Dataset Information

A fungal symbiont of plant-roots modulates mycotoxin gene expression in the pathogen Fusarium sambucinum.

ABSTRACT: Fusarium trichothecenes are fungal toxins that cause disease on infected plants and, more importantly, health problems for humans and animals that consume infected fruits or vegetables. Unfortunately, there are few methods for controlling mycotoxin production by fungal pathogens. In this study, we isolated and characterized sixteen Fusarium strains from naturally infected potato plants in the field. Pathogenicity tests were carried out in the greenhouse to evaluate the virulence of the strains on potato plants as well as their trichothecene production capacity, and the most aggressive strain was selected for further studies. This strain, identified as F. sambucinum, was used to determine if trichothecene gene expression was affected by the symbiotic Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus irregulare. AMF form symbioses with plant roots, in particular by improving their mineral nutrient uptake and protecting plants against soil-borne pathogens. We found that that G. irregulare significantly inhibits F. sambucinum growth. We also found, using RT-PCR assays to assess the relative expression of trichothecene genes, that in the presence of the AMF G. irregulare, F. sambucinum genes TRI5 and TRI6 were up-regulated, while TRI4, TRI13 and TRI101 were down-regulated. We conclude that AMF can modulate mycotoxin gene expression by a plant fungal pathogen. This previously undescribed effect may be an important mechanism for biological control and has fascinating implications for advancing our knowledge of plant-microbe interactions and controlling plant pathogens.

SUBMITTER: Ismail Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3063790 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A fungal symbiont of plant-roots modulates mycotoxin gene expression in the pathogen Fusarium sambucinum.

Ismail Youssef Y McCormick Susan S Hijri Mohamed M

PloS one 20110324 3

Fusarium trichothecenes are fungal toxins that cause disease on infected plants and, more importantly, health problems for humans and animals that consume infected fruits or vegetables. Unfortunately, there are few methods for controlling mycotoxin production by fungal pathogens. In this study, we isolated and characterized sixteen Fusarium strains from naturally infected potato plants in the field. Pathogenicity tests were carried out in the greenhouse to evaluate the virulence of the strains o ...[more]

PMID: 21455305

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Project description:The Fusarium sambucinum species complex (FSAMSC) is one of the most taxonomically challenging groups of fusaria, comprising prominent mycotoxigenic plant pathogens and other species with various lifestyles. Among toxins produced by members of the FSAMSC, trichothecenes pose the most significant threat to public health. Herein a global collection of 171 strains, originating from diverse hosts or substrates, were selected to represent FSAMSC diversity. This strain collection was used to assess their species diversity, evaluate their potential to produce trichothecenes, and cause disease on wheat. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of a combined 3-gene dataset used to infer evolutionary relationships revealed that the 171 strains originally received as 48 species represent 74 genealogically exclusive phylogenetically distinct species distributed among six strongly supported clades: Brachygibbosum, Graminearum, Longipes, Novel, Sambucinum, and Sporotrichioides. Most of the strains produced trichothecenes in vitro but varied in type, indicating that the six clades correspond to type A, type B, or both types of trichothecene-producing lineages. Furthermore, five strains representing two putative novel species within the Sambucinum Clade produced two newly discovered type A trichothecenes, 15-keto NX-2 and 15-keto NX-3. Strains of the two putatively novel species together with members of the Graminearum Clade were aggressive toward wheat when tested for pathogenicity on heads of the susceptible cultivar Apogee. In planta, the Graminearum Clade strains produced nivalenol or deoxynivalenol and the aggressive Sambucinum Clade strains synthesized NX-3 and 15-keto NX-3. Other strains within the Brachygibbosum, Longipes, Novel, Sambucinum, and Sporotrichioides Clades were nonpathogenic or could infect the inoculated floret without spreading within the head. Moreover, most of these strains did not produce any toxin in the inoculated spikelets. These data highlight aggressiveness toward wheat appears to be influenced by the type of toxin produced and that it is not limited to members of the Graminearum Clade.

Project description:Soil disinfection using high temperatures via steam is a promising approach to manage plant pathogens, pests, and weeds. Soil steaming is a viable option for growers who are moving away from dependence on chemical soil fumigants, especially in plant nursery or high tunnel environments. However, there are few studies that investigate how soil steaming causes substantial disturbance to the soil by killing both target pathogens and other soil biota. Steaming treatments also change the trajectory of the soil microbiome as it reassembles over time. Growers are interested in the health of soils after using steam-disinfection, especially if a virulent pathogen colonizes the soil and then flourishes in a situation where there are very few microbes to suppress its growth. Should recruitment of a virulent pathogen occur in the soil, this could have devasting effects on seed germination, seedling establishment and survival. Beneficial microbes are often used to prevent the colonization of plant pathogens, especially after a soil-steaming event. Here, we experimentally test how soil fungal communities assemble after steaming disinfection. We introduce to steam-treated soil Fusarium solani, an important fungal pathogen of soybean and Trichoderma harzianum, a known beneficial fungus used for soilborne pathogen suppression. Results show that F. solani significantly affects the relative abundance and diversity of the soil fungal microbiome, however, T. harzianum does not mitigate the amount of F. solani in the steam treated soil. Within the T. harzianum microbial addition, the soil fungal communities were similar to the control (steaming only). This result suggests inoculating the soil with T. harzianum does not drastically alter the assembly trajectory of the soil fungal microbiome. Other soil amendments such as a combination of Trichoderma spp. or other genera could suppress F. solani growth and shift soil microbiome composition and function post-steaming, however, more experimental research is needed.

Dataset Information

A fungal symbiont of plant-roots modulates mycotoxin gene expression in the pathogen Fusarium sambucinum.

Publications

A fungal symbiont of plant-roots modulates mycotoxin gene expression in the pathogen Fusarium sambucinum.

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