PhytopathologyPub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-01-17DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-05-24-0154-R
WenWen Li, FeiFei Liu, ShuaiFei Chen, Michael J Wingfield, Tuan A Duong
{"title":"High Genetic Diversity and Limited Regional Population Differentiation in Populations of <i>Calonectria pseudoreteaudii</i> from <i>Eucalyptus</i> Plantations.","authors":"WenWen Li, FeiFei Liu, ShuaiFei Chen, Michael J Wingfield, Tuan A Duong","doi":"10.1094/PHYTO-05-24-0154-R","DOIUrl":"10.1094/PHYTO-05-24-0154-R","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Calonectria pseudoreteaudii</i> causes a serious and widespread disease known as Calonectria leaf blight in <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations of southern China. Little is known regarding the population biology or reproductive biology of this pathogen in the affected areas. The aims of this study were to investigate the genetic diversity, population structure, and reproductive mode of <i>C</i>. <i>pseudoreteaudii</i> from affected <i>Eucalyptus</i> plantations of southern China. Ten polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers were developed for the species and were used to genotype 311 isolates from eight populations. The mating types of all isolates were identified using the <i>MAT</i> gene primers. The results revealed a high level of genetic diversity of the pathogen in all investigated populations. Of the 90 multilocus genotypes detected, 10 were shared between at least two populations. With the exception of one population from HuiZhou, GuangDong (7HZ), the most dominant genotype was shared in the seven remaining populations. Discriminant analysis of principal components and population differentiation analyses showed that the 7HZ population was well differentiated from the others and that there was no significant differentiation between the remaining populations. Analysis of molecular variance suggested that most molecular variation was within populations (86%). Index of association analysis was consistent with a predominantly asexual life cycle for <i>C</i>. <i>pseudoreteaudii</i> in the studied regions. Although both mating types were detected in seven of the eight populations, the <i>MAT1-1</i>/<i>MAT1-2</i> ratios in these populations deviated significantly from the 1:1 ratio expected in a randomly mating population.</p>","PeriodicalId":20410,"journal":{"name":"Phytopathology","volume":" ","pages":"97-105"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142352512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PhytopathologyPub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2025-01-17DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-08-24-0267-SC
Claudine Boyer, Pierre Lefeuvre, Cyrille Zombre, Adrien Rieux, Issa Wonni, Lionel Gagnevin, Olivier Pruvost
{"title":"New, Complete Circularized Genomes of <i>Xanthomonas citri</i> pv. <i>mangiferaeindicae</i> Produced from Short- and Long-Read Co-Assembly Shed Light on Strains that Emerged a Decade Ago on Mango and Cashew in Burkina Faso.","authors":"Claudine Boyer, Pierre Lefeuvre, Cyrille Zombre, Adrien Rieux, Issa Wonni, Lionel Gagnevin, Olivier Pruvost","doi":"10.1094/PHYTO-08-24-0267-SC","DOIUrl":"10.1094/PHYTO-08-24-0267-SC","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We report high-quality genomes of three strains of <i>Xanthomonas citri</i> pv<i>. mangiferaeindicae</i>, the causal agent of mango bacterial canker disease, including the pathotype strain of this pathovar and two strains from Burkina Faso that emerged a decade ago. These strains hosted two to three plasmids of sizes ranging from 19 to 86 kb. Genome mining revealed the presence of several secretion systems and effectors involved in the virulence of xanthomonads with (i) a type I secretion system of the hlyDB group; (ii) <i>xps</i> and <i>xcs</i> type II secretion systems; (iii) a type III secretion system with several type III effectors, including transcription activator-like effectors; (iv) several type IV secretion systems associated with plasmid or integrative conjugative elements mobility; (v) three type V secretion system subclasses (Va, Vb, and Vc); and (vi) a single i3* type VI secretion system. The two strains isolated in Burkina Faso from mango (<i>Mangifera indica</i>) and cashew (<i>Anacardium occidentale</i>) differed by only 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and shared identical secretion systems and type III effector repertoires. Several transcription activator-like effectors were identified in each strain, some of which may target plant genes previously found implicated in disease development in other xanthomonad-associated pathosystems. These results support the emergence in Burkina Faso a decade ago of very closely related strains that became epidemic on mango and cashew (i.e., two distinct host genera of a same plant family). These new genomic resources will contribute to better understanding the biology and evolution of this agriculturally major crop pathogen.</p>","PeriodicalId":20410,"journal":{"name":"Phytopathology","volume":" ","pages":"14-19"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142472983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Engineered Pine Endophytic Fungus Expressing dsRNA Targeting Lethal Genes to Control the Plant Parasitic Nematode <i>Bursaphelenchus xylophilus</i>.","authors":"Wei Zhang, Ruijiong Wang, Yongxia Li, Dongzhen Li, Xuan Wang, Xiaojian Wen, Yuqian Feng, Zhenkai Liu, Shuai Ma, Xingyao Zhang","doi":"10.1094/PHYTO-07-24-0203-R","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-24-0203-R","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The pine wood nematode (PWN), <i>Bursaphelenchus xylophilus</i>, is one of the most serious invasive forest pests, responsible for pine wilt disease (PWD). Currently, there are no effective, environmentally friendly control methods available. RNA interference (RNAi) technology has been extensively utilized to screen functional genes in eukaryotes and to explore sustainable pest management approaches through genetic engineering. In this study, we identified 353 predicted lethal genes in PWN by comparing its genome with those of lethal genes from <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>. We selected five predicted lethal genes (<i>Bxy1177</i>, <i>Bxy1239</i>, <i>Bxy1104</i>, <i>Bxy667</i>, and <i>BxyAK1</i>) with identification values exceeding 60% to evaluate their nematicidal effects on PWN. We tested the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of these genes using two methods: firstly, soaking in a synthesized dsRNA solution in vitro, or secondly, feeding on a dsRNA-engineered endophytic fungus, <i>Fusarium babinda</i>. Following dsRNA ingestion, either through soaking or fungal feeding, the expression of genes <i>Bxy1177</i>, <i>Bxy667</i>, <i>Bxy1104</i>, and <i>BxyAK1</i> was significantly suppressed. Notably, nematode populations that consumed fungi expressing dsL1177 and dsAK1 showed substantial declines over time. These findings provide novel insights and a practical foundation for employing endophytic fungi-expressed dsRNA in sustainable pest management strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":20410,"journal":{"name":"Phytopathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142882781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PhytopathologyPub Date : 2024-12-17DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-07-24-0226-R
Qi Xiao, Leyuan Zhang, Xueping Xu, Renyu Dai, Yingqing Tan, Xianbi Li, Dan Jin, Yanhua Fan
{"title":"A nitrogen-metabolism inhibitor NmrA regulates conidial production, melanin synthesis and virulence in phytopathogenic fungus <i>Verticillium dahliae</i>.","authors":"Qi Xiao, Leyuan Zhang, Xueping Xu, Renyu Dai, Yingqing Tan, Xianbi Li, Dan Jin, Yanhua Fan","doi":"10.1094/PHYTO-07-24-0226-R","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-24-0226-R","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>NmrA homologs have been reported as conserved regulators of the nitrogen metabolite repression (NMR) in various fungi. Here, we identified a NmrA homolog in <i>Verticillium dahliae</i> and reported its functions in nitrogen utilization, growth and development, and pathogenesis. VdNmrA interacts with <i>V. dahliae</i> AreA protein and regulates the expression of a typical NCR target, the formamidase gene. <i>VdNmrA</i> deletion mutants exhibited significantly slower colony growth on media with Gln or Arg. Furthermore, <i>VdNmrA</i> deletion impaired hyphal growth, spore production, hyperosmotic stress tolerance, and melanin biosynthesis. Less ROS was produced in <i>VdNmrA</i> mutants, and the NADPH oxidase genes <i>noxA</i> and <i>noxB</i> showed lowered expression level compared to the wild type. <i>VdNmrA</i> mutants exhibited reduced virulence on cotton and <i>Arabidopsis</i> compared with wild type strains. Our results indicated that VdNmrA functioned as an NMR repressor and played important roles in nutrient utilization, fungal development, stress tolerance and pathogenicity in <i>V. dahliae</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":20410,"journal":{"name":"Phytopathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142838758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PhytopathologyPub Date : 2024-12-17DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-03-24-0081-R
Saskia Desiree Mesquida-Pesci, Abraham Morales-Cruz, Silvia Rodriguez-Pires, Rosa Figueroa-Balderas, Christian James Silva, Adrian Sbodio, Elia Gutierrez-Baeza, Petros Martin Raygoza, Dario Cantu, Barbara Blanco-Ulate
{"title":"<i>Rhizopus stolonifer</i> exhibits necrotrophic behavior when causing soft rot in ripe fruit.","authors":"Saskia Desiree Mesquida-Pesci, Abraham Morales-Cruz, Silvia Rodriguez-Pires, Rosa Figueroa-Balderas, Christian James Silva, Adrian Sbodio, Elia Gutierrez-Baeza, Petros Martin Raygoza, Dario Cantu, Barbara Blanco-Ulate","doi":"10.1094/PHYTO-03-24-0081-R","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-03-24-0081-R","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Rhizopus stolonifer</i> is known for causing soft rot in fruit and vegetables during postharvest. Although it has traditionally been considered a saprophyte, it appears to behave more like a necrotrophic pathogen. In this study, we propose that <i>R. stolonifer</i> invades host tissues by actively killing host cells and overcoming the host defense mechanisms, as opposed to growing saprophytically on decaying plant matter. We tested this hypothesis by characterizing <i>R. stolonifer</i> infection strategies when infecting four fruit hosts (tomato, grape, strawberry, and plum). We started by generating a high-quality genome assembly for <i>R. stolonifer</i> using PacBio sequencing. This led to a genome size of 45.02 Mb, an N50 of 2.87 Mb, and 12,644 predicted loci with protein-coding genes. Next, we performed a transcriptomic analysis to identify genes that <i>R. stolonifer</i> preferentially uses when growing in fruit versus culture media. We categorized these infection-related genes into clusters according to their expression patterns during the interaction with the host. Based on the expression data, we determined that <i>R. stolonifer</i> has a core infection toolbox consisting of strategies typical of necrotrophs, which includes a set of 33 oxidoreductases, 7 proteases, and 4 cell wall degrading enzymes to facilitate tissue breakdown and maceration across various hosts. This study provides new genomic resources for <i>R. stolonifer</i> and advances the knowledge of <i>Rhizopus</i>-fruit interactions, which can assist in formulating effective and sustainable integrated pest management approaches for soft rot prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":20410,"journal":{"name":"Phytopathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142838700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pink-pigmented variant of <i>Clavibacter michiganensis</i> expands phenotypic range of tomato bacterial canker pathogen.","authors":"Malihe Haghverdi, S Mohsen Taghavi, Sadegh Zarei, Hamzeh Mafakheri, Hamid Abachi, Martial Briand, Geraldine Taghouti, Perrine Portier, Marie-Agnes Jacques, Ebrahim Osdaghi","doi":"10.1094/PHYTO-07-24-0236-R","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-24-0236-R","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bacterial canker of tomato caused by the Gram-positive corynebacterial species <i>Clavibacter michiganensis</i> is one of the most destructive seed-borne diseases in both open air and greenhouse tomatoes. The pathogen is a regulated agent in all tomato-producing countries as translocation of infected tomato materials transports the bacterium into new areas. <i>Clavibacter michiganensis</i> is generally known to have yellow-pigmented colonies on culture media, which is a key differentiative phenotypic feature in standard diagnostic guidelines. During 2020 and 2021, pink-pigmented corynebacterial strains were isolated from tomato seeds (cv. Sun 6189F1) and plants showing severe canker symptoms in Southern Iran. The six pink-pigmented strains were pathogenic on tomato and pepper seedlings under greenhouse conditions, and gave positive results with <i>C. michiganensis</i>-specific primers pairs described in the literature. Phylogenomics and DNA similarity calculations showed that the pink-pigmented strains were highly similar to the authentic yellow-pigmented members of the pathogen. Thus, they were identified as a new phenotypic variant of tomato bacterial canker pathogen. Whole genome screenings accomplished with PCR-based assays showed that the pink strains contain all pathogenicity determinant genes described in <i>C. michiganensis</i>. Further, orthologous gene clusters in the pink-pigmented strains were more similar to the pathogenic members of <i>C. michiganensis</i> than to those of non-pathogenic tomato-associated <i>Clavibacter</i> species. Results obtained in this study demonstrate the emergence of a new pink-pigmented variant of <i>C. michiganensis</i> and highlight the importance of colony pigmentation/morphology in culture-based detection of the bacterium. The need for updating diagnostic guidelines on the colony variants of the pathogen is further discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":20410,"journal":{"name":"Phytopathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142802074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A qPCR Assay for the Quantification of the Overwintering Chasmothecia of <i>Erysiphe necator</i> in Grapevine Bark.","authors":"Othmane Taibi, Margherita Furiosi, Maela León, Elisa González-Domínguez, Vittorio Rossi, Mónica Berbegal","doi":"10.1094/PHYTO-04-24-0126-R","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-04-24-0126-R","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Powdery mildew (PM) disease causes serious losses in Mediterranean vineyards, where suitable environmental conditions promote conidial infections. The frequency and intensity of these infections are directly linked to the amount of primary <i>Erysiphe necator</i> inoculum, i.e., the chasmothecia embedded in the trunk. In this study, we set up a protocol to extract and quantify <i>E. necator</i> chasmothecia in grapevine bark samples based on a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay. Moreover, we observed PM severity and ascocarp production on leaves in the first season and primary infection in the following season in different grapevine cvs. with known PM susceptibility levels. The qPCR analysis showed a significant relationship between <i>E. necator</i> DNA concentration in bark samples and primary infection (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.970) and disease severity development (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.776), as well as chasmothecia development on leaves (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.455). The results demonstrate that this methodology can be used for quantifying chasmothecia, improving current methods based on visual counting, proving the interrelationships between PM epidemics and chasmothecia, as well as refining PM disease prediction models and subsequent fungicide application. Rapid and easy quantification of ascosporic inoculum will greatly facilitate the reconciliation of control actions to the risks posed by greatly differing levels of ascosporic inoculum.</p>","PeriodicalId":20410,"journal":{"name":"Phytopathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142786803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
PhytopathologyPub Date : 2024-12-01Epub Date: 2024-12-17DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-04-24-0148-R
Youzhou Liu, Chen Dai, Yang Zuo, Junqing Qiao, Jiahui Shen, Xiaole Yin, Yongfeng Liu
{"title":"Characterization of Siderophores Produced by <i>Bacillus velezensis</i> YL2021 and Its Application in Controlling Rice Sheath Blight and Rice Blast.","authors":"Youzhou Liu, Chen Dai, Yang Zuo, Junqing Qiao, Jiahui Shen, Xiaole Yin, Yongfeng Liu","doi":"10.1094/PHYTO-04-24-0148-R","DOIUrl":"10.1094/PHYTO-04-24-0148-R","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Bacillus velezensis</i> YL2021 has extensive antimicrobial activities against phytopathogens, and its genome harbors a catechol-type siderophore biosynthesis gene cluster. Here, we describe the characterization of siderophores produced by strain YL2021 and its antimicrobial activity in vitro and in vivo. A few types of siderophores were detected by chrome azurol S plates coupled with Arnow's test, purified, and identified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. We found that strain YL2021 can produce different antimicrobial compounds under low-iron M9 medium or iron-sufficient Luria-Bertani medium, although antimicrobial activities can be easily observed on the two media as described above in vitro. Strain YL2021 can produce at least three catechol-type siderophores in low-iron M9 medium, whereas no siderophores were produced in Luria-Bertani medium. Among them, the main antimicrobial siderophore produced by strain YL2021 was bacillibactin, with <i>m/z</i> 882, based on the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis, which has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, the oomycete <i>Phytophthora capsici</i>, and phytopathogenic fungi. Moreover, the antifungal activity of siderophores, including bacillibactin, observed in vitro was correlated with control efficacies against rice sheath blight disease caused by <i>Rhizoctonia solani</i> and rice blast disease caused by <i>Magnaporthe oryzae</i> in vivo. Collectively, the results demonstrate that siderophores, including bacillibactin, produced by <i>B. velezensis</i> YL2021 are promising biocontrol agents for application in rice disease control.</p>","PeriodicalId":20410,"journal":{"name":"Phytopathology","volume":" ","pages":"2491-2501"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142081325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}