Tomato root colonization by fluorescent-tagged pathogenic and protective strains of Fusarium oxysporum in hydroponic culture differs from root colonization in soil

The colonization process of tomato roots inoculated separately or/and simultaneously by a pathogenic Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici strain Fol8 and the protective F. oxysporum strain Fo47, genetically tagged with the red and green fluorescent protein genes, respectively, was studied in a hydroponic culture. Plants were coinoculated with Fol8 and Fo47 at two conidial concentration ratios of 1/1 and 1/100, in which biological control was not effective or effective, respectively. First observation of fungi on root was possible 48 h after inoculation at a high inoculum level and 5 days post inoculation at the lower concentration of inoculum. The pattern of root colonization was similar for both strains with the initial development of hyphal network on the upper part of taproot, followed by the growth of hyphae towards the elongation zone, lateral roots and root apices. Finally, the whole elongation zone and root apex were invaded by both strains but no specific infection sites were observed. When coinoculated, both strains could grow very closely or even at the same spot on the root surface. At the nonprotective ratio, Fol8 was the successful colonizer, but application of Fo47 at a concentration 100 times >Fol8 delayed vessel colonization by the pathogen.     

Identification of I‐7 expands the repertoire of genes for resistance to Fusarium wilt in tomato to three resistance gene classes

The tomato I‐3 and I‐7 genes confer resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) race 3 and were introgressed into the cultivated tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, from the wild relative Solanum pennellii. I‐3 has been identified previously on chromosome 7 and encodes an S‐receptor‐like kinase, but little is known about I‐7. Molecular markers have been developed for the marker‐assisted breeding of I‐3, but none are available for I‐7. We used an RNA‐seq and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis approach to map I‐7 to a small introgression of S. pennellii DNA (c. 210 kb) on chromosome 8, and identified I‐7 as a gene encoding a leucine‐rich repeat receptor‐like protein (LRR‐RLP), thereby expanding the repertoire of resistance protein classes conferring resistance to Fol. Using an eds1 mutant of tomato, we showed that I‐7, like many other LRR‐RLPs conferring pathogen resistance in tomato, is EDS1 (Enhanced Disease Susceptibility 1) dependent. Using transgenic tomato plants carrying only the I‐7 gene for Fol resistance, we found that I‐7 also confers resistance to Fol races 1 and 2. Given that Fol race 1 carries Avr1, resistance to Fol race 1 indicates that I‐7‐mediated resistance, unlike I‐2‐ or I‐3‐mediated resistance, is not suppressed by Avr1. This suggests that Avr1 is not a general suppressor of Fol resistance in tomato, leading us to hypothesize that Avr1 may be acting against an EDS1‐independent pathway for resistance activation. The identification of I‐7 has allowed us to develop molecular markers for marker‐assisted breeding of both genes currently known to confer Fol race 3 resistance (I‐3 and I‐7). Given that I‐7‐mediated resistance is not suppressed by Avr1, I‐7 may be a useful addition to I‐3 in the tomato breeder's toolbox.     

绿豆尖镰孢枯萎病抗性鉴定方法

绿豆是我国的主要食用豆类之一。由尖镰孢引起的绿豆枯萎病是一种严重的土传病害,病原菌从根部侵入,引起植株矮化,叶片黄化、枯萎,根茎部维管束变褐,严重时导致植株死亡。防治枯萎病最经济、有效的方法是培育利用抗病品种。本研究在控制条件下以具有不同抗性表型绿豆品种为材料,分别对接种方法、植株生育期、接种体浓度、接种体处理时间及接种后植株培养温度等影响绿豆抗性表型的因素进行比较研究,以期建立一个快速、准确和高效的绿豆枯萎病抗性鉴定方法,为抗病资源的筛选和抗病育种提供技术支持。结果表明,绿豆枯萎病苗期抗性鉴定最适宜的接种方法为剪根浸根法,最适宜接种体浓度为105~106孢子/m L,接种最佳植株生育期为2叶期,最短有效接种体浸根时间为2 min,最适宜发病温度为25℃,接种后14 d调查病情。     

Modification of competence for in vitro response to Fusarium oxysporum in tomato cells. III. PR-protein gene expression and ethylene evolution in tomato cell lines transgenic for phytohormone-related bacterial genes

 Previous work carried out in our laboratory has shown that, in tomato, the alteration of endogenous phytohormone equilibria through the integration of Agrobacterium tumefaciens genes for auxin and cytokinin synthesis can modify the active defense response to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici. The susceptible cv ‘Red River’ acquires a stable competence for active defense, particularly when the phytohormone equilibrium is altered in favour of cytokinins. Here, we analyse the expression of genes involved in the defense response against pathogens, i.e. pathogenesis-related (PR)-protein genes, in the susceptible ‘Red River’ and resistant ‘Davis’ cultivars transgenic for the aforementioned genes. Fungal cell-wall components, glutathione, salicylic acid and the ethylene-forming ethephon are used as “probes” for the induction of defense processes, including ethylene production. The data obtained show that the extracellular PR-proteins (acidic chitinase and PR-1 protein) that were inducible in the control tissue of the resistant ‘Davis’ cultivar and not expressed in the susceptible ‘Red River’ cultivar became constitutive in the transgenic tissues of both. On the other hand, expression of the intracellular PR-proteins (basic chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase) was found to be constitutive in all cases, both in the control and in the transgenic cell lines of the resistant and the susceptible tomato cultivars. Ethylene production was higher in ‘Davis’ than in ‘Red River’, and significantly increased in the transgenic cell lines, particularly when cytokinin synthesis was altered. Received: 25 February 1998 / Accepted: 7 April 1998     

Linkage between Frl (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici resistance) and Tm-2 (tobacco mosaic virus resistance-2) loci in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

A study was carried out on the linkage relationship between the Frl locus carrying resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici and the Tm-2 locus carrying resistance to several races of tobacco mosaic virus in the tomato inbred line IRB-301-31. The inbred line Motelle (Frl⁺/Frl⁺, Tm-2⁺/Tm-2⁺) was crossed with the inbred line IRB-301-31 (Frl/Frl, Tm-2/Tm-l). The resulting 222 F₂ plants were selfed, and from each F₃ family groups of 15–60 seedlings were tested for resistance to either F. oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici or tobacco mosaic virus race 0. Segregation data indicated a very tight linkage between Frl and Tm-2, equal to 5.1 ± 1.07 map units.     

Symptomatic Evidence for Differential Root Invasion by Fusarium Crown and Root Rot Pathogens Between Common Tomato Lycopersicon esculentum and Its Varieties

The pathogenic isolates (Kin2001a, Kin2001b and Kin2003) of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis‐lycopersici were obtained from hydroponically cultured seedlings of pear tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum var. pyriforme) infected at different times and their pathogenicity examined in an in vitro assay system on cotyledonal seedlings of pear tomato, cherry tomato (L. esculentum var. cerasiforme) and common tomato (L. esculentum). With the in vitro assay, infection and subsequent disease progress could be microscopically observed. Pear and cherry tomatoes suppressed invasion by all isolates at the junctions of epidermal cells along the root, comparable with the resistant cultivars of common tomato. The pathogen entered pear and cherry tomatoes at the tips of lateral roots and tap roots, in contrast to infection of susceptible cultivars of common tomato. In Kin2003‐inoculated roots, the top of the lateral rootlets first became discoloured, followed by the cortical parenchyma, central xylem vessel and finally the crown. This dark‐brown discolouration expanded rapidly and severe rot developed in the discoloured regions. In contrast, the dark‐brown discolouration in Kin2001b‐infected roots expanded into the cortical parenchyma cells abutting the originally infected lateral rootlets and at a much slower rate. Kin2001a was in a new group that entered via the cortical cleavage formed by the emergence of lateral rootlets, in addition to the tips of taproots and lateral roots. In this in vitro assay system, the Japanese pathogenic isolates collected from different districts of Japan were characterized and classified by the mode of host invasion. Of 13 isolates, four were placed with Kin2003, six with Kin2001a and three with Kin2001b.     

蔓割病不同抗性甘薯品种的茎部细胞结构观察

蔓割病是我国南方薯区甘薯主要病害之一,本研究采用直接观察、显微和超微结构观测等方法,对高抗、中感和高感蔓割病的3个甘薯品种(高抗品种:金山57,中感品种:热薯1号,高感品种:新种花)接种蔓割病菌28 d植株充分发病后其茎基部细胞的侵染结构进行了观察。结果表明,在用清水作对照处理时,3个品种茎部组织的细胞形态和结构正常且完整,细胞代谢强。高抗品种金山57无论是接种组还是对照组,均未发现病原菌丝的存在,其茎下部、中部和上部细胞结构相对完整。中感品种热薯1号,蔓割病菌从其茎基部侵入后导致茎基部细胞破损坏死,而中部寄主-病原互作较为活跃和典型,造成养分运输受阻,茎基部接种后病原菌丝会沿着寄主茎部的维管束和其他组织一直向寄主的茎部末端蔓延,遭受侵染后的部位其细胞反应与高感品种新种花类似。高感品种新种花遭受蔓割病原菌侵染后,病原菌菌丝从茎基部新鲜剪口侵入后进入表皮细胞、皮层、维管束并在甘薯茎基部蔓延至中部、上部,直至寄主整株枯死,甘薯茎的木质部导管出现侵填体,质壁分离;与此同时,细胞壁的沉积物及乳突在病原菌的入侵处形成,各种无定型物质或纤丝构成的织网迅速包围入侵菌丝。     

Specific detection of the toxigenic species Fusarium proliferatum and F. oxysporum from asparagus plants using primers based on calmodulin gene sequences

Fusarium proliferatum and Fusarium oxysporum are the causal agents of a destructive disease of asparagus called Fusarium crown and root rot. F. proliferatum from asparagus produces fumonisin B1 and B2, which have been detected as natural contaminants in infected asparagus plants. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were developed for the rapid identification of F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum in asparagus plants. The primer pairs are based on calmodulin gene sequences. The PCR products from F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum were 526 and 534 bp long, respectively. The assays were successfully applied to identify both species from the vegetative part of the plants.     

Infection of tubercles of the parasitic weed Orobanche aegyptiaca by mycoherbicidal Fusarium species

Progression of the infection by host-specific strains of Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium arthrosporioides of Orobanche aegyptiaca (Egyptian broomrape) tubercles attached to tomato roots was tracked using light, confocal and electron microscopy. Mycelia transformed with the gene for green fluorescent protein were viewed using a confocal microscope. Fungal penetration was preceded by a rapid loss of starch, with approx. 10 % remaining at 9 h and no measurable starch at 24 h. Penetration into the Orobanche tubercles began by 12 h after inoculation. Hyphae penetrated the outer six cell layers by 24 h, reaching the centre of the tubercles by 48 h and infecting nearly all cells by 72 h. Most of the infected tubercles were dead by 96 h. Breakdown of cell walls and the disintegration of cytoplasm in and around the infected cells occurred between 48 and 96 h. Lignin-like material increased in tubercle cells of infected tissues over time, but did not appear to be effective in limiting fungal penetration or spread. Callose, suberin, constitutive toxins and phytoalexins were not detected in infected tubercles, suggesting that there are no obvious defence mechanisms to overcome. Both Fusarium spp. pathogenic on Orobanche produced fumonisin-like ceramide synthase inhibitors, while fusaric acid was produced only by F. oxysporum in liquid culture. The organisms do not have sufficient virulence for field use (based on glasshouse testing), suggesting that virulence should be transgenically enhanced or additional isolates sought.     

Apoptosis-related genes confer resistance to Fusarium wilt in transgenic 'Lady Finger' bananas

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), is one of the most devastating diseases of banana (Musa spp.). Apart from resistant cultivars, there are no effective control measures for the disease. We investigated whether the transgenic expression of apoptosis-inhibition-related genes in banana could be used to confer disease resistance. Embryogenic cell suspensions of the banana cultivar, 'Lady Finger', were stably transformed with animal genes that negatively regulate apoptosis, namely Bcl-xL, Ced-9 and Bcl-2 3' UTR, and independently transformed plant lines were regenerated for testing. Following a 12-week exposure to Foc race 1 in small-plant glasshouse bioassays, seven transgenic lines (2 × Bcl-xL, 3 × Ced-9 and 2 × Bcl-2 3' UTR) showed significantly less internal and external disease symptoms than the wild-type susceptible 'Lady Finger' banana plants used as positive controls. Of these, one Bcl-2 3' UTR line showed resistance that was equivalent to that of wild-type Cavendish bananas that were included as resistant negative controls. Further, the resistance of this line continued for 23-week postinoculation at which time the experiment was terminated. Using TUNEL assays, Foc race 1 was shown to induce apoptosis-like features in the roots of wild-type 'Lady Finger' plants consistent with a necrotrophic phase in the life cycle of this pathogen. This was further supported by the observed reduction in these effects in the roots of the resistant Bcl-2 3' UTR-transgenic line. This is the first report on the generation of transgenic banana plants with resistance to Fusarium wilt.     

Investigation of the diversity of effector genes in the banana pathogen,Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense,reveals evidence of horizontal gene transfer

It is hypothesized that the virulence of phytopathogenic fungi is mediated through the secretion of small effector proteins that interfere with the defence responses of the host plant. In Fusarium oxysporum, one family of effectors, the Secreted In Xylem (SIX) genes, has been identified. We sought to characterize the diversity and evolution of the SIX genes in the banana‐infecting lineages of F. oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). Whole‐genome sequencing data were generated for the 23 genetic lineages of Foc, which were subsequently queried for the 14 known SIX genes (SIX1–SIX14). The sequences of the identified SIX genes were confirmed in a larger collection of Foc isolates. Genealogies were generated for each of the SIX genes identified in Foc to further investigate the evolution of the SIX genes in Foc. Within Foc, variation of the SIX gene profile, including the presence of specific SIX homologues, correlated with the pathogenic race structure of Foc. Furthermore, the topologies of the SIX gene trees were discordant with the topology of an infraspecies phylogeny inferred from EF‐1α/RPB1/RPB2 (translation elongation factor‐1α/RNA polymerase II subunit I/RNA polymerase II subunit II). A series of topological constraint models provided strong evidence for the horizontal transmission of SIX genes in Foc. The horizontal inheritance of pathogenicity genes in Foc counters previous assumptions that convergent evolution has driven the polyphyletic phylogeny of Foc. This work has significant implications for the management of Foc, including the improvement of diagnostics and breeding programmes.     

Induction of systemic resistance in chickpea against Fusarium wilt by Bacillus strains

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains Rb29 (B. amyloliquefaciens MF352007), Bs1 (B. subtilis MF352017) and Bt1 (B. tequilensis MF352019) were tested for growth promotion and for their ability to induce systemic resistance against Fusarium wilt, a vascular disease of chickpea, using two methods that include whole plant and a split-root system. Bacillus strains and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (FOC) were inoculated on separate halves of roots of chickpea seedlings at the same time and then planted in separate pots either in superposition or one side of the other. All Bacillus strains systemically induced resistance against FOC, and significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the wilt disease by 98–100%. Application of Bacillus strains effectively enhanced plant growth, leading to increased plant height, root length, a fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots. These results help to explain the role of strains of Bacillus in growth promotion and biological control of Fusarium wilt in chickpea. This is the first report of systemic-induced resistance against Fusarium wilt in chickpea obtained by application of Bacillus strains to a root system spatially separated from the FOC-inoculated root.     

Genetics of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum races 1 and 2 in cucumber line Wisconsin-2757

The mode of inheritance of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cucumerinum races 1 and 2 in Wisconsin-2757 (WI-2757), a gynoecious cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), was determined by analysing segregation of F₁, F₂ and BC₁ populations of crosses with susceptible cultivar Straight-8. Resistance to either race 1 or race 2 in WI-2757 was conferred by a single dominant gene. In allelism tests, resistance to either race in WI-2757 was determined by the gene Fcu-1, which also confers resistance in line SMR-18.     

生防菌根系定殖竞争作用对西瓜枯萎病发病机理的影响

【目的】西瓜枯萎病是由西瓜专化型尖孢镰刀菌(Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.niveum)引起的一种常见的毁灭性土传病害,对镰刀菌同属非致病性菌株与致病性菌株存在的竞争作用进行研究,有助于获得新的具有生防效果的菌株,从而拓宽西瓜枯萎病生物防治的手段。【方法】利用选择性培养基和稀释平板计数法对温室盆栽试验中西瓜根际和非根际土壤及植物组织中非致病性轮枝镰刀菌菌株(Fusarium verticillioides XA)与致病性尖孢镰刀菌(Fusarium oxysporum LD)进行计数,确定其在西瓜植株根际和组织中的定殖情况。【结果】将从田间西瓜枯萎病发病植株根部分离获得的菌株XA和LD接入健康土壤中,接种菌株XA既不会引起西瓜枯萎病发病症状,也不会影响西瓜植株生物量,但接种菌株LD导致严重发病症状。与单接种LD处理相比较,双接种(XA+LD)处理地上部鲜重和地上部干重都分别增加了151.2%和110%。XA菌株能成功定殖于西瓜根系,但在茎基部没有检测到。在接种菌株LD的处理中植物组织和土壤中致病性镰刀菌的数量达到(1.58 4.85)×104CFU/g。与单接种LD处理相比,双接种菌株XA和LD处理植物茎基部、根系、根际土壤和土体土壤致病性镰刀菌的数量分别下降63.3%、66.1%、3.3%和24.4%,根系、根际土壤和土体土壤非致病性镰刀菌的数量增加到(0.35 3.84)×104CFU/g;双接种处理对西瓜枯萎病的防效达57.8%。【结论】非致病性轮枝镰刀菌菌株XA可有效降低致病性尖孢镰刀菌LD对西瓜植株的定殖侵染能力,对西瓜枯萎病具有一定的生防效果。     

Wild Narcissus species as a source of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. narcissi

Thirty three species and varieties of Narcissus plus seventeen cultivars with recent species parentage were screened for resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. narcissi. Accessions were either wholly resistant (bulbs remaining uninfected), partially resistant (a variable portion of the bulbs infected) or susceptible (all of the bulbs infected). Although a pattern of resistance was found among the species tested the genetic basis of the resistance is not known.