Isolation, identification, and characterization of Ustilaginoidea virens
 from rice false smut balls with high ustilotoxin production potential

False smut of rice, caused by Ustilaginoidea virens, has become one of the most important diseases in rice-growing regions worldwide. The disease causes a significant yield loss and imposes health threats to humans and animals by producing mycotoxins. In this review, we update our understanding of the pathogen, including the disease cycle and infection strategies, the decoding of the U. virens genome, comparative/functional genomics, and effector biology. Whereas the decoding of the U. virens genome unveils specific adaptations of the pathogen in successfully occupying rice flowers, progresses in comparative/functional genomics and effector biology have begun to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying U. virens virulence and pathogenicity. We highlight the identification and characterization of the produced mycotoxins and their biosynthetic pathways in U. virens.The management strategies for this disease are also discussed. The flower-specific infection strategy makes the pathogen a unique tool to unveil novel mechanisms for the interactions between nonobligate biotrophic pathogens and their hosts.

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A novel transcription factor UvCGBP1 regulates development and virulence of rice false smut fungus Ustilaginoidea virens

Virulence ◽

10.1080/21505594.2021.1936768 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 1563-1579

Author(s):

Xiaoyang Chen ◽

Pingping Li ◽

Hao Liu ◽

Xiaolin Chen ◽

Junbin Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcription Factor ◽

Smut Fungus ◽

Ustilaginoidea Virens ◽

Rice False Smut ◽

False Smut

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Quantitative Proteomics Analysis Reveals the Function of the Putative Ester Cyclase UvEC1 in the Pathogenicity of the Rice False Smut Fungus Ustilaginoidea virens

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22084069 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (8) ◽

pp. 4069

Author(s):

Xiaoyang Chen ◽

Zhangxin Pei ◽

Pingping Li ◽

Xiabing Li ◽

Yuhang Duan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Proteomics ◽

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Protein Localization ◽

Proteomics Data ◽

Ustilaginoidea Virens ◽

Rice False Smut ◽

Oxidative Stresses ◽

Tandem Mass Tag ◽

Cyclase Domain ◽

False Smut

Rice false smut is a fungal disease distributed worldwide and caused by Ustilaginoidea virens. In this study, we identified a putative ester cyclase (named as UvEC1) as being significantly upregulated during U. virens infection. UvEC1 contained a SnoaL-like polyketide cyclase domain, but the functions of ketone cyclases such as SnoaL in plant fungal pathogens remain unclear. Deletion of UvEC1 caused defects in vegetative growth and conidiation. UvEC1 was also required for response to hyperosmotic and oxidative stresses and for maintenance of cell wall integrity. Importantly, ΔUvEC1 mutants exhibited reduced virulence. We performed a tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomic analysis to identify differentially accumulating proteins (DAPs) between the ΔUvEC1-1 mutant and the wild-type isolate HWD-2. Proteomics data revealed that UvEC1 has a variety of effects on metabolism, protein localization, catalytic activity, binding, toxin biosynthesis and the spliceosome. Taken together, our findings suggest that UvEC1 is critical for the development and virulence of U. virens.

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The role of Ustilaginoidea virens sclerotia in increasing incidence of rice false smut disease in the subtropical zone in China

European Journal of Plant Pathology ◽

10.1007/s10658-017-1312-8 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 150 (3) ◽

pp. 669-677 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Mingli Yong ◽

Qide Deng ◽

Linlin Fan ◽

Jiankun Miao ◽

Chaohui Lai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ustilaginoidea Virens ◽

Subtropical Zone ◽

Rice False Smut ◽

False Smut

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Frequency distribution of sensitivity of Ustilaginoidea virens to four EBI fungicides, prochloraz, difenoconazole, propiconazole and tebuconazole, and their efficacy in controlling rice false smut in Anhui Province of China

Phytoparasitica ◽

10.1007/s12600-013-0288-y ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 277-284 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Yu Chen ◽

Yong Zhang ◽

Jian Yao ◽

Yun-Fei Li ◽

Xue Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Frequency Distribution ◽

Anhui Province ◽

Ustilaginoidea Virens ◽

Rice False Smut ◽

False Smut

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Characterization of mating-type loci in rice false smut fungus Villosiclava virens

FEMS Microbiology Letters ◽

10.1093/femsle/fnv014 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 362 (9) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Jun-jie Yu ◽

Wen-xian Sun ◽

Mi-na Yu ◽

Xiao-le Yin ◽

Xiang-kun Meng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mating Type ◽

Smut Fungus ◽

Rice False Smut ◽

Villosiclava Virens ◽

False Smut

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Genetic diversity and population structure of the rice false smut pathogen Ustilaginoidea virens in Sichuan-Chongqing region

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-04-21-0750-re ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anfei Fang ◽

Zhuangyuan Fu ◽

Zexiong Wang ◽

Yuhang Fu ◽

Yubao Qin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Population Structure ◽

Genetic Variation ◽

Genetic Recombination ◽

Resistance Breeding ◽

Ustilaginoidea Virens ◽

Breeding Lines ◽

Rice False Smut ◽

Geographical Populations ◽

False Smut

Rice false smut caused by Ustilaginoidea virens is currently one of the most devastating fungal diseases of rice panicles worldwide. In this study, two novel molecular markers derived from SNP-rich genomic DNA fragments and a previously reported molecular marker were used for analyzing the genetic diversity and population structure of 167 U. virens isolates collected from nine areas in Sichuan-Chongqing region, China. A total of 62 haplotypes were identified, and a few haplotypes with high frequency were found and distributed in two to three areas, suggesting gene flow among different geographical populations. All isolates were divided into six genetic groups. The groups Ⅰ and Ⅵ were the largest including 61 and 48 isolates, respectively. The pairwise FST values showed significant genetic differentiation among all compared geographical populations. AMOVA showed that intergroup genetic variation accounted for 40.17% of the total genetic variation, while 59.83% of genetic variation came from intragroup. The UPGMA dendrogram and population structure revealed that the genetic composition of isolates collected from ST (Santai), NC (Nanchong), YC (Yongchuan), and WS (Wansheng) dominated by the same genetic subgroup was different from those collected from other areas. In addition, genetic recombination was found in a few isolates. These findings will help to improve the strategies for rice false smut management and resistance breeding, such as evaluating breeding lines with different isolates or haplotypes at different elevations and landforms.

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