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alkesh Hada
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Basavaprabhu L Patil
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
- Division of Basic Sciences, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, India
| | - Akansha Bajpai
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Karthik Kesiraju
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, India
| | - Savithramma Dinesh-Kumar
- Department of Plant Biology and The Genome Center, College of Biological Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Uma Rao
- Division of Nematology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
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21
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Wang M, Wu L, Mei Y, Zhao Y, Ma Z, Zhang X, Chen Y. Host-induced gene silencing of multiple genes of Fusarium graminearum enhances resistance to Fusarium head blight in wheat. Plant Biotechnol J 2020; 18:2373-2375. [PMID: 32436275 PMCID: PMC7680546 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Minhui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and InsectsInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Rice BiologyInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Lei Wu
- Provincial Key Laboratory of AgrobiologyInstitute of Food CropsJiangsu Academy of Agricultural SciencesNanjingChina
| | - Yuzhen Mei
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and InsectsInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Rice BiologyInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Youfu Zhao
- Department of Crop SciencesUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaILUSA
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and InsectsInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Rice BiologyInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xu Zhang
- Provincial Key Laboratory of AgrobiologyInstitute of Food CropsJiangsu Academy of Agricultural SciencesNanjingChina
| | - Yun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and InsectsInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Rice BiologyInstitute of BiotechnologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
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22
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Rutter BD, Innes RW. Growing pains: addressing the pitfalls of plant extracellular vesicle research. New Phytol 2020; 228:1505-1510. [PMID: 32506490 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small, membrane-enclosed compartments that mediate the intercellular transport of proteins and small RNAs. In plants, EVs are thought to play a prominent role in immune responses and are being championed as the long-sought-after mechanism for host-induced gene silencing. However, parallel research on mammalian EVs is raising concerns about potential pitfalls faced by all EV researchers that will need to be addressed in order to convincingly establish that EVs are the primary mediators of small RNA transfer between organisms. Here we discuss these pitfalls in the context of plant EV research, with a focus on experimental approaches required to distinguish bona fide EV cargo from merely co-purifying contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D Rutter
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Roger W Innes
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
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23
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Chang Q, Lin X, Yao M, Liu P, Guo J, Huang L, Voegele RT, Kang Z, Liu J. Hexose transporter PsHXT1-mediated sugar uptake is required for pathogenicity of wheat stripe rust. Plant Biotechnol J 2020; 18:2367-2369. [PMID: 32386262 PMCID: PMC7680534 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Qing Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
- Bio‐Agriculture Institute of ShaanxiShaanxi Key Laboratory of Plant NematologyXi’anShaanxiChina
| | - Xiaohong Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
- Department of AgronomyInner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotInner MongoliaChina
| | - Mohan Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
| | - Peng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of AgroproductsInstitute of Plant VirologyNingbo UniversityNingboZhejiangChina
| | - Jia Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
| | - Lili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
| | - Ralf T. Voegele
- Department of PhytopathologyFaculty of Agricultural SciencesInstitute of PhytomedicineUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartBaden‐WürttembergGermany
| | - Zhensheng Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Life SciencesNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
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24
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Abstract
Plant diseases caused by a variety of pathogens can have severe effects on crop plants and even plants in natural ecosystems. Despite many effective conventional approaches to control plant diseases, new, efficacious, environmentally sound and cost-effective approaches are needed, particularly with our increasing human population and the effects on crop production and plant health caused by climate change. RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene regulation and antiviral response mechanism in eukaryotes; transgenic and non transgenic plant-based RNAi approaches have shown great effectiveness and potential to target specific plant pathogens and help control plant diseases, especially when no alternatives are available. Here we discuss ways in which RNAi has been used against different plant pathogens, and some new potential applications for plant disease control.
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25
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Kleter GA. Food safety assessment of crops engineered with RNA interference and other methods to modulate expression of endogenous and plant pest genes. Pest Manag Sci 2020; 76:3333-3339. [PMID: 32515135 PMCID: PMC7540038 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Genetically modified crops have been grown commercially for more than two decades. Some of these crops have been modified with genetic constructs that induce gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi). The targets for this silencing action are genes, either specific endogenous ones of the host plant or those of particular pests or pathogens infesting these plants. Recently emerging new genetic tools enable precise DNA edits with the same silencing effect and have also increased our knowledge and insights into the mechanisms of RNAi. For the assessment of the safety of foodstuffs from crops modified with RNAi, internationally harmonized principles for risk assessment of foods derived from genetically modified crops can be followed. Special considerations may apply to the newly expressed silencing RNA molecules, such as their possible uptake by consumers and interference with expression of host genes, which, however, would need to overcome many barriers. Bioinformatics tools aid the prediction of possible interference by a given RNA molecule with the expression of genes with homologous sequences in the host crop and in other organisms, or possible off-target edits in gene-edited crops. © 2020 The Author. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gijs A Kleter
- Wageningen Food Safety ResearchWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
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26
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Abstract
There is an urgency to supplant the heavy reliance on chemical control of Fusarium diseases in different economically important, staple food crops due to development of resistance in the pathogen population, the high cost of production to the risk-averse grower, and the concomitant environmental impacts. Pathogenomics has enabled (i) the creation of genetic inventories which identify those putative genes, regulators, and effectors that are associated with virulence, pathogenicity, and primary and secondary metabolism; (ii) comparison of such genes among related pathogens; (iii) identification of potential genetic targets for chemical control; and (iv) better characterization of the complex dynamics of host–microbe interactions that lead to disease. This type of genomic data serves to inform host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) technology for targeted disruption of transcription of select genes for the control of Fusarium diseases. This review discusses the various repositories and browser access points for comparison of genomic data, the strategies for identification and selection of pathogenicity- and virulence-associated genes and effectors in different Fusarium species, HIGS and successful Fusarium disease control trials with a consideration of loss of RNAi, off-target effects, and future challenges in applying HIGS for management of Fusarium diseases.
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27
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Iqbal S, Fosu-Nyarko J, Jones MGK. Attempt to Silence Genes of the RNAi Pathways of the Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita Results in Diverse Responses Including Increase and No Change in Expression of Some Genes. Front Plant Sci 2020; 11:328. [PMID: 32265973 PMCID: PMC7105803 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Control of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) via host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) involves rational selection of genes and detailed assessment of effects of a possible knockdown on the nematode. Some genes by nature may be very important for the survival of the nematode that knockdown may be resisted. Possible silencing and effects of 20 such genes involved in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathways of Meloidogyne incognita were investigated in this study using long double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) as triggers. Two of the genes, ego-1 and mes-2, could not be knocked down. Expression of six genes (xpo-1, pash-1, xpo-2, rha-1, ekl-4, and csr-1) were significantly upregulated after RNAi treatment whereas for 12 of the genes, significant knockdown was achieved and with the exception of mes-2 and mes-6, RNAi was accompanied by defective phenotypes in treated nematodes including various degrees of paralysis and abnormal behaviors and movement such as curling, extreme wavy movements, and twitching. These abnormalities resulted in up to 75% reduction in infectivity of a tomato host, the most affected being the J2s previously treated with dsRNA of the gfl-1 gene. For 10 of the genes, effects of silencing in the J2s persisted as the adult females isolated from galls were under-developed, elongated, and transparent compared to the normal saccate, white adult females. Following RNAi of ego-1, smg-2, smg-6, and eri-1, reduced expression and/or the immediate visible effects on the J2s were not permanent as the nematodes infected and developed normally in tomato hosts. Equally intriguing was the results of RNAi of the mes-2 gene where the insignificant change in gene expression and behavior of treated J2s did not mean the nematodes were not affected as they were less effective in infecting host plants. Attempt to silence drsh-1, mut-7, drh-3, rha-1, pash-1, and vig-1 through HIGS led to reduction in nematode infestation by up to 89%. Our results show that genes may respond to RNAi knockdown differently so an exhaustive assessment of target genes as targets for nematode control via RNAi is imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John Fosu-Nyarko
- Plant Biotechnology Research Group, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia
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28
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Schaefer LK, Parlange F, Buchmann G, Jung E, Wehrli A, Herren G, Müller MC, Stehlin J, Schmid R, Wicker T, Keller B, Bourras S. Cross-Kingdom RNAi of Pathogen Effectors Leads to Quantitative Adult Plant Resistance in Wheat. Front Plant Sci 2020; 11:253. [PMID: 32211008 PMCID: PMC7076181 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Cross-kingdom RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological process allowing plants to transfer small regulatory RNAs to invading pathogens to trigger the silencing of target virulence genes. Transient assays in cereal powdery mildews suggest that silencing of one or two effectors could lead to near loss of virulence, but evidence from stable RNAi lines is lacking. We established transient host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) in wheat, and demonstrate that targeting an essential housekeeping gene in the wheat powdery mildew pathogen (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) results in significant reduction of virulence at an early stage of infection. We generated stable transgenic RNAi wheat lines encoding a HIGS construct simultaneously silencing three B.g. tritici effectors including SvrPm3 a1/f1 , a virulence factor involved in the suppression of the Pm3 powdery mildew resistance gene. We show that all targeted effectors are effectively downregulated by HIGS, resulting in reduced fungal virulence on adult wheat plants. Our findings demonstrate that stable HIGS of effector genes can lead to quantitative gain of resistance without major pleiotropic effects in wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francis Parlange
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gabriele Buchmann
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Esther Jung
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Wehrli
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gerhard Herren
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marion Claudia Müller
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jonas Stehlin
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roman Schmid
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Wicker
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Beat Keller
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Salim Bourras
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Division of Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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29
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Qi T, Guo J, Liu P, He F, Wan C, Islam MA, Tyler BM, Kang Z, Guo J. Stripe Rust Effector PstGSRE1 Disrupts Nuclear Localization of ROS-Promoting Transcription Factor TaLOL2 to Defeat ROS-Induced Defense in Wheat. Mol Plant 2019; 12:1624-1638. [PMID: 31606466 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2019.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), a biotrophic plant pathogen, secretes numerous effectors to modulate host defense systems. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which Pst effectors regulate wheat immunity is of great importance for the development of novel strategies for durable control of stripe rust. In this study, we identified a glycine-serine-rich effector gene, PstGSRE1, which is highly induced during early infection. Transgenic expression of PstGSRE1 RNAi constructs in wheat significantly reduced virulence of Pst and increased H2O2 accumulation in wheat. PstGSRE1 was shown to target the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-associated transcription factor TaLOL2, a positive regulator of wheat immunity. PstGSRE1 disrupted nuclear localization of TaLOL2 and suppressed ROS-mediated cell death induced by TaLOL2, thus compromising host immunity. This work reveals a previously unrecognized strategy whereby rust fungi exploit the PstGSRE1 effector to defeat ROS-associated plant defense by modulating the subcellular compartment of a host immune regulator and facilitate pathogen infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Jia Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Peng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Fuxin He
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Cuiping Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Md Ashraful Islam
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, P. R. China
| | - Brett M Tyler
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Zhensheng Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, P. R. China.
| | - Jun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, P. R. China.
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30
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Xiong F, Liu M, Zhuo F, Yin H, Deng K, Feng S, Liu Y, Luo X, Feng L, Zhang S, Li Z, Ren M. Host-induced gene silencing of BcTOR in Botrytis cinerea enhances plant resistance to grey mould. Mol Plant Pathol 2019; 20:1722-1739. [PMID: 31622007 PMCID: PMC6859489 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of grey mould for more than 200 plant species, including economically important vegetables, fruits and crops, which leads to economic losses worldwide. Target of rapamycin (TOR) acts a master regulator to control cell growth and proliferation by integrating nutrient, energy and growth factors in eukaryotic species, but little is known about whether TOR can function as a practicable target in the control of plant fungal pathogens. Here, we characterize TOR signalling of B. cinerea in the regulation of growth and pathogenicity as well as its potential value in genetic engineering for crop protection by bioinformatics analysis, pharmacological assays, biochemistry and genetics approaches. The results show that conserved TOR signalling occurs, and a functional FK506-binding protein 12 kD (FKBP12) mediates the interaction between rapamycin and B. cinerea TOR (BcTOR). RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis revealed that BcTOR displayed conserved functions, particularly in controlling growth and metabolism. Furthermore, pathogenicity assay showed that BcTOR inhibition efficiently reduces the infection of B. cinerea in plant leaves of Arabidopsis and potato or tomato fruits. Additionally, transgenic plants expressing double-stranded RNA of BcTOR through the host-induced gene silencing method could produce abundant small RNAs targeting BcTOR, and significantly block the occurrence of grey mould in potato and tomato. Taken together, our results suggest that BcTOR is an efficient target for genetic engineering in control of grey mould, and also a potential and promising target applied in the biocontrol of plant fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangjie Xiong
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing401331China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormone and Developmental Regulation of ChongqingChongqing401331China
| | - Mei Liu
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing401331China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormone and Developmental Regulation of ChongqingChongqing401331China
| | - Fengping Zhuo
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing401331China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormone and Developmental Regulation of ChongqingChongqing401331China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical EngineeringChongqing University of Science and TechnologyChongqing401331China
| | - Huan Yin
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing401331China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormone and Developmental Regulation of ChongqingChongqing401331China
| | - Kexuan Deng
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing401331China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormone and Developmental Regulation of ChongqingChongqing401331China
| | - Shun Feng
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing401331China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormone and Developmental Regulation of ChongqingChongqing401331China
| | - Yudong Liu
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing401331China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormone and Developmental Regulation of ChongqingChongqing401331China
| | - Xiumei Luo
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing401331China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormone and Developmental Regulation of ChongqingChongqing401331China
| | - Li Feng
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing401331China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormone and Developmental Regulation of ChongqingChongqing401331China
| | - Shumin Zhang
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing401331China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormone and Developmental Regulation of ChongqingChongqing401331China
| | - Zhengguo Li
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing401331China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormone and Developmental Regulation of ChongqingChongqing401331China
| | - Maozhi Ren
- School of Life SciencesChongqing UniversityChongqing401331China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormone and Developmental Regulation of ChongqingChongqing401331China
- Institute of Urban AgricultureChinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/National Chengdu Agricultural Science and Technology CenterChengdu610000China
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31
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Hou Y, Ma W. Natural Host-Induced Gene Silencing Offers New Opportunities to Engineer Disease Resistance. Trends Microbiol 2019; 28:109-117. [PMID: 31606358 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
RNA silencing is an essential gene-regulation mechanism in eukaryotic organisms. Guided by small RNAs (sRNAs) of 20-25 nt in length, RNA silencing broadly governs a wide range of biological processes. In addition to regulating endogenous gene expression and inhibiting viral infection, accumulating evidence suggests that sRNAs can also function as antimicrobial agents against nonviral pathogens and directly silence gene targets in invading pathogen cells. Here, we summarize current understanding of this host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) process as a defense mechanism during natural infection. Specific focuses will be on recent advancement in the sRNA executors of HIGS and their potential delivery mechanisms from the plant host to filamentous eukaryotic pathogens, including fungi and Phytophthora species. Implications of these new findings in the applications of HIGS as a tool for engineering disease resistance is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingnan Hou
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Wenbo Ma
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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32
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Kettles GJ, Hofinger BJ, Hu P, Bayon C, Rudd JJ, Balmer D, Courbot M, Hammond-Kosack KE, Scalliet G, Kanyuka K. sRNA Profiling Combined With Gene Function Analysis Reveals a Lack of Evidence for Cross-Kingdom RNAi in the Wheat - Zymoseptoria tritici Pathosystem. Front Plant Sci 2019; 10:892. [PMID: 31333714 PMCID: PMC6620828 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Cross-kingdom small RNA (sRNA) silencing has recently emerged as a mechanism facilitating fungal colonization and disease development. Here we characterized RNAi pathways in Zymoseptoria tritici, a major fungal pathogen of wheat, and assessed their contribution to pathogenesis. Computational analysis of fungal sRNA and host mRNA sequencing datasets was used to define the global sRNA populations in Z. tritici and predict their mRNA targets in wheat. 389 in planta-induced sRNA loci were identified. sRNAs generated from some of these loci were predicted to target wheat mRNAs including those potentially involved in pathogen defense. However, molecular approaches failed to validate targeting of selected wheat mRNAs by fungal sRNAs. Mutant strains of Z. tritici carrying deletions of genes encoding key components of RNAi such as Dicer-like (DCL) and Argonaute (AGO) proteins were generated, and virulence bioassays suggested that these are dispensable for full infection of wheat. Nonetheless, our results did suggest the existence of non-canonical DCL-independent pathway(s) for sRNA biogenesis in Z. tritici. dsRNA targeting essential fungal genes applied in vitro or generated from an RNA virus vector in planta in a procedure known as HIGS (Host-Induced Gene Silencing) was ineffective in preventing Z. tritici growth or disease. We also demonstrated that Z. tritici is incapable of dsRNA uptake. Collectively, our data suggest that RNAi approaches for gene function analyses in this fungal species and potentially also as a control measure may not be as effective as has been demonstrated for some other plant pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme J. Kettles
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Bernhard J. Hofinger
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Pingsha Hu
- Syngenta Biotechnology, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Carlos Bayon
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Jason J. Rudd
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
| | - Dirk Balmer
- Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Stein, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Kostya Kanyuka
- Biointeractions and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, United Kingdom
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33
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Guo XY, Li Y, Fan J, Xiong H, Xu FX, Shi J, Shi Y, Zhao JQ, Wang YF, Cao XL, Wang WM. Host-Induced Gene Silencing of MoAP1 Confers Broad-Spectrum Resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae. Front Plant Sci 2019; 10:433. [PMID: 31024598 PMCID: PMC6465682 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae) is a major threat to global rice production. In recent years, small interference RNAs (siRNAs) and host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) has been shown to be new strategies for the development of transgenic plants to control fungal diseases and proved a useful tool to study gene function in pathogens. We here tested whether in vitro feeding artificial siRNAs (asiRNAs) could compromise M. oryzae virulence and in vivo HIGS technique could improve rice blast resistance. Our data revealed that silencing of M. oryzae MoAP1 by feeding asiRNAs targeting MoAP1 (i.e., asiR1245, asiR1362, and asiR1115) resulted in inhibited fungal growth, abnormal spores, and decreased pathogenicity. Among the asiRNAs, asiR1115 was the most inhibitory toward the rice blast fungus. Conversely, the asiRNAs targeting three other genes (i.e., MoSSADH, MoACT, and MoSOM1) had no effect on fungal growth. Transgenic rice plants expressing RNA hairpins targeting MoAP1 exhibited improved resistance to 11 tested M. oryzae strains. Confocal microscopy also revealed profoundly restricted appressoria and mycelia in rice blast-infected transgenic rice plants. Our results demonstrate that in vitro asiRNA and in vivo HIGS were useful protection approaches that may be valuable to enhance rice blast resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yi Guo
- Rice and Sorghum Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Southwest Rice Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Deyang, China
| | - Yan Li
- Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Fan
- Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Xiong
- Rice and Sorghum Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Southwest Rice Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Deyang, China
| | - Fu-Xian Xu
- Rice and Sorghum Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Southwest Rice Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Deyang, China
| | - Jun Shi
- Mianyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mianyang, China
| | - Yi Shi
- Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ji-Qun Zhao
- Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi-Fu Wang
- Mianyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mianyang, China
| | - Xiao-Long Cao
- Mianyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Mianyang, China
| | - Wen-Ming Wang
- Rice Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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Hou Y, Zhai Y, Feng L, Karimi HZ, Rutter BD, Zeng L, Choi DS, Zhang B, Gu W, Chen X, Ye W, Innes RW, Zhai J, Ma W. A Phytophthora Effector Suppresses Trans-Kingdom RNAi to Promote Disease Susceptibility. Cell Host Microbe 2019; 25:153-165.e5. [PMID: 30595554 PMCID: PMC9208300 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2018.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RNA silencing (RNAi) has a well-established role in anti-viral immunity in plants. The destructive eukaryotic pathogen Phytophthora encodes suppressors of RNAi (PSRs), which enhance plant susceptibility. However, the role of small RNAs in defense against eukaryotic pathogens is unclear. Here, we show that Phytophthora infection of Arabidopsis leads to increased production of a diverse pool of secondary small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Instead of regulating endogenous plant genes, these siRNAs are found in extracellular vesicles and likely silence target genes in Phytophthora during natural infection. Introduction of a plant siRNA in Phytophthora leads to developmental deficiency and abolishes virulence, while Arabidopsis mutants defective in secondary siRNA biogenesis are hypersusceptible. Notably, Phytophthora effector PSR2 specifically inhibits secondary siRNA biogenesis in Arabidopsis and promotes infection. These findings uncover the role of siRNAs as antimicrobial agents against eukaryotic pathogens and highlight a defense/counter-defense arms race centered on trans-kingdom gene silencing between hosts and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingnan Hou
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Yi Zhai
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Li Feng
- Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Hana Z Karimi
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Brian D Rutter
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Liping Zeng
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Du Seok Choi
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Bailong Zhang
- Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Department of Botany and Plant Science, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Weifeng Gu
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Department of Botany and Plant Science, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Wenwu Ye
- Department of Plant Pathology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Roger W Innes
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Jixian Zhai
- Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Wenbo Ma
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Center for Plant Cell Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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Panwar V, Jordan M, McCallum B, Bakkeren G. Host-induced silencing of essential genes in Puccinia triticina through transgenic expression of RNAi sequences reduces severity of leaf rust infection in wheat. Plant Biotechnol J 2018; 16:1013-1023. [PMID: 28941315 PMCID: PMC5902777 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Leaf rust, caused by the pathogenic fungus Puccinia triticina (Pt), is one of the most serious biotic threats to sustainable wheat production worldwide. This obligate biotrophic pathogen is prevalent worldwide and is known for rapid adaptive evolution to overcome resistant wheat varieties. Novel disease control approaches are therefore required to minimize the yield losses caused by Pt. Having shown previously the potential of host-delivered RNA interference (HD-RNAi) in functional screening of Pt genes involved in pathogenesis, we here evaluated the use of this technology in transgenic wheat plants as a method to achieve protection against wheat leaf rust (WLR) infection. Stable expression of hairpin RNAi constructs with sequence homology to Pt MAP-kinase (PtMAPK1) or a cyclophilin (PtCYC1) encoding gene in susceptible wheat plants showed efficient silencing of the corresponding genes in the interacting fungus resulting in disease resistance throughout the T2 generation. Inhibition of Pt proliferation in transgenic lines by in planta-induced RNAi was associated with significant reduction in target fungal transcript abundance and reduced fungal biomass accumulation in highly resistant plants. Disease protection was correlated with the presence of siRNA molecules specific to targeted fungal genes in the transgenic lines harbouring the complementary HD-RNAi construct. This work demonstrates that generating transgenic wheat plants expressing RNAi-inducing transgenes to silence essential genes in rust fungi can provide effective disease resistance, thus opening an alternative way for developing rust-resistant crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Panwar
- Agriculture and Agri‐Food CanadaMorden Research and Development CentreMordenMBCanada
- Agriculture and Agri‐Food CanadaSummerland Research and Development CentreSummerlandBCCanada
| | - Mark Jordan
- Agriculture and Agri‐Food CanadaMorden Research and Development CentreMordenMBCanada
| | - Brent McCallum
- Agriculture and Agri‐Food CanadaMorden Research and Development CentreMordenMBCanada
| | - Guus Bakkeren
- Agriculture and Agri‐Food CanadaSummerland Research and Development CentreSummerlandBCCanada
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Sharma KK, Pothana A, Prasad K, Shah D, Kaur J, Bhatnagar D, Chen Z, Raruang Y, Cary JW, Rajasekaran K, Sudini HK, Bhatnagar‐Mathur P. Peanuts that keep aflatoxin at bay: a threshold that matters. Plant Biotechnol J 2018; 16:1024-1033. [PMID: 28973784 PMCID: PMC5902767 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Aflatoxin contamination in peanuts poses major challenges for vulnerable populations of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Developing peanut varieties to combat preharvest Aspergillus flavus infection and resulting aflatoxin contamination has thus far remained a major challenge, confounded by highly complex peanut-Aspergilli pathosystem. Our study reports achieving a high level of resistance in peanut by overexpressing (OE) antifungal plant defensins MsDef1 and MtDef4.2, and through host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) of aflM and aflP genes from the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway. While the former improves genetic resistance to A. flavus infection, the latter inhibits aflatoxin production in the event of infection providing durable resistance against different Aspergillus flavus morphotypes and negligible aflatoxin content in several peanut events/lines well. A strong positive correlation was observed between aflatoxin accumulation and decline in transcription of the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway genes in both OE-Def and HIGS lines. Transcriptomic signatures in the resistant lines revealed key mechanisms such as regulation of aflatoxin synthesis, its packaging and export control, besides the role of reactive oxygen species-scavenging enzymes that render enhanced protection in the OE and HIGS lines. This is the first study to demonstrate highly effective biotechnological strategies for successfully generating peanuts that are near-immune to aflatoxin contamination, offering a panacea for serious food safety, health and trade issues in the semi-arid regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran K. Sharma
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)HyderabadTelanganaIndia
| | - Arunima Pothana
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)HyderabadTelanganaIndia
| | - Kalyani Prasad
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)HyderabadTelanganaIndia
| | - Dilip Shah
- Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterSt. LouisMOUSA
| | - Jagdeep Kaur
- Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterSt. LouisMOUSA
| | - Deepak Bhatnagar
- Southern Regional Research CenterAgricultural Research ServiceUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA/ARS)New OrleansLAUSA
| | - Zhi‐Yuan Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Crop PhysiologyAgricultural centerLouisiana State UniversityBaton RougeLAUSA
| | - Yenjit Raruang
- Department of Plant Pathology and Crop PhysiologyAgricultural centerLouisiana State UniversityBaton RougeLAUSA
| | - Jeffrey W. Cary
- Southern Regional Research CenterAgricultural Research ServiceUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA/ARS)New OrleansLAUSA
| | - Kanniah Rajasekaran
- Southern Regional Research CenterAgricultural Research ServiceUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA/ARS)New OrleansLAUSA
| | - Hari Kishan Sudini
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)HyderabadTelanganaIndia
| | - Pooja Bhatnagar‐Mathur
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi‐Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)HyderabadTelanganaIndia
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Sun Z, Song J, Xin X, Xie X, Zhao B. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal 14-3-3 Proteins Are Involved in Arbuscule Formation and Responses to Abiotic Stresses During AM Symbiosis. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:91. [PMID: 29556216 PMCID: PMC5844941 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are soil-borne fungi belonging to the ancient phylum Glomeromycota and are important symbionts of the arbuscular mycorrhiza, enhancing plant nutrient acquisition and resistance to various abiotic stresses. In contrast to their significant physiological implications, the molecular basis involved is poorly understood, largely due to their obligate biotrophism and complicated genetics. Here, we identify and characterize three genes termed Fm201, Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 that encode 14-3-3-like proteins in the AM fungi Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus irregularis, respectively. The transcriptional levels of Fm201, Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 are strongly induced in the pre-symbiotic and symbiotic phases, including germinating spores, intraradical hyphae- and arbuscules-enriched roots. To functionally characterize the Fm201, Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 genes, we took advantage of a yeast heterologous system owing to the lack of AM fungal transformation systems. Our data suggest that all three genes can restore the lethal Saccharomyces cerevisiae bmh1 bmh2 double mutant on galactose-containing media. Importantly, yeast one-hybrid analysis suggests that the transcription factor RiMsn2 is able to recognize the STRE (CCCCT/AGGGG) element present in the promoter region of Fm201 gene. More importantly, Host-Induced Gene Silencing of both Ri14-3-3 and RiBMH2 in Rhizophagus irregularis impairs the arbuscule formation in AM symbiosis and inhibits the expression of symbiotic PT4 and MST2 genes from plant and fungal partners, respectively. We further subjected the AM fungus-Medicago truncatula association system to drought or salinity stress. Accordingly, the expression profiles in both mycorrhizal roots and extraradical hyphae reveal that these three 14-3-3-like genes are involved in response to drought or salinity stress. Collectively, our results provide new insights into molecular functions of the AM fungal 14-3-3 proteins in abiotic stress responses and arbuscule formation during AM symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongfeng Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiabin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi'an Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xianan Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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Qi T, Zhu X, Tan C, Liu P, Guo J, Kang Z, Guo J. Host-induced gene silencing of an important pathogenicity factor PsCPK1 in Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici enhances resistance of wheat to stripe rust. Plant Biotechnol J 2018; 16:797-807. [PMID: 28881438 PMCID: PMC5814584 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2017] [Revised: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Rust fungi are devastating plant pathogens and cause a large economic impact on wheat production worldwide. To overcome this rapid loss of resistance in varieties, we generated stable transgenic wheat plants expressing short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting potentially vital genes of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst). Protein kinase A (PKA) has been proved to play important roles in regulating the virulence of phytopathogenic fungi. PsCPK1, a PKA catalytic subunit gene from Pst, is highly induced at the early infection stage of Pst. The instantaneous silencing of PsCPK1 by barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV)-mediated host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) results in a significant reduction in the length of infection hyphae and disease phenotype. These results indicate that PsCPK1 is an important pathogenicity factor by regulating Pst growth and development. Two transgenic lines expressing the RNA interference (RNAi) construct in a normally susceptible wheat cultivar displayed high levels of stable and consistent resistance to Pst throughout the T3 to T4 generations. The presence of the interfering RNAs in transgenic wheat plants was confirmed by northern blotting, and these RNAs were found to efficiently down-regulate PsCPK1 expression in wheat. This study addresses important aspects for the development of fungal-derived resistance through the expression of silencing constructs in host plants as a powerful strategy to control cereal rust diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
| | - Xiaoguo Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
| | - Chenlong Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
| | - Peng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
| | - Jia Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
| | - Zhensheng Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
| | - Jun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid AreasCollege of Plant ProtectionNorthwest A&F UniversityYanglingShaanxiChina
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Xu J, Wang X, Li Y, Zeng J, Wang G, Deng C, Guo W. Host-induced gene silencing of a regulator of G protein signalling gene (VdRGS1) confers resistance to Verticillium wilt in cotton. Plant Biotechnol J 2018; 16:1629-1643. [PMID: 29431919 PMCID: PMC6096726 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Verticillium wilt (VW), caused by soil-borne fungi of the genus Verticillium, is a serious disease affecting a wide range of plants and leading to a constant and major challenge to agriculture worldwide. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is the world's most important natural textile fibre and oil crop. VW of cotton is a highly devastating vascular disease; however, few resistant germplasms have been reported in cotton. An increasing number of studies have shown that RNA interference (RNAi)-based host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) is an effective strategy for improving plant resistance to pathogens by silencing genes essential for the pathogenicity of these pathogens. Here, we have identified and characterized multifunctional regulators of G protein signalling (RGS) in the Verticillium dahliae virulence strain, Vd8. Of eight VdRGS genes, VdRGS1 showed the most significant increase in expression in V. dahliae after treating with the roots of cotton seedlings. Based on the phenotype detection of VdRGS1 deletion and complementation mutants, we found that VdRGS1 played crucial roles in spore production, hyphal development, microsclerotia formation and pathogenicity. Tobacco rattle virus-mediated HIGS in cotton plants silenced VdRGS1 transcripts in invaded V. dahliae strains and enhanced broad-spectrum resistance to cotton VW. Our data demonstrate that VdRGS1 is a conserved and essential gene for V. dahliae virulence. HIGS of VdRGS1 provides effective control against V. dahliae infection and could obtain the durable disease resistance in cotton and in other VW-susceptible host crops by developing the stable transformants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm EnhancementNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Xinyu Wang
- College of Life SciencesNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Yongqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm EnhancementNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Jianguo Zeng
- College of Life SciencesNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Guilin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm EnhancementNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Chaoyang Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm EnhancementNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
| | - Wangzhen Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm EnhancementNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingJiangsuChina
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40
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Thakare D, Zhang J, Wing RA, Cotty PJ, Schmidt MA. Aflatoxin-free transgenic maize using host-induced gene silencing. Sci Adv 2017; 3:e1602382. [PMID: 28345051 PMCID: PMC5345927 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Aflatoxins, toxic secondary metabolites produced by some Aspergillus species, are a universal agricultural economic problem and a critical health issue. Despite decades of control efforts, aflatoxin contamination is responsible for a global loss of millions of tons of crops each year. We show that host-induced gene silencing is an effective method for eliminating this toxin in transgenic maize. We transformed maize plants with a kernel-specific RNA interference (RNAi) gene cassette targeting the aflC gene, which encodes an enzyme in the Aspergillus aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway. After pathogen infection, aflatoxin could not be detected in kernels from these RNAi transgenic maize plants, while toxin loads reached thousands of parts per billion in nontransgenic control kernels. A comparison of transcripts in developing aflatoxin-free transgenic kernels with those from nontransgenic kernels showed no significant differences between these two groups. These results demonstrate that small interfering RNA molecules can be used to silence aflatoxin biosynthesis in maize, providing an attractive and precise engineering strategy that could also be extended to other crops to improve food security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhiraj Thakare
- BIO5 Institute, School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, 1657 E. Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Jianwei Zhang
- BIO5 Institute, School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, 1657 E. Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Arizona Genomics Institute, 1657 E. Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Rod A. Wing
- BIO5 Institute, School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, 1657 E. Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Arizona Genomics Institute, 1657 E. Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Peter J. Cotty
- Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Monica A. Schmidt
- BIO5 Institute, School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, 1657 E. Helen Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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Yin C, Downey SI, Klages-Mundt NL, Ramachandran S, Chen X, Szabo LJ, Pumphrey M, Hulbert SH. Identification of promising host-induced silencing targets among genes preferentially transcribed in haustoria of Puccinia. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:579. [PMID: 26238441 PMCID: PMC4524123 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1791-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cereal rust fungi are destructive pathogens that affect grain production worldwide. Although the genomic and transcript sequences for three Puccinia species that attack wheat have been released, the functions of large repertories of genes from Puccinia still need to be addressed to understand the infection process of these obligate parasites. Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) has emerged a useful tool to examine the importance of rust fungus genes while growing within host plants. In this study, HIGS was used to test genes from Puccinia with transcripts enriched in haustoria for their ability to interfere with full development of the rust fungi. RESULTS Approximately 1200 haustoria enriched genes from Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt) were identified by comparative RNA sequencing. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) constructs with fragments of 86 Puccinia genes, were tested for their ability to interfere with full development of these rust fungi. Most of the genes tested had no noticeable effects, but 10 reduced Pgt development after co-inoculation with the gene VIGS constructs and Pgt. These included a predicted glycolytic enzyme, two other proteins that are probably secreted and involved in carbohydrate or sugar metabolism, a protein involved in thiazol biosynthesis, a protein involved in auxin biosynthesis, an amino acid permease, two hypothetical proteins with no conserved domains, a predicted small secreted protein and another protein predicted to be secreted with similarity to bacterial proteins involved in membrane transport. Transient silencing of four of these genes reduced development of P. striiformis (Pst), and three of also caused reduction of P. triticina (Pt) development. CONCLUSIONS Partial suppression of transcripts involved in a large variety of biological processes in haustoria cells of Puccinia rusts can disrupt their development. Silencing of three genes resulted in suppression of all three rust diseases indicating that it may be possible to engineer durable resistance to multiple rust pathogens with a single gene in transgenic wheat plants for sustainable control of cereal rusts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuntao Yin
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-6430, USA
| | - Samantha I Downey
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-6430, USA
| | - Naeh L Klages-Mundt
- Department of Biology, Carleton College, One North College St., Northfield, MN, 55057, USA
| | - Sowmya Ramachandran
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-6430, USA
| | - Xianming Chen
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Wheat Genetics, Quality, Physiology and Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA, 99164-6430, USA
| | - Les J Szabo
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Michael Pumphrey
- Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-6430, USA
| | - Scot H Hulbert
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-6430, USA.
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Abdellatef E, Will T, Koch A, Imani J, Vilcinskas A, Kogel KH. Silencing the expression of the salivary sheath protein causes transgenerational feeding suppression in the aphid Sitobion avenae. Plant Biotechnol J 2015; 13:849-57. [PMID: 25586210 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Revised: 11/07/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Aphids produce gel saliva during feeding which forms a sheath around the stylet as it penetrates through the apoplast. The sheath is required for the sustained ingestion of phloem sap from sieve elements and is thought to form when the structural sheath protein (SHP) is cross-linked by intermolecular disulphide bridges. We investigated the possibility of controlling aphid infestation by host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) targeting shp expression in the grain aphid Sitobion avenae. When aphids were fed on transgenic barley expressing shp double-stranded RNA (shp-dsRNA), they produced significantly lower levels of shp mRNA compared to aphids feeding on wild-type plants, suggesting that the transfer of inhibitory RNA from the plant to the insect was successful. shp expression remained low when aphids were transferred from transgenic plants and fed for 1 or 2 weeks, respectively, on wild-type plants, confirming that silencing had a prolonged impact. Reduced shp expression correlated with a decline in growth, reproduction and survival rates. Remarkably, morphological and physiological aberrations such as winged adults and delayed maturation were maintained over seven aphid generations feeding on wild-type plants. Targeting shp expression therefore appears to cause strong transgenerational effects on feeding, development and survival in S. avenae, suggesting that the HIGS technology has a realistic potential for the control of aphid pests in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eltayb Abdellatef
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Torsten Will
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Aline Koch
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jafargholi Imani
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
- Project Group 'Bioresources', Fraunhofer Institute of Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Giessen, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Kogel
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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43
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Hu Z, Parekh U, Maruta N, Trusov Y, Botella JR. Down-regulation of Fusarium oxysporum endogenous genes by Host-Delivered RNA interference enhances disease resistance. Front Chem 2015; 3:1. [PMID: 25654075 PMCID: PMC4299518 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2015.00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 01/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusarium oxysporum is a devastating pathogen causing extensive yield losses in a variety of crops and development of sustainable, environmentally friendly methods to improve crop resistance is crucial. We have used Host-Delivered RNA interference (HD-RNAi) technology to partially silence three different genes (FOW2, FRP1, and OPR) in the hemi-biotrophic fungus F. oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans. Expression of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules targeting fungal pathogen genes was achieved in a number of transgenic Arabidopsis lines. F. oxysporum infecting the transgenic lines displayed substantially reduced mRNA levels on all three targeted genes, with an average of 75, 83, and 72% reduction for FOW2, FRP1, and OPR, respectively. The silencing of pathogen genes had a clear positive effect on the ability of the transgenic lines to fight infection. All transgenic lines displayed enhanced resistance to F. oxysporum with delayed disease symptom development, especially FRP1 and OPR lines. Survival rates after fungal infection were higher in the transgenic lines compared to control wild type plants which consistently showed survival rates of 10%, with FOW2 lines showing 25% survival; FRP1 lines 30-50% survival and OPR between 45 and 70% survival. The down-regulation effect was specific for the targeted genes without unintended effects in related genes. In addition to producing resistant crops, HD-RNAi can provide a useful tool to rapidly screen candidate fungal pathogenicity genes without the need to produce fungal knockout mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongli Hu
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
- Bioengineering College, Chongqing UniversityChongqing, China
| | - Urvi Parekh
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Natsumi Maruta
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Yuri Trusov
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jose R. Botella
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of QueenslandBrisbane, QLD, Australia
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Koch A, Kogel KH. New wind in the sails: improving the agronomic value of crop plants through RNAi-mediated gene silencing. Plant Biotechnol J 2014; 12:821-31. [PMID: 25040343 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Revised: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a powerful genetic tool for scientific research over the past several years. It has been utilized not only in fundamental research for the assessment of gene function, but also in various fields of applied research, such as human and veterinary medicine and agriculture. In plants, RNAi strategies have the potential to allow manipulation of various aspects of food quality and nutritional content. In addition, the demonstration that agricultural pests, such as insects and nematodes, can be killed by exogenously supplied RNAi targeting their essential genes has raised the possibility that plant predation can be controlled by lethal RNAi signals generated in planta. Indeed, recent evidence argues that this strategy, called host-induced gene silencing (HIGS), is effective against sucking insects and nematodes; it also has been shown to compromise the growth and development of pathogenic fungi, as well as bacteria and viruses, on their plant hosts. Here, we review recent studies that reveal the enormous potential RNAi strategies hold not only for improving the nutritive value and safety of the food supply, but also for providing an environmentally friendly mechanism for plant protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Koch
- Centre for BioSystems, Land Use and Nutrition, Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
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