Ss‐Rhs1, a secretory Rhs repeat‐containing protein,is required for the virulence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum |
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| Authors: | Yang Yu Jifen Xiao Wenjun Zhu Yuheng Yang Jiaqin Mei Chaowei Bi Wei Qian Ling Qing Wanzhong Tan |
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| Institution: | 1. College of Plant Protection, Southwest University, Chongqing, City, China;2. College of Biology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, City, China;3. College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, City, China |
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| Abstract: | Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating necrotrophic plant pathogen with a worldwide distribution. Cell wall‐degrading enzymes and oxalic acid are important to the virulence of this pathogen. Here, we report a novel secretory protein, Ss‐Rhs1, which is essential for the virulence of S. sclerotiorum. Ss‐Rhs1 is believed to contain a typical signal peptide at the N‐terminal and eight rearrangement hotspot (Rhs) repeats. Ss‐Rhs1 exhibited a high level of expression at the initial stage of sclerotial development, as well as during the hyphal infection process. Targeted silencing of Ss‐Rhs1 resulted in abnormal colony morphology and reduced virulence on host plants. Microscopic observations indicated that Ss‐Rhs1‐silenced strains exhibited reduced efficiency in compound appressoria formation. |
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| Keywords: | appressorium Rhs repeat sclerotia Sclerotinia sclerotiorum secretory protein virulence |
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