Interfamily transfer of tomato Ve1 mediates Verticillium resistance in Arabidopsis

Vascular wilts caused by soil-borne fungal species of the Verticillium genus are devastating plant diseases. The most common species, Verticillium dahliae and Verticillium albo-atrum, have broad host ranges and are notoriously difficult to control. Therefore, genetic resistance is the preferred method for disease control. Only from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) has a Verticillium resistance locus been cloned, comprising the Ve1 gene that encodes a receptor-like protein-type cell surface receptor. Due to lack of a suitable model for receptor-like protein (RLP)-mediated resistance signaling in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), so far relatively little is known about RLP signaling in pathogen resistance. Here, we show that Ve1 remains fully functional after interfamily transfer to Arabidopsis and that Ve1-transgenic Arabidopsis is resistant to race 1 but not to race 2 strains of V. dahliae and V. albo-atrum, nor to the Brassicaceae-specific pathogen Verticillium longisporum. Furthermore, we show that signaling components utilized by Ve1 in Arabidopsis to establish Verticillium resistance overlap with those required in tomato and include SERK3/BAK1, EDS1, and NDR1, which strongly suggests that critical components for resistance signaling are conserved. We subsequently investigated the requirement of SERK family members for Ve1 resistance in Arabidopsis, revealing that SERK1 is required in addition to SERK3/BAK1. Using virus-induced gene silencing, the requirement of SERK1 for Ve1-mediated resistance was confirmed in tomato. Moreover, we show the requirement of SERK1 for resistance against the foliar fungal pathogen Cladosporium fulvum mediated by the RLP Cf-4. Our results demonstrate that Arabidopsis can be used as model to unravel the genetics of Ve1-mediated resistance.     

Induction of resistance to Verticillium dahliae in Arabidopsis thaliana by the biocontrol agent K-165 and pathogenesis-related proteins gene expression

The biocontrol bacterium Paenibacillus alvei K165 has the ability to protect Arabidopsis thaliana against Verticillium dahliae. A direct antagonistic action of strain K165 against V. dahliae was ruled out, making it likely that K165-mediated protection results from induced systemic resistance (ISR) in the host. K165-mediated protection was tested in various Arabidopsis mutants and transgenic plants impaired in defense signaling pathways, including NahG (transgenic line degrading salicylic acid [SA]), etr1-1 (insensitive to ethylene), jar1-1 (insensitive to jasmonate), npr1-1 (nonexpressing NPR1 protein), pad3-1 (phytoalexin deficient), pad4-1 (phytoalexin deficient), eds5/sid1 (enhanced disease susceptibility), and sid2 (SA-induction deficient). ISR was blocked in Arabidopsis mutants npr1-1, eds5/sid1, and sid2, indicating that components of the pathway from isochorismate and a functional NPR1 play a crucial role in the K165-mediated ISR. Furthermore, the concomitant activation and increased transient accumulation of the PR-1, PR-2, and PR-5 genes were observed in the treatment in which both the inducing bacterial strain and the challenging pathogen were present in the rhizosphere of the A. thaliana plants.     

Overexpression of GhPFN2 enhances protection against Verticillium dahliae invasion in cotton

Growing evidence indicates that actin cytoskeleton is involved in plant innate immune responses,but the functional mechanism remains largely unknown.Here,we investigated the behavior of a cotton profilin gene(GhPFN2) in response to Verticillium dahliae invasion,and evaluated its contribution to plant defense against this soil-borne fungal pathogen.GhPFN2 expression was up-regulated when cotton root was inoculated with V.dahliae,and the actin architecture was reorganized in the infected root cells,with a clear increase in the density of filamentous actin and the extent of actin bundling.Compared to the wild type,GhPFN2-overexpressing cotton plants showed enhanced protection against V.dahliae infection and the actin cytoskeleton organization in root epidermal cells was clearly altered,which phenocopied that of the wild-type(WT) root cells challenged with V.dahliae.These results provide a solid line of evidence showing that actin cytoskeleton reorganization involving GhPFN2 is important for defense against V.dahliae infection.     

海岛棉GbHyPRP1克隆及其转基因拟南芥抗黄萎病验证

在对黄萎病菌胁迫处理的海岛棉Pima 90-53根组织全长c DNA文库分析中,筛选到一个与黄萎病胁迫相关的杂合富含脯氨酸蛋白(hybrid proline-rich protein)基因,将其命名为Gb Hy PRP1。该基因c DNA序列全长1747 bp,开放阅读框945 bp,编码一个由314个氨基酸残基组成的蛋白,包含信号肽、N端富含脯氨酸域及C端Pollen Ole e I域。同源序列分析显示,Gb Hy PRP1与来自雷蒙德氏棉、陆地棉和亚洲棉的Hy PRP1蛋白序列相似性最高,分别为95.95%、93.87%和91.34%。q RT-PCR分析结果显示,受黄萎病菌胁迫后海岛棉根部Gb Hy PRP1表达显著下调。将Gb Hy PRP1基因克隆至植物超表达载体,农杆菌介导转化拟南芥获得转基因植株。病指统计分析表明Gb Hy PRP1过量表达显著降低了拟南芥对黄萎病的抗性。据此推测Gb Hy PRP1参与棉花抗黄萎病,可能是一个重要的负调控因子。     

Evaluation of Compost Amendments for Control of Vascular Wilt Diseases

Vascular wilt fungal pathogens cause heavy economic losses to a wide range of crops; amongst them are Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (FOM) and Verticillium dahliae Kleb. Several strategies for controlling these pathogens have been introduced, such as soil solarization, resistant rootstocks and biological control. In this study, the suppressive ability of seven different compost amendments and the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Paenibacillus alvei K165 (with proven activity against V. dahliae ) were tested against FOM in melon and V. dahliae in eggplant. It was shown that K165 had a suppressive effect against the pathogens in all experiments. On the contrary, the composts exhibited a narrow spectrum of effectiveness against the pathogens. Two composts were effective against V. dahliae and one against FOM. Moreover, we investigated the potential of the various compost samples and K165 to induce resistance in an Arabidopsis thaliana – V. dahliae or FOM model system. It was demonstrated that three composts and K165 were effective against V. dahliae ; whereas, one compost and K165 were effective against FOM. In a naturally V.dahliae infested field, the ability of K165 to enhance the suppressive effect of one of the compost amendments, was evaluated. It was demonstrated that fortification of the compost with strain K165 significantly reduced disease severity, whereas the single application of the compost was not sufficient to significantly protect the plants.     

萝卜抗真菌蛋白1（Rs-AFP1)在大肠杆菌中的融合表达 及其对大丽轮枝菌抑制活性的研究

The Raphanus sativus L. antifungal protein 1 (Rs-AFP1) gene was isolated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The complete open reading frame and the fragment encoding the putative mature protein were inserted into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-32b(+), respectively. Subsequent expression showed that the Rs-AFP1 was produced in E. coli as a 27 kD fusion protein only when the N-terminal signal peptide was removed. After treatment with thrombin to remove part of the N-terminal His.tag sequence, the bacterially expressed Rs-AFP1 was used for fungal growth inhibition assay which was conducted on Verticillium dahliae Kleb., a soil-born fungus causing the cotton wilt disease. Results showed that, in the liquid medium, the Rs-AFP1 fusion protein at a concentration of 0.3 g/L clearly inhibited the growth of V. dahliae and the germination of spores. Thus the bacterially expressed fusion protein had the antifungal activity against V. dahliae.     

萝卜抗真菌蛋白1(Rs-AFP1)在大肠杆菌中的融合表达及其对大丽轮枝菌抑制活性的研究(英文)

利用聚合酶链式反应 (PCR)获得了萝卜 (RaphanussativusL .)抗真菌蛋白 1(Rs_AFP1)基因编码区核苷酸序列。将整个阅读框架片段和去除了N_端信号肽序列的片段分别装入原核表达载体pET_32b( )中 ,在大肠杆菌中表达 ,发现带有信号肽的Rs_AFP1不能在大肠杆菌中表达 ,而当这一序列去除后 ,表达出约 2 7kD的Rs_AFP1的融合蛋白。用凝血酶处理融合蛋白以去除N_端His.tag的部分序列 ,然后用处理后的融合蛋白进行了抑制真菌生长的实验。结果表明 ,在加入 0 .3g/L的Rs_AFP1的融合蛋白的培养液中 ,大丽轮枝菌 (VerticilliumdahliaeKleb .)的生长受到抑制 ,分别比加入对照细菌蛋白和PBS下降 5 7.5 %和 6 9.8% ;孢子的萌发也受到抑制。显然 ,细菌表达的融合蛋白对大丽轮枝菌的生长有抑制作用。     

Characterization and localization of prodiginines from Streptomyces lividans suppressing Verticillium dahliae in the absence or presence of Arabidopsis thaliana

The ascomycete Verticillium dahliae causes worldwide vascular wilt of many field and horticultural plants. The melanized resting structures of this fungus, so-called microsclerotia, survive for many years in soils and continuously re-infect plants. Due to the absence of known fungicides, Verticillium wilt causes immense crop losses. We discovered that the Gram-positive, spore-forming soil bacterium Streptomyces lividans expresses members of the prodiginine family during co-cultivation with V. dahliae. Using HPLC and LC-MS analysis of cultures containing S. lividans alone or grown together with V. dahliae, we found that undecylprodigiosin [394.4 M+H](+) is highly abundant, and streptorubin B [392.4 M+H](+) is present in smaller amounts. Within co-cultures, the quantity of undecylprodigiosin increased considerably and pigment concentrated at and within fungal hyphae. The addition of purified undecylprodigiosin to growing V. dahliae hyphae strongly reduced microsclerotia formation. Undecylprodigiosin was also produced when S. lividans grew on the roots of developing Arabidopsis thaliana plants. Furthermore, the presence of the undecylprodigiosin producer led to an efficient reduction of V. dahliae hyphae and microsclerotia on plant-roots. Based on these novel findings and previous knowledge, we deduce that the prodiginine investigated leads to multiple cellular effects, which ultimately impair specific pathways for signal transduction and apoptosis of the fungal plant pathogen.     

VdNEP, an elicitor from Verticillium dahliae, induces cotton plant wilting

Verticillium wilt is a vascular disease of cotton. The causal fungus, Verticillium dahliae, secretes elicitors in culture. We have generated approximately 1,000 5'-terminal expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from a cultured mycelium of V. dahliae. A number of ESTs were found to encode proteins harboring putative signal peptides for secretion, and their cDNAs were isolated. Heterologous expression led to the identification of a protein with elicitor activities. This protein, named V. dahliae necrosis- and ethylene-inducing protein (VdNEP), is composed of 233 amino acids and has high sequence identities with fungal necrosis- and ethylene-inducing proteins. Infiltration of the bacterially expressed His-VdNEP into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves resulted in necrotic lesion formation. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the fusion protein also triggered production of reactive oxygen species and induced the expression of PR genes. When added into suspension cultured cells of cotton (Gossypium arboreum), the fusion protein elicited the biosynthesis of gossypol and related sesquiterpene phytoalexins at low concentrations, and it induced cell death at higher concentrations. On cotton cotyledons and leaves, His-VdNEP induced dehydration and wilting, similar to symptoms caused by a crude preparation of V. dahliae elicitors. Northern blotting showed a low level of VdNEP expression in the mycelium during culture. These data suggest that VdNEP is a wilt-inducing factor and that it participates in cotton-V. dahliae interactions.     

基因沉默技术在抗真菌病害中的应用和展望

真菌病害严重威胁作物的产量和品质,给国家和人民造成巨大的经济损失。尤其是引起维管束病害的土传真菌,化学农药的作用效果很不理想。利用抗性基因进行遗传育种是目前生物防治的重要手段之一,但对于缺乏抗性资源的物种,面对强大的土壤真菌病害,研究者也时常束手无策。近年来,利用RNA干扰技术发展而来的宿主诱导的基因沉默(Host induced gene silencing,HIGS)策略,在抗病虫害领域逐渐崭露头角,但由于真菌侵染的复杂多样性及土壤传播的特性,HIGS在土壤真菌病害中的应用充满神秘和挑战。本研究室近期揭示了棉花黄萎病(一种严重的土壤真菌病害)的"罪魁祸首"——大丽轮枝菌的侵染结构和侵染过程;并首次证明了宿主植物内源小RNA能够跨界进入病原菌细胞中降解致病基因表达的抗病作用;在此基础上,本研究室利用HIGS在棉花上获得了对黄萎病抗性较高的品系,成功地开辟了抗土壤黄萎真菌病害的新天地,研究结果显示出基因沉默技术在这一领域强大的应用潜力和前景。     

CASAR82A, a Pathogen-induced Pepper SAR8.2, Exhibits an Antifungal Activity and its Overexpression Enhances Disease Resistance and Stress Tolerance

Pepper SAR8.2 gene (CASAR82A) was previously reported to be locally or systemically induced in pepper plants by biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, the physiological and molecular functions of the pepper SAR8.2 protein in the plant defense responses were investigated by generating Arabidopsis transgenic lines overexpressing the CASAR82A gene. The transgenic Arabidopsis plants grew faster than the wild-type plants, indicating that the CASAR82A gene was involved in plant development. The ectopic expression of CASAR82A in Arabidopsis was accompanied by the expression of the Arabidopsis pathogenesis-related (PR)-genes including AtPR-1, AtPR-4 and AtPR-5. CASAR82A overexpression enhanced the resistance against infections by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. matthiolae or Botrytis cinerea. The transgenic plants also exhibited increased NaCl and drought tolerance during all growth stages. Moreover, the methyl viologen test showed that the transgenic plants were tolerant to oxidative stress. The purified recombinant CASAR82A protein and crude protein extracts of the transgenic plants exhibited antifungal activity against some phytopathogenic fungi, indicating that the enhanced resistance of the transgenic plants to fungal pathogen infection may be due to the antifungal effect of SAR8.2 protein.     

Antisense expression of the Arabidopsis thaliana AtPGIP1 gene reduces polygalacturonase-inhibiting protein accumulation and enhances susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea

Polygalacturonases (PGs) hydrolyze the homogalacturonan of plant cell-wall pectin and are important virulence factors of several phytopathogenic fungi. In response to abiotic and biotic stress, plants accumulate PG-inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) that reduce the activity of fungal PGs. In Arabidopsis thaliana, PGIPs with comparable activity against BcPG1, an important pathogenicity factor of the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea, are encoded by two genes, AtPGIP1 and AtPGIP2. Both genes are induced by fungal infection through different signaling pathways. We show here that transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing an antisense AtPGIP1 gene have reduced AtPGIP1 inhibitory activity and are more susceptible to B. cinerea infection. These results indicate that PGIP contributes to basal resistance to this pathogen and strongly support the vision that this protein plays a role in Arabidopsis innate immunity.