Validation of reference genes for gene expression analysis in Valsa mali var. mali using real-time quantitative PCR

Valsa mali var. mali (Vmm), is the predominant species of apple valsa canker in China. Modern analysis of genes involved in virulence or pathogenicity usually implicate gene expression analysis most often performed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). However, for relative gene expression analysis pertinent reference genes have to be validated before using them as internal reference. This has not been reported for Vmm, so far. Therefore, eight commonly used housekeeping genes (ACT, CYP, EF1-α, G6PDH, GAPDH, L13, TUB, and UBQ) were cloned and evaluated for their expression stability by geNorm and NormFinder. Overall, all of the candidate reference genes were found to be suitable for gene expression analysis. After analysis of 10 samples from different strains and abiotic stress treatments, G6PDH appeared to be the most suitable reference gene, whereas GAPDH was the least suitable. Moreover, taking G6PDH combined with L13 or CYP as reference genes, improved the reliability of RT-qPCR significantly. The influence of the reference system on expression data was demonstrated by analyzing Vmmpg-1 encoding an endo-polygalacturonase gene. Pectinases are considered key pathogenicity factors for this fungus. In order to better understand the role of pectinases in pathogenicity of Vmm, RT-qPCR was used for expression analysis. Our results may provide a guideline for future studies on gene expression of V. mali var. mali by using RT-qPCR.     

Hce2 domain-containing effectors contribute to the full virulence of Valsa mali in a redundant manner

Valsa mali is the causal agent of apple Valsa canker, a destructive disease in East Asia. Effector proteins play important roles in the virulence of phytopathogenic fungi, and we identified five Hce2 domain-containing effectors (VmHEP1, VmHEP2, VmHEP3, VmHEP4 and VmHEP5) from the V. mali genome. Amongst these, VmHEP1 and VmHEP2 were found to be up-regulated during the early infection stage and VmHEP1 was also identified as a cell death inducer through its transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. Although the deletion of each single VmHEP gene did not lead to a reduction in virulence, the double-deletion of VmHEP1 and VmHEP2 notably attenuated V. mali virulence in both apple twigs and leaves. An evolutionary analysis revealed that VmHEP1 and VmHEP2 are two paralogues, under purifying selection. VmHEP1 and VmHEP2 are located next to each other on chromosome 11 as tandem genes with only a 604 bp physical distance. Interestingly, the deletion of VmHEP1 promoted the expression of VmHEP2 and, vice versa, the deletion of VmHEP2 promoted the expression of VmHEP1. The present results provide insights into the functions of Hce2 domain-containing effectors acting as virulence factors of V. mali, and provide a new perspective regarding the contribution of tandem genes to the virulence of phytopathogenic fungi.     

苹果树腐烂病菌非核糖体多肽合成酶基因VmNRPS12的功能

【目的】非核糖体多肽合成酶(NRPS)在植物病原真菌与其寄主互作过程中发挥着重要作用,明确Vm NRPS12基因在苹果树腐烂病菌致病过程中的功能,将为今后深入研究苹果树腐烂病菌NRPS作用机制提供理论依据。【方法】基于苹果树腐烂病菌全基因组数据,得到VmNRPS12基因。运用qRT-PCR技术分析VmNRPS12在侵染初期的表达水平,利用Double-joint PCR和PEG介导的原生质体转化获得该基因抗潮霉素的突变体,对突变体进行PCR检测及Southern blot验证得到敲除突变体,进一步通过重新导入该基因全长片段获得互补突变体,最后对野生型、敲除突变体和互补突变体进行菌落、产孢及致病力观察,对检测数据用SPSS软件进行差异显著性分析。【结果】定量分析显示该基因在侵染初期显著上调表达,且接种48 h后的表达量是对照的138.6倍。该基因的敲除突变体在营养生长及产孢方面与野生型菌株03-8相比无显著性差异,但致病力与野生型菌株03-8相比显著减弱,且互补突变体致病力近似恢复至野生型水平。【结论】VmNRPS12基因与苹果树腐烂病菌致病性相关。     

The apple FERONIA receptor-like kinase MdMRLK2 negatively regulates Valsa canker resistance by suppressing defence responses and hypersensitive reaction

Valsa canker, caused by the fungus Valsa mali, is one of the most destructive diseases of apple trees in China and other East Asian countries. The plant receptor-like kinase FERONIA is involved in plant cell growth, development, and immunity. However, little is known about the function of FERONIA in apple defence against V. mali. In this study, we found that MdMRLK2 was highly induced by V. mali in twigs of V. mali-susceptible Malus mellana but not in those of the resistant species Malus yunnaensis. 35S:MdMRLK2 apple plants showed compromised resistance relative to wild-type (WT) plants. Further analyses indicated that 35S:MdMRLK2 apple plants had enhanced abscisic acid (ABA) levels and reduced salicylic acid (SA) levels relative to the WT on V. mali infection. MdMRLK2 overexpression also suppressed polyphenol accumulation and inhibited the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), β-1,3-glucanase (GLU), and chitinase (CHT) during V. mali infection. Moreover, MdMRLK2 interacted with MdHIR1, a hypersensitive-induced response protein, and suppressed the MdHIR1-mediated hypersensitive reaction (HR), probably by impairing MdHIR1 self-interaction. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that overexpression of MdMRLK2 compromises Valsa canker resistance, probably by (a) altering ABA and SA levels, (b) suppressing polyphenol accumulation, (c) inhibiting PAL, GLU, and CHT activities, and (d) blocking MdHIR1-mediated HR by disrupting MdHIR1 self-interaction.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Mediated Transformation of Aspergillus fumigatus: an Efficient Tool for Insertional Mutagenesis and Targeted Gene Disruption

Agrobacterium tumefaciens was used to transform Aspergillus fumigatus by either random or site-directed integration of transforming DNA (T-DNA). Random mutagenesis via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) was accomplished with T-DNA containing a hygromycin resistance cassette. Cocultivation of A. fumigatus conidia and Agrobacterium (1:10 ratio) for 48 h at 24°C resulted in high frequencies of transformation (>100 transformants/10⁷ conidia). The majority of transformants harbored a randomly integrated single copy of T-DNA and were mitotically stable. We chose alb1, a polyketide synthase gene, as the target gene for homologous integration because of the clear phenotype difference between the white colonies of Δalb1 mutant strains and the bluish-green colonies of wild-type strains. ATMT with a T-DNA-containing alb1 disruption construct resulted in 66% albino transformants. Southern analysis revealed that 19 of the 20 randomly chosen albino transformants (95%) were disrupted by homologous recombination. These results suggest that ATMT is an efficient tool for transformation, random insertional mutagenesis, and gene disruption in A. fumigatus.     

Vm-milR21调控苹果黑腐皮壳侵染致病的功能和机理

苹果黑腐皮壳(Valsamali)引起的腐烂病是苹果最具毁灭性的枝干病害。微小核糖核酸(microRNA-like RNAs, milRNAs)在真菌生长发育、侵染致病和胁迫响应等过程中发挥重要作用。前期研究发现Vm-milR21在病菌侵染阶段特异性下调表达,推测其可能参与V. mali的侵染致病过程。【目的】本文对Vm-milR21的功能进行研究。【方法】制备Vm-milR21前体过表达和沉默转化株,评价不同转化株与野生型菌株表型差异。进而,通过实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, qRT-PCR)和共转化技术验证Vm-milR21与其潜在靶标Vm-03494之间的靶向调控关系。在此基础上,构建Vm-03494的基因敲除突变体,并鉴定突变体表型。【结果】与野生型菌株相比,过表达转化株的菌丝生长速率以及对叶片和枝条的致病力均大幅降低,而沉默转化株无明显变化。Vm-milR21能够序列特异性地抑制Vm-03494表达。相较于野生型菌株,Vm-03494敲除突变体菌丝生长速率和致病力均显著降低。【结论】...     

Transformation of Corynespora cassiicola by Agrobacterium tumefaciens

The fungus causing target spot disease, Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. & M. A. Curtis) C. T. Wei, poses an increasing threat to watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), muskmelon (Cucumis melo), and cucumber (Cucumis sativus); the most economically important cucurbit crops grown in China. An understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of C. cassiicola is essential for the development of new strategies to control this disease-causing fungus. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) might be useful to obtain transformants of C. cassiicola, for the ultimate identification of genes involved in pathogenicity. In the present work, we established and optimized an ATMT protocol using A. tumefaciens strain AGL-1 carrying the vector pATMT1 for C. cassiicola. Efficiency of ATMT was 102–148 transformants per 10⁶ conidia and successive subculturing of transformants on non-selective and selective media demonstrated that the integrated transfer (T)-DNA was stably inherited in C. cassiicola transformants. The integration of the hygromycin B phosphotransferase (hph) gene into C. cassiicola was validated by PCR and Southern blot analyses, which revealed that nearly 90 % of the transformants contained single-copy T-DNA. The transformants with altered phenotypes were characterized. Three of these transformants completely lost pathogenicity and other three showed strongly impaired pathogenicity relative to the Cc-GX strain on muskmelon leaves. These results strongly suggest that ATMT may be used as a molecular tool for identifying genes relevant to pathogenicity in the fungus C. cassiicola, an emerging threat to several agronomically important plants in China.     

An efficient <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis>-mediated transformation method for aflatoxin generation fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus flavus</Emphasis>

Aspergillus flavus often invade many important corps and produce harmful aflatoxins both in preharvest and during storage stages. The regulation mechanism of aflatoxin biosynthesis in this fungus has not been well explored mainly due to the lack of an efficient transformation method for constructing a genome-wide gene mutant library. This challenge was resolved in this study, where a reliable and efficient Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) protocol for A. flavus NRRL 3357 was established. The results showed that removal of multinucleate conidia, to collect a homogenous sample of uninucleate conidia for use as the transformation material, is the key step in this procedure. A. tumefaciens strain AGL-1 harboring the ble gene for zeocin resistance under the control of the gpdA promoter from A. nidulans is suitable for genetic transformation of this fungus. We successfully generated A. flavus transformants with an efficiency of ～ 60 positive transformants per 10⁶ conidia using our protocol. A small-scale insertional mutant library (～ 1,000 mutants) was constructed using this method and the resulting several mutants lacked both production of conidia and aflatoxin biosynthesis capacity. Southern blotting analysis demonstrated that the majority of the transformants contained a single T-DNA insert on the genome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of genetic transformation of A. flavus via ATMT and our protocol provides an effective tool for construction of genome-wide gene mutant libraries for functional analysis of important genes in A. flavus.     

Delimiting cryptic pathogen species causing apple Valsa canker with multilocus data

Fungal diseases are posing tremendous threats to global economy and food safety. Among them, Valsa canker, caused by fungi of Valsa and their Cytospora anamorphs, has been a serious threat to fruit and forest trees and is one of the most destructive diseases of apple in East Asia, particularly. Accurate and robust delimitation of pathogen species is not only essential for the development of effective disease control programs, but also will advance our understanding of the emergence of plant diseases. However, species delimitation is especially difficult in Valsa because of the high variability of morphological traits and in many cases the lack of the teleomorph. In this study, we delimitated species boundary for pathogens causing apple Valsa canker with a multifaceted approach. Based on three independent loci, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), β‐tubulin (Btu), and translation elongation factor‐1 alpha (EF1α), we inferred gene trees with both maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, estimated species tree with Bayesian multispecies coalescent approaches, and validated species tree with Bayesian species delimitation. Through divergence time estimation and ancestral host reconstruction, we tested the possible underlying mechanisms for fungal speciation and host‐range change. Our results proved that two varieties of the former morphological species V. mali represented two distinct species, V. mali and V. pyri, which diverged about 5 million years ago, much later than the divergence of their preferred hosts, excluding a scenario of fungi–host co‐speciation. The marked different thermal preferences and contrasting pathogenicity in cross‐inoculation suggest ecological divergences between the two species. Apple was the most likely ancestral host for both V. mali and V. pyri. Host‐range expansion led to the occurrence of V. pyri on both pear and apple. Our results also represent an example in which ITS data might underestimate species diversity.     

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GB1 can effectively control apple valsa canker

Apple valsa canker (AVC), caused by Valsa mali, is one of the most serious diseases of apple trees in eastern Asia, and the most important factor limiting apple production in China. This disease is difficult to control by chemical and agricultural measures, thus biocontrol may constitute a desirable alternative strategy. A Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain denoted GB1 isolated from ageing cucumber stems, exhibited a strong antagonistic activity against V. mali, inhibiting significantly the germination of conidia and the growth of hyphae. GB1 conidial suspensions (above 10⁶ CFU/ml) applied prior to wound inoculation of apple twigs with V. mali resulted in total inhibition of infection. Strain GB1 colonized xylem and phloem tissues surrounding the wounds made on apple twigs and formed biofilms over them. Results indicate that B. amyloliquefaciens GB1 may be a promising agent for the biocontrol of AVC, and provide new insights into the ability of B. amyloliquefaciens to colonize apple trees.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium tumefaciens</Emphasis>-mediated transformation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Botryosphaeria dothidea</Emphasis>

Botryosphaeria dothidea is a severe causal agent of die-back and cankers of many woody plants and causes great losses in many regions. The pathogenic mechanism of this pathogen has not been well explored due to lack of mutants and genetic information. In this study, we developed an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) protocol for B. dothidea protoplasts using vector pBHt2 containing the hph gene as a selection marker under the control of trp C promoter. Using this protocol we successfully generated the B. dothidea transformants with efficiency about 23 transformants per 10⁵ protoplasts. This is the first report of genetic transformation of B. dothidea via ATMT and this protocol provides an effective tool for B. dothidea genome manipulation, gene identification and functional analysis.     

Antagonistische wirkungen von Trichoderma spp. gegen Valsa mali an apfel (Malus pumila)

Untersuchungen der antagonistischen Wirkungen von zwei Trichoderma spp. gegen Valsa mali wurden im Labor duchgeführt. Die Konfrontationskulturen belegen, dass die Trichoderma spp. durch sehr schnelles Wachstum gegen V. mali um Raum und Nährstoffe konkurrieren können. Die Entwicklung des Pathogens wurde deutlich gehemmt, seine Hyphen durch die Antagonisten parasitiert und zerstört. Flüchtige Substanzen von T. atroviride, Stamm T95, hemmen signifikant das Wachstum von V. mali. Die Kolonieradien waren gegenüber der Kontrolle um mehr als die Hälfte reduziert. Die Kulturfiltrate der Trichoderma‐Stämme T88 und T95 in Czapek's Nährmedium zeigten eine deutlich hemmende Wirkung auf die Konidienkeimung von V. mali. Je älter die Kultur wird, desto stärker ist die hemmende Wirkung der Kulturfiltrate ausgeprägt. Inokuliert man Trichoderma spp. vor der V. mali‐Inokulation auf Apfelzweige, redujeren beide Trichoderma‐Stämme das Ausmaß der Erkrankung. Trichoderma‐Arten konnten aus inokulierten Zweigen reisoliert werden, aus Läsionen häufiger als aus den gesunden Gewebeteilen.     

Efficient insertional mutagenesis system for the dimorphic pathogenic fungus Sporothrix schenckii using Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Sporothrix schenckii is a dimorphic pathogenic fungus that causes human and animal sporotrichosis globally. Here we developed and optimized an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) system of S. schenckii for insertional mutagenesis. The transformation efficiency reached more than 600 transformants per 10⁶ conidia. Using this protocol enabled us to obtain a large number of T-DNA insertional mutants within a short experimental period. Several mutants with altered phenotypes were obtained during the transformation experiments. The mutants displayed mitotic stability. Transferred DNA (T-DNA) flanking sequences were cloned by thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR (TAIL-PCR). Our results demonstrated that the ATMT system can be an effective tool for insertional mutagenesis in S. schenckii. This is the first report of a suitable mutagenesis system which may provide valuable mutants and information for both forward and reverse genetics research in the future for this medically important fungus.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-Mediated Transformation of the Lichen Fungus,Umbilicaria muehlenbergii

Transformation-mediated mutagenesis in both targeted and random manners has been widely applied to decipher gene function in diverse fungi. However, a transformation system has not yet been established for lichen fungi, severely limiting our ability to study their biology and mechanism underpinning symbiosis via gene manipulation. Here, we report the first successful transformation of the lichen fungus, Umbilicaria muehlenbergii, via the use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. We generated a total of 918 transformants employing a binary vector that carries the hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene as a selection marker and the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene for labeling transformants. Randomly selected transformants appeared mitotically stable, based on their maintenance of hygromycin B resistance after five generations of growth without selection. Genomic Southern blot showed that 88% of 784 transformants contained a single T-DNA insert in their genome. A number of putative mutants affected in colony color, size, and/or morphology were found among these transformants, supporting the utility of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) for random insertional mutagenesis of U. muehlenbergii. This ATMT approach potentially offers a systematic gene functional study with genome sequences of U. muehlenbergii that is currently underway.     

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation of Penicillium expansum PE-12 and its application in molecular breeding

Lipase produced by Penicillium expansum is widely used in laundry detergent and leather industry; however, the absence of an efficient transformation technology sets a major obstacle for further enhancement of its lipase productivity through advanced gene engineering. In this work, Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT) was investigated for P. expansum PE-12 transformation, using hygromycin phosphotransferase (hph) as a selectable marker gene. As a result, we revealed that the frequency of transformation surpassed 100 transformants/10⁵ condida, most of the integrated T-DNA appeared as a single copy at a random position in chromosomal DNA, and all the transformants showed mitotic stability. Facilitated by this newly established method, for the first time, P. expansum PE-12 was genetically engineered to improve the lipase yield, through a homologous expression vector carrying the endogenous lipase gene (PEL) driven by the strong constitutive promoter of the glyceraldehydes-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (gpdA) from Aspergillus nidulans. The highest expression level of the engineered strain reached up to 1700 U/mL, nearly 2-fold of the original industrial strain (900 U/mL). Our reproducible ATMT system has not only revealed the great potential of homologous expression-directed genetic engineering, which is more efficient and specific compared to traditional mutagenesis, but also provided new possibilities and perspectives for any other practical applications of P. expansum-related genetic engineering in the future.