Articles
Genome sequencing of Monilinia spp. and expression of Monilinia fructicola putative effector genes during infection of peach (Prunus persica) cultivars ‘Royal Summer’ and ‘Messapia’
Article number
1454_24
Pages
173 – 178
Language
English
Abstract
Pathogen genome sequencing provides useful information for plant disease management.
The genomes of Monilinia laxa, M. fructigena and M. fructicola were recently sequenced, and showed the evolutionary state of these species within Sclerotiniaceae family, as compared to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea. Such investigations provided data for studying the effectors of such pathogens, involved in plant-pathogen interactions.
The in vivo involvement of putative effector genes of Monilinia fructicola predicted by genome investigations was validated.
Five M. fructicola isolates were inoculated on two peach (Prunus persica) cultivars, ‘Royal Summer’ and ‘Messapia’, with intermediate and late ripening periods, respectively.
The expression pattern of 17 candidate effector genes of M. fructicola having heterogenous functions with roles in both the host invasion and fungal life, and seven peach genes involved in the immune defense system, were examined at 0, 2, 6, 10, and 24 h post inoculation (hpi). The overall expression of the genes analyzed was regulated mainly at 2, 6, and 10 hpi when disease symptoms started to appear on the fruit surface.
All fungal isolates showed a similar ability to induce lesions associated with brown rot on both cultivars, although effector genes were differentially expressed over time, depending on the fungal isolates and largely on the hosts, which suggested specialized functions for these effector activities.
The salicylic acid and jasmonate/ethylene signaling pathways were in a different way modulated in the host independently from the fungal isolate.
The M. fructicola effectors can suppress host immune responses during the early biotrophic phase of the infection and induce plant cell death in the host.
Our work improves understanding of M. fructicola effectors function and provides useful information for the development of novel strategies for brown rot management.
The genomes of Monilinia laxa, M. fructigena and M. fructicola were recently sequenced, and showed the evolutionary state of these species within Sclerotiniaceae family, as compared to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea. Such investigations provided data for studying the effectors of such pathogens, involved in plant-pathogen interactions.
The in vivo involvement of putative effector genes of Monilinia fructicola predicted by genome investigations was validated.
Five M. fructicola isolates were inoculated on two peach (Prunus persica) cultivars, ‘Royal Summer’ and ‘Messapia’, with intermediate and late ripening periods, respectively.
The expression pattern of 17 candidate effector genes of M. fructicola having heterogenous functions with roles in both the host invasion and fungal life, and seven peach genes involved in the immune defense system, were examined at 0, 2, 6, 10, and 24 h post inoculation (hpi). The overall expression of the genes analyzed was regulated mainly at 2, 6, and 10 hpi when disease symptoms started to appear on the fruit surface.
All fungal isolates showed a similar ability to induce lesions associated with brown rot on both cultivars, although effector genes were differentially expressed over time, depending on the fungal isolates and largely on the hosts, which suggested specialized functions for these effector activities.
The salicylic acid and jasmonate/ethylene signaling pathways were in a different way modulated in the host independently from the fungal isolate.
The M. fructicola effectors can suppress host immune responses during the early biotrophic phase of the infection and induce plant cell death in the host.
Our work improves understanding of M. fructicola effectors function and provides useful information for the development of novel strategies for brown rot management.
Authors
L. Landi, A.L. DOrtenzio, S.M. Makau, R.M. De Miccolis Angelini, G. Romanazzi
Keywords
defense system, gene expression, Monilinia fructicola, virulence factors, peach
Groups involved
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Working Group Genetic Transformation and Gene Editing
- Working Group Horticultural Biotechnology and Breeding
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Horticulture for Development
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