Function and evolution of allelic variations of Sr13 conferring resistance to stem rust in tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.)

The resistance gene Sr13 is one of the most important genes in durum wheat for controlling stem rust caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt). The Sr13 functional gene CNL13 has haplotypes R1, R2 and R3. The R1/R3 and R2 haplotypes were originally designated as alleles Sr13a and Sr13b, respectively. To detect additional Sr13 alleles, we developed Kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP™) marker KASPSr13 and four semi-thermal asymmetric reverse PCR markers, rwgsnp37–rwgsnp40, based on the CNL13 sequence. These markers were shown to detect R1, R2 and R3 haplotypes in a panel of diverse tetraploid wheat accessions. We also observed the presence of Sr13 in durum line CAT-A1, although it lacked any of the known haplotypes. Sequence analysis revealed that CNL13 of CAT-A1 differed from the susceptible haplotype S1 by a single nucleotide (C2200T) in the leucine-rich repeat region and differed from the other three R haplotypes by one or two additional nucleotides, confirming that CAT-A1 carries a new (R4) haplotype. Stem rust tests on the monogenic, transgenic and mutant lines showed that R1 differed from R3 in its susceptibility to races TCMJC and THTSC, whereas R4 differed from all other haplotypes for susceptibility to TTKSK, TPPKC and TCCJC. Based on these differences, we designate the R1, R3 and R4 haplotypes as alleles Sr13a, Sr13c and Sr13d, respectively. This study indicates that Sr13d may be the primitive functional allele originating from the S1 haplotype via a point mutation, with the other three R alleles probably being derived from Sr13d through one or two additional point mutations.     

TaRBP1 stabilizes TaGLTP and negatively regulates stripe rust resistance in wheat

The dynamic balance and distribution of sphingolipid metabolites modulate the level of programmed cell death and plant defence. However, current knowledge is still limited regarding the molecular mechanism underlying the relationship between sphingolipid metabolism and plant defence. In this study, we identified a wheat RNA-binding protein 1 (TaRBP1) and TaRBP1 mRNA accumulation significantly decreased in wheat after infection by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst). Knockdown of TaRBP1 via virus-induced gene silencing conferred strong resistance to Pst by enhancing host plant reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and cell death, indicating that TaRBP1 may act as a negative regulator in response to Pst. TaRBP1 formed a homopolymer and interacted with TaRBP1 C-terminus in plants. Additionally, TaRBP1 physically interacted with TaGLTP, a sphingosine transfer protein. Knockdown of TaGLTP enhanced wheat resistance to the virulent Pst CYR31. Sphingolipid metabolites showed a significant accumulation in TaGLTP-silenced wheat and TaRBP1-silenced wheat, respectively. In the presence of the TaRBP1 protein, TaGLTP failed to be degraded in a 26S proteasome-dependent manner in plants. Our results reveal a novel susceptible mechanism by which a plant fine-tunes its defence responses by stabilizing TaGLTP accumulation to suppress ROS and sphingolipid accumulation during Pst infection.     

Histopathology of Leaf Rust Infection and Development in Wheat Genotypes containing Lr12 and Lr13

Evidence exists that certain genes for resistance to leaf rust in wheat, e.g. Lr13 and Lr34 , may interact with other genes to condition higher levels of resistance than that conferred by each gene individually. In this study, the hypothesis that Lr12 and Lr13 , both genes for adult plant resistance to Puccinia recondita Roberge ex. Desmaz f. sp. tritici Eriks. and Henn., interact to confer an improved level of resistance, was investigated using fluorescence and phase-contrast microscopy. Flag leaf segments of monogenic and digenic Thatcher lines, sampled 64 and 240 h post-inoculation, were stained with Uvitex 2B and screened, using fluorescence microscopy, for development of infection structures or host response. To study cell wall appositions, specimens were stained with trypan blue and a solution of picric acid in methyl salicylate. Aborted penetration, consisting of nonpenetrating appressoria and aborted substomatal vesicles, showed that inhibition of fungal growth in wheat lines containing Lr12 and/or Lr13 was activated, to a certain degree, before haustoria were formed. At 240 h after inoculation colony size indicated that fungal colonies in the Lr gene combination lines were generally smaller than in the parents, but not necessarily smaller than those in a line with Lr13 only. Host cell necrosis was more frequently associated with infection sites, specifically of pathotype UVPrt2, in the combination lines than in the parents. The morphology of cell wall appositions varied considerably from a narrow, luminous zone slightly wider in the centre, to a thick central part opposite the haustorium mother cell, sharply decreasing towards both ends. Histological assessments could, however, not conclusively prove pronounced resistance enhancement or unconventional resistance mechanisms due to combining the genes Lr12 and Lr13 .     

小麦抗条锈病近等基因系感染条锈病后丁布含量变化

选用2套遗传背景不同的抗条锈病近等基因系作为供试寄主材料,研究了不同抗条锈病近等基因系丁布的含量及其在感病过程中丁布含量的动态变化.结果表明,在未受病菌侵染情况下,2套分别含有Yr2、Yr9和YrSpP基因的近等基因系（抗病系）与其轮回亲本Taichung 29、铭贤169(感病系)间丁布含量没有显著差异（P＞0.05）.接种条锈病菌后,感病系在病菌侵染初期丁布含量下降,而抗病系在病菌侵染初期丁布含量迅速大幅度上升.感染条锈病最终导致感病植株丁布含量比未接种的植株明显减少, 感病系的减少幅度明显高于抗病系.在整个病程中,抗病系丁布的含量始终高于感病系,表明接种条件下小麦植株体内丁布含量变化与小麦抗条锈近等基因系的抗性有关.     

小麦几丁质酶基因Wch2的克隆与表达分析

利用小麦几丁质酶基因PCR特异片段为探针,分离克隆了一个小麦Chidl几丁质酶基因Wch2。该基因编码311个氨基酸,不含内含子,具有一个信号肽、一个富含半胱氨酸的几丁质结合区域、两个变异区、两个酶活性区域。Southern分析表明,在小麦基因组中Wch2有多个拷贝。秆锈菌接种诱导Wch2在一对小麦近等基因系中差异表达;在抗病系中国春Srll中,接种3d后Wch2开始表达,6d后表达量更高;而在感病等基因系中国春srll中,在所有取样分析的时间内均未检测到Wch2表达。将Wch2克隆到细菌表达载体pET22b,在细菌中表达的重组Wch2具有几丁质酶活性。这些结果说明,分离的Wch2基因在小麦秆锈菌诱导的抗性反应中具有重要作用。     

Identification of molecular markers linked to Pm13, an Aegilops longissima gene conferring resistance to powdery mildew in wheat

 RFLP, RAPD, STS and DDRT-PCR techniques were applied to find molecular markers linked to Pm13, an Aegilops longissima gene conferring resistance to powdery mildew in wheat. The experimental strategy was based on the differential comparison of DNAs from common wheat and from common wheat/Ae. longissima recombinant lines carrying short segments of the 3S ^l S chromosome arm containing the Pm13 gene. Sixteen RFLP clones that detect loci previously located in the short arms of group-3 wheat chromosomes were screened for their ability to hybridise to Ae. longissima restriction fragments derived from the 3S ^l S segments introgressed into the recombinant lines. Eight RFLP clones and one STS marker detected 3S ^l S-specific fragments whose location relative to the wheat-alien chromatin breakage point of the recombinant lines was determined. Four amplification products were identified through the screening of about 200 RAPD primers. Their polymorphism was associated with the introgression of the alien DNA. One of the differential fragments was derived from the 3S ^l S DNA segment, while the remaining three corresponded to the replaced 3DS DNA. Further analyses carried out using 40 combinations of DDRT-PCR primers detected an additional reproducible polymorphism associated with the presence of 3S ^l S DNA. In view of their possible utilisation in Pm13 marker-assisted selection, differentially amplified RAPD and DDRT-PCR fragments were cloned, transformed into RFLP markers and converted into STS markers. Received: 23 March 1998 / Accepted: 5 August 1998     

Pathotypes of Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici,the causal agent of wheat powdery mildew from some regions of Iran

Wheat powdery mildew is controlled mainly by race-specific resistance. To be effective, breeding wheat for resistance to powdery mildew requires knowledge of virulence diversity in local populations of the pathogen. Isolates of Blumeria graminis, collected in 2009 and 2010 from three areas of Iranian production, were analysed for virulence using a host differential series comprised of 16 known genes conferring resistance to powdery mildew. The results showed that high-virulence frequencies to genes Pm1, Pm2, Pm4a, Pm5, Pm6, Pm7, Pm8 and Pm9 were found over both years and across all three areas. Virulence frequencies for Pm3a and Pm3b were intermediate, while virulence frequencies for Pm3a, Pm3c, Pm4a and Pm2, 6 were low. Genes Pm1, 2, 9 and Pm2, 4b, 8 were highly resistant in all regions. Virulence to Pm8 increased to high levels, while virulence to Pm4a decreased across the area surveyed from 2009 to 2010.     

A major QTL for powdery mildew resistance is stable over time and at two development stages in winter wheat

Despite the large impact of powdery mildew in wheat cultivated areas, little has been done to study powdery mildew resistance by QTL analysis up to now. The objective of the present paper is to present how the genetic basis of powdery mildew resistance in the resistant wheat line RE714 have been studied by QTL analysis at the adult plant stage over the course of 3 years, and at the vernalized seedling plant stage, and a comparison between the results obtained. Two segregating populations (DH and F_2:3) were derived from the cross between the resistant line (RE714), and a susceptible line (Hardi); these were analysed for powdery mildew resistance at the adult plant stage in the field under natural infection conditions in 1996, 1997 and 1998. The DH population was also tested for powdery mildew resistance at the vernalized seedling stage with four different isolates of powdery mildew. At the adult plant stage, a total of three QTLs (on chromosomes 5D, 4A and 6A) and five QTLs (on chromosomes 5D, 6A, 7A and 7B) were found for the DH and F_2:3 populations, respectively. The genetic control of resistance was found to be polygenic but involved a major QTL (on chromosome 5D), which was detected each year and which explained a high proportion of the variability observed (28.1%–37.9%). At the vernalized seedling stage, two QTLs were found (on chromosomes 5D and 7B) and the QTL detected on chromosome 5D was common to the four isolates tested. The comparison between the two development stages showed that the QTL on chromosome 5D was detected in all the different environments tested and again explained a high proportion of the variability. Different molecular interpretations of this QTL have also been discussed. Received: 5 October 2000 / Accepted: 1 March 2001     

Methyl jasmonate stimulates polyamines biosynthesisand resistance against leaf rust in wheat plants

Abstract

Leaf rust of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), incited by Puccinia recondita ex Desm. f. sp. tritici Eriks, is one of the most important wheat diseases in Egypt. Methyl jasmonate (MJ) is a potential plant elicitor which induces a wide range of chemical and anatomical defense reactions in conifers and might be used to increase systemic resistance against biotic damage. In the greenhouse, different concentrations of MJ (10, 20 and 30 mM) were applied as seed soaking plus foliar spray or only as foliar spray to control leaf rust and induction of secondary compound production in leaves of wheat plants. Foliar spray was applied after 30 and 50 days of sowing. Results indicated that all concentrations and treatments reduced the severity of rust disease caused by P. recondita f. sp. tritici in wheat leaves during 45 days of inoculations. Disease incidence was decreased significantly in MJ-treated plants as seed soaking plus foliar spray with 20 and 30 mM when compared to 10 mM MJ or control plants. The study revealed that, with increasing concentrations of MJ, the secondary metabolites were greatly increased. Endogenous levels of both free and conjugated putrescine, spermidine and spermine increased in response to the elicitor. Activities of polyamine biosynthetic enzymes of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and polyamine oxidase (PAO) displayed up to threefold increases relative to untreated control. Moreover, significant increases in activities of plant defense-related protein, enzymes as peroxidase and chitinase as well as free and conjugated phenols contents were recorded in treated plants compared with untreated and infected plants. Furthermore, MJ treatment increased the chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b and carotenoids pigments contents, the higher increase was obtained with combined treatment between seeds soaking plus foliar spray at 20 and 30 mM of MJ. Under field conditions, three concentrations of MJ, i.e. 10, 20 and 30 mM as combined treatment between seeds soaking plus foliar spray or only as foliar spray were applied to study their effect against rust disease. Foliar spray was applied after 30 and 80 days of sowing. Results showed that the high reduction in disease severity was obtained with combined treatments between seeds soaking plus foliar spray with MJ at 20 and 30 mM compared with other treatments and control. At the same time, all treatments increased the growth and grain yield of wheat plants. It could be suggested that combination treatment between seeds soaking plus foliar spray with methyl jasmonate might be used commercially for controlling rust disease of wheat plants under field conditions.     

陇南越夏区自生麦苗条形柄锈菌毒性表型及分子基因型分析

为了解陇南地区越夏自生麦苗上条形柄锈菌的毒性组成及群体遗传结构,将采自天水、陇南及定西的自生麦苗上的39个单孢子堆菌系采用中、美鉴别寄主毒性分析法和TP-M13-SSR荧光标记技术,进行毒性鉴定并对其基因组DNA进行SSR标记分析。结果显示：在中国鉴别寄主上供试菌系被区分为9个致病类型,在美国鉴别寄主上则得到24个毒性类型,在中美鉴别寄主上共得到30个毒性表型。通过中国鉴别寄主鉴定的CYR32、CYR33为优势小种,毒性比率分别达到35.9%和30.8%。SSR标记将这些菌系划分为36个基因型,毒性分析与     

Location and mapping of the powdery mildew resistance gene MlRE and detection of a resistance QTL by bulked segregant analysis (BSA) with microsatellites in wheat

Powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) is one of the most damaging diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum). The objective of this study was to locate and map a recently identified powdery mildew resistance gene, MlRE, carried by the resistant line RE714 using microsatellites uniformly distributed among the whole genome together with a bulked segregant analysis (BSA). The bulks consisted of individuals with an extreme phenotype taken from a population of 140 F₃ families issued from the cross between RE714 (resistant) and Hardi (susceptible). The population had been tested with three powdery mildew isolates at the seedling stage. Qualitative interpretation of the resistance tests located the MlRE gene on the distal part of the long arm of chromosome 6A. A subsequent quantitative interpretation of the resistance permitted us to detect another resistance factor on a linkage group assigned to chromosome 5D, which was constructed with microsatellites for which a polymorphism of intensity between bulks was observed. This quantitative trait locus (QTL) explained 16.8– 25.34% of the total variation. An interaction between both the resistant factor (MlRE and the QTL) was found for only one of the isolates tested. This study shows the advantage of making a quantitative interpretation of resistant tests and that the use of microsatellites combined with BSA is a powerful strategy to locate resistance genes in wheat. Received: 30 August 1999 / Accepted: 11 November 1999     

TaCIPK10 interacts with and phosphorylates TaNH2 to activate wheat defense responses to stripe rust

Calcineurin B‐like interacting protein kinase (CIPKs) has been shown to be required for biotic stress tolerance of plants in plant‐pathogen interactions. However, the roles of CIPKs in immune signalling of cereal crops and an in‐depth knowledge of substrates of CIPKs in response to biotic stress are under debate. In this study, we identified and cloned a CIPK homologue gene TaCIPK10 from wheat. TaCIPK10 was rapidly induced by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) inoculation and salicylic acid (SA) treatment. In vitro phosphorylation assay demonstrated that the kinase activity of TaCIPK10 is regulated by Ca²⁺ and TaCBL4. Knockdown TaCIPK10 significantly reduced wheat resistance to Pst, whereas TaCIPK10 overexpression resulted in enhanced wheat resistance to Pst by the induction of defense response in different aspects, including hypersensitive cell death, ROS accumulation and pathogenesis‐relative genes expression. Moreover, TaCIPK10 physically interacted with and phosphorylated TaNH2, which was homologous to AtNPR3/4. Silencing of TaNH2 in wheat resulted in enhanced susceptibility to the avirulent Pst race, CYR23, indicating its positive role in wheat resistance. Our results demonstrate that TaCIPK10 positively regulate wheat resistance to Pst as molecular links between of Ca²⁺ and downstream components of defense response and TaCIPK10 interacts with and phosphorylates TaNH2 to regulate wheat resistance to Pst.     

温室条件下条形柄锈菌体细胞重组的分子确证

为了获得温室条件下条形柄锈菌发生体细胞重组而导致毒性变异的直接证据,本研究选取7个美国条形柄锈菌小麦专化型菌系和2个美国条形柄锈菌大麦专化型菌系按照夏孢子颜色和专化型与毒性差异组成9对菌系组合,对于室内混合接种产生的子代菌系用具有不同抗性的小麦或大麦品种进行筛选,采用毒性分析及SSR分子标记技术对条形柄锈菌体细胞重组现象进行了研究。对获取的413个单孢子代菌系进行的毒性分析结果显示,有84个单孢子代菌系的毒性谱表现与亲本菌系不同,初步证明体细胞重组过程的存在。SSR标记分析结果显示,11对SSR引物中有6对引物在5对菌系组合的28个毒性谱不同的单孢子代菌系中,检测发现3个单孢菌系的扩增条带与其亲本菌系不同,且表现为亲本菌系扩增条带的重组,为体细胞重组菌系。这一结果从分子水平上证明了条形柄锈菌在室内接种条件下可以通过体细胞重组产生新小种而导致毒性变异。     

两个紧密连锁的小麦苯丙氨酸解氨酶基因的分离与鉴定

利用一个小麦苯丙氨酸解氨酶基因PCR片段为探针,从小麦核DNA基因库中筛选出一个阳性噬菌体克隆,该克隆含有两个高度同源、紧密连锁、转录方向相同的小麦苯丙氨酸解氨酶基因PAL1与PAL2,它们之间的核酸序列同源性。为93％,相距约7kb,利用PAL1特异片段进行Southern分析,表明该基因在小麦基因组中具有多个拷贝。Northern杂交表明,经秆锈菌接种诱导,苯丙氨酸解氨酶基因在一对小麦抗-感近等基因系中差异表达：抗病等基因系中国春-Sr11携带与接种菌无毒性基因P11相对应的抗病基因Sr11,在接种4d后开始诱导表达,8d后表达量更高;而缺少抗病基因的感病系中国春-sr11接种6d后才开始表达,8d后的表达量与抗病系中6d时相当。用秆锈菌诱导物和几丁质寡聚物处理小麦悬浮细胞,均可在2h内激活苯丙氨酸解氨酶基因表达,但真菌诱导物在早期的诱导活性显著高于几丁质寡聚物。从转录水平证实了小麦苯丙氨酸解氨酶基因在秆锈菌诱导的抗性反应中具有重要作用。     

Competition Alters Temporal Dynamics of Sporulation in the Wheat Stem Rust Fungus

To investigate the effects of competition on the timing of pathogen reproduction, urediniospores of two strains of Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici (SR22 and SR41) were inoculated onto leaves of wheat seedlings singly and in 1 : 1 mixture at three inoculum densities. On randomly sampled leaves, uredinia were counted 9 days after inoculation and urediniospores were collected and quantified every other day from the seventh to the 29th day after inoculation. Increases in inoculum density resulted in progressively smaller increases in uredinial numbers. However, total urediniospore production per leaf was not significantly affected by inoculum, and hence uredinial, density over a range of approximately 10-300 uredinia on the leaf. Total urediniospore production per uredinium generally decreased with increasing inoculum or uredinial density. At high densities, sporulation per uredinium peaked earlier in the sporulation period, had a less distinct peak, and dropped off earlier than for the lower densities. Logistic model fits to cumulative sporulation curves over time revealed that strain SR41 had a greater epidemic rate parameter (r) than SR22 at low and intermediate inoculum or uredinial densities, while SR22 had a higher r-value than SR41 at high density. Both strains also exhibited greater r-values in the presence of the other strain than when alone. Results suggest that strains may have different ecological strategies in their timing of reproduction, and that both intra- and interstrain competition can have complex effects on the temporal dynamics of sporulation in pathogen strains.     

Evolution of resistance against powdery mildew in winter wheat populations conducted under dynamic management. II. Adult plant resistance

The evolution of adult plant resistance towards powdery mildew (caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) was investigated in 11 wheat populations cultivated for 10 years in a French network for dynamic management (DM) of wheat genetic resources. The aims of the study were to compare the evolution of resistance in sites submitted to different powdery mildew pressure and to investigate the implication of specific resistance gene action in adult plant resistance. For this, 7 of the 11 populations were characterized for their composition of specific resistance genes (results presented in a former paper). Even though no population differed significantly from the initial PA0 pool for mean adult plant resistance, divergence appeared among the final populations. The populations with the highest adult plant resistance level originated from sites where powdery mildew pressure is known to be high (Vervins, Le Rheu), whereas populations with the lowest adult plant resistance corresponded to areas with no, or very low, powdery mildew pressure (Toulouse, Montreuil-Bellay). A residual effect of defeated specific resistance genes was hypothesized, as lines accumulating at least two specific resistance genes appeared more resistant. Additional quantitative resistance seemed to be involved in adult plant resistance. DM lines appeared then as an interesting source of variability for resistance towards powdery mildew. Moreover, as these lines had been grown in mixed populations they may be appropriate as components of a composite cultivar. Received: 15 December 1999 / Accepted: 30 December 1999     

Simultaneous editing of three homoeologues of TaCIPK14 confers broad-spectrum resistance to stripe rust in wheat

Wheat stripe rust caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is one of the most destructive wheat diseases resulting in significant losses to wheat production worldwide. The development of disease-resistant varieties is the most economical and effective measure to control diseases. Altering the susceptibility genes that promote pathogen compatibility via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology has become a new strategy for developing disease-resistant wheat varieties. Calcineurin B-like protein (CBL)-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) has been demonstrated to be involved in defence responses during plant-pathogen interactions. However, whether wheat CIPK functions as susceptibility factor is still unclear. Here, we isolated a CIPK homoeologue gene TaCIPK14 from wheat. Knockdown of TaCIPK14 significantly increased wheat resistance to Pst, whereas overexpression of TaCIPK14 resulted in enhanced wheat susceptibility to Pst by decreasing different aspects of the defence response, including accumulation of ROS and expression of pathogenesis-relative genes. We generated wheat Tacipk14 mutant plants by simultaneous modification of the three homoeologues of wheat TaCIPK14 via CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The Tacipk14 mutant lines expressed race-nonspecific (RNS) broad-spectrum resistance (BSR) to Pst. Moreover, no significant difference was found in agronomic yield traits between Tacipk14 mutant plants and Fielder control plants under greenhouse and field conditions. These results demonstrate that TaCIPK14 acts as an important susceptibility factor in wheat response to Pst, and knockout of TaCIPK14 represents a powerful strategy for generating new disease-resistant wheat varieties with BSR to Pst.     

TaADF4, an actin‐depolymerizing factor from wheat,is required for resistance to the stripe rust pathogen Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici

Actin filament assembly in plants is a dynamic process, requiring the activity of more than 75 actin‐binding proteins. Central to the regulation of filament assembly and stability is the activity of a conserved family of actin‐depolymerizing factors (ADFs), whose primarily function is to regulate the severing and depolymerization of actin filaments. In recent years, the activity of ADF proteins has been linked to a variety of cellular processes, including those associated with response to stress. Herein, a wheat ADF gene, TaADF4, was identified and characterized. TaADF4 encodes a 139‐amino‐acid protein containing five F‐actin‐binding sites and two G‐actin‐binding sites, and interacts with wheat (Triticum aestivum) Actin1 (TaACT1), in planta. Following treatment of wheat, separately, with jasmonic acid, abscisic acid or with the avirulent race, CYR23, of the stripe rust pathogen Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, we observed a rapid induction in accumulation of TaADF4 mRNA. Interestingly, accumulation of TaADF4 mRNA was diminished in response to inoculation with a virulent race, CYR31. Silencing of TaADF4 resulted in enhanced susceptibility to CYR23, demonstrating a role for TaADF4 in defense signaling. Using a pharmacological‐based approach, coupled with an analysis of host response to pathogen infection, we observed that treatment of plants with the actin‐modifying agent latrunculin B enhanced resistance to CYR23, including increased production of reactive oxygen species and enhancement of localized hypersensitive cell death. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that TaADF4 positively modulates plant immunity in wheat via the modulation of actin cytoskeletal organization.     

The Puccinia striiformis effector Hasp98 facilitates pathogenicity by blocking the kinase activity of wheat TaMAPK4

The obligate biotrophic fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) employs virulence effectors to disturb host immunity and causes devastating stripe rust disease. However, our understanding of how Pst effectors regulate host defense responses remains limited. In this study, we determined that the Pst effector Hasp98, which is highly expressed in Pst haustoria, inhibits plant immune responses triggered by flg22 or nonpathogenic bacteria. Overexpression of Hasp98 in wheat (Triticum aestivum) suppressed avirulent Pst-triggered immunity, leading to decreased H₂O₂ accumulation and promoting P. striiformis infection, whereas stable silencing of Hasp98 impaired P. striiformis pathogenicity. Hasp98 interacts with the wheat mitogen-activated protein kinase TaMAPK4, a positive regulator of plant resistance to stripe rust. The conserved TEY motif of TaMAPK4 is important for its kinase activity, which is required for the resistance function. We demonstrate that Hasp98 inhibits the kinase activity of TaMAPK4 and that the stable silencing of TaMAPK4 compromises wheat resistance against P. striiformis. These results suggest that Hasp98 acts as a virulence effector to interfere with the MAPK signaling pathway in wheat, thereby promoting P. striiformis infection.     

Biological control of winter wheat pathogens with the use of antagonistic Sphingomonas bacteria under greenhouse conditions

This paper describes, for the first time, the effect of bacteria of the genus Sphingomonas on healthiness of winter wheat. The effect of the application of Sphingomonas cell suspension on development of disease symptoms of powdery mildew and Fusarium head blight (FHB) of winter wheat cv. Bogatka was studied under greenhouse conditions. The abundance of populations of yeast and fungi producing mycelium as well as bacteria of the genus Azotobacter and pseudomonads was determined on wheat kernels. The biocontrol agent reduced the population size of Fusarium poae, and it contributed to better grain filling. The tested Sphingomonas isolate reduced the severity of flag leaf infection caused by pathogenic biotroph Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici.