Genome Evolution of Fungal Plant Pathogens

AbstractTransposable elements (TEs) impact genome plasticity, architecture and evolution in fungal plant pathogens. The wide range of TE content observed in fungal genomes reflects diverse efficacy of host-genome defence mechanisms that can counter-balance TE expansion and spread. Closely related species can harbour drastically different TE repertoires, suggesting variation in the efficacy of genome defences. The evolution of fungal effectors, which are crucial determinants of pathogenicity, has been linked to the activity of TEs in pathogen genomes. Here we describe how TEs have shaped genome evolution of the fungal wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici and four closely related species. We compared de novo TE annotations and Repeat-Induced Point mutation signatures in thirteen genomes from the Zymoseptoria species-complex. Then, we assessed the relative insertion ages of TEs using a comparative genomics approach. Finally, we explored the impact of TE insertions on genome architecture and plasticity. The thirteen genomes of Zymoseptoria species reflect different TE dynamics with a majority of recent insertions. TEs associate with distinct genome compartments in all Zymoseptoria species, including chromosomal rearrangements, genes showing presence/absence variation and effectors. European Z. tritici isolates have reduced signatures of Repeat-Induced Point mutations compared to Iranian isolates and closely related species. Our study supports the hypothesis that ongoing but moderate TE mobility in Zymoseptoria species shapes pathogen genome evolution.

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Morphological, biochemical and molecular identification of rhizobacteria isolates with potential for biocontrol of fungal plant pathogens

Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection ◽

10.1080/03235408.2021.1909370 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Stephen Larbi-Koranteng ◽

Richard Tuyee Awuah ◽

Fredrick Kankam ◽

Muntala Abdulai ◽

Marian Dorcas Quain ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Identification ◽

Plant Pathogens ◽

Fungal Plant Pathogens

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Reduction of Selenicereus stem cuttings weight by fungal plant pathogens during storage

Journal of Phytopathology ◽

10.1111/jph.13024 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

John Darby Taguiam ◽

Edzel Evallo ◽

Mark Angelo Balendres

Keyword(s):

Plant Pathogens ◽

Stem Cuttings ◽

Fungal Plant Pathogens

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The carbon source-dependent pattern of antimicrobial activity and gene expression in Pseudomonas donghuensis P482

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-90488-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marta Matuszewska ◽

Tomasz Maciąg ◽

Magdalena Rajewska ◽

Aldona Wierzbicka ◽

Sylwia Jafra

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Antimicrobial Activity ◽

Carbon Source ◽

Reference Genes ◽

Plant Pathogens ◽

Plant Protection ◽

Carbon Sources ◽

Unknown Compound ◽

Fungal Plant Pathogens ◽

The Impact

AbstractPseudomonas donghuensis P482 is a tomato rhizosphere isolate with the ability to inhibit growth of bacterial and fungal plant pathogens. Herein, we analysed the impact of the carbon source on the antibacterial activity of P482 and expression of the selected genes of three genomic regions in the P482 genome. These regions are involved in the synthesis of pyoverdine, 7-hydroxytropolone (7-HT) and an unknown compound (“cluster 17”) and are responsible for the antimicrobial activity of P482. We showed that the P482 mutants, defective in these regions, show variations and contrasting patterns of growth inhibition of the target pathogen under given nutritional conditions (with glucose or glycerol as a carbon source). We also selected and validated the reference genes for gene expression studies in P. donghuensis P482. Amongst ten candidate genes, we found gyrB, rpoD and mrdA the most stably expressed. Using selected reference genes in RT-qPCR, we assessed the expression of the genes of interest under minimal medium conditions with glucose or glycerol as carbon sources. Glycerol was shown to negatively affect the expression of genes necessary for 7-HT synthesis. The significance of this finding in the light of the role of nutrient (carbon) availability in biological plant protection is discussed.

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Stress-Activated Protein Kinase Signalling Regulates Mycoparasitic Hyphal-Hyphal Interactions in Trichoderma atroviride

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7050365 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. 365

Author(s):

Dubraska Moreno-Ruiz ◽

Linda Salzmann ◽

Mark D. Fricker ◽

Susanne Zeilinger ◽

Alexander Lichius

Keyword(s):

Protein Kinase ◽

Map Kinases ◽

Plant Pathogens ◽

Tip Growth ◽

Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽

Trichoderma Atroviride ◽

Contact Phase ◽

Fungal Plant Pathogens ◽

Signalling Network ◽

Mapk Signalling

Trichoderma atroviride is a mycoparasitic fungus used as biological control agent against fungal plant pathogens. The recognition and appropriate morphogenetic responses to prey-derived signals are essential for successful mycoparasitism. We established microcolony confrontation assays using T. atroviride strains expressing cell division cycle 42 (Cdc42) and Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) interactive binding (CRIB) reporters to analyse morphogenetic changes and the dynamic displacement of localized GTPase activity during polarized tip growth. Microscopic analyses showed that Trichoderma experiences significant polarity stress when approaching its fungal preys. The perception of prey-derived signals is integrated via the guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling network, and deletion of the MAP kinases Trichoderma MAPK 1 (Tmk1) and Tmk3 affected T. atroviride tip polarization, chemotropic growth, and contact-induced morphogenesis so severely that the establishment of mycoparasitism was highly inefficient to impossible. The responses varied depending on the prey species and the interaction stage, reflecting the high selectivity of the signalling process. Our data suggest that Tmk3 affects the polarity-stress adaptation process especially during the pre-contact phase, whereas Tmk1 regulates contact-induced morphogenesis at the early-contact phase. Neither Tmk1 nor Tmk3 loss-of-function could be fully compensated within the GTPase/MAPK signalling network underscoring the crucial importance of a sensitive polarized tip growth apparatus for successful mycoparasitism.

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Metabolites of rhizobacteria antagonistic towards fungal plant pathogens

Annals of Microbiology ◽

10.1007/bf03175061 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 57 (1) ◽

pp. 127-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Garima Jha ◽

Vanamala Anjaiah

Keyword(s):

Plant Pathogens ◽

Fungal Plant Pathogens

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Effectors of biotrophic fungal plant pathogens

Functional Plant Biology ◽

10.1071/fp10072 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 37 (10) ◽

pp. 913 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Pamela H. P. Gan ◽

Maryam Rafiqi ◽

Adrienne R. Hardham ◽

Peter N. Dodds

Keyword(s):

Plant Tissue ◽

Fungal Pathogen ◽

Plant Pathogens ◽

Plant Cells ◽

Host Cells ◽

Plant Proteins ◽

Living Plant ◽

Host Cytoplasm ◽

Fungal Plant Pathogens ◽

Biotrophic Fungi

Plant pathogenic biotrophic fungi are able to grow within living plant tissue due to the action of secreted pathogen proteins known as effectors that alter the response of plant cells to pathogens. The discovery and identification of these proteins has greatly expanded with the sequencing and annotation of fungal pathogen genomes. Studies to characterise effector function have revealed that a subset of these secreted pathogen proteins interact with plant proteins within the host cytoplasm. This review focuses on the effectors of intracellular biotrophic and hemibiotrophic fungal plant pathogens and summarises advances in understanding the roles of these proteins in disease and in elucidating the mechanism of fungal effector uptake into host cells.

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