Project description:Macrophomina phaseolina (Mp) is a soil-borne pathogenic fungus known to infect more than 500 plants species including important crops. Here we report the use of a novel agar plate-based pathosystem using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) to study plant defense reponses to Mp, specifically a comparison between wild type Col-0 and double mutant ein2/jar1 roots with and without Mp infection, at two time points, by RNA-seq.
Project description:Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne fungus with a broad host range, including the model plants Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana. The plant immunity can be activated by Vd-derived patterns while V. dahliae secreted effectors. We report here the RNAseq analyses of samples from N. benthamiana infected by V. dahliae strains 592 and 171 at different time points. The data showed dynamic expression patterns of genes not only from plant defense signaling but also plant developmental signaling.
Project description:Communication between interacting organisms via bioactive molecules is widespread in nature and plays key roles in diverse biological processes. Small RNAs (sRNAs) can travel between host plants and filamentous pathogens to trigger trans-kingdom RNA interference (RNAi) in recipient cells and modulate plant defense and pathogen virulence. However, how trans-kingdom RNAi is regulated has rarely been reported. Here, we show that the secretory protein VdSSR1 (secretory silencing repressor 1) from Verticillium dahliae, a soil-borne phytopathogenic fungus that causes wilt diseases in a wide range of plant hosts, is required for fungal virulence in plants through the suppression of trans-kingdom RNAi.
Project description:The presence of genetic groups of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae in soil is shaped by its adaptability to specific soil and habitat types, and by soil insect populations. Although the entomopathogenic life style of this fungus is well studied, its saprophytic life style has received little consideration. While a set of functionally related genes can be commonly expressed for the adaptability of this fungus to different environments (insect cuticle, insect blood and root exudates), a different subset of genes is also expected for each environment. In order to increase the knowledge of the potential use of M. anisopliae as a rhizosphere competent organism, in this study we evaluated the genetic expression of this fungus while growing on plant root exudates in laboratory conditions during a time course.
Project description:Trichoderma spp. are ubiquitous soil-borne ascomycetous fungi that have been used widely in the biological control of plant diseases. Certain strains also exhibit growth promotion of plants, but the mechanism for this phenomenon has not yet been elucidated. We have recently identified an isolate of T. hamatum that causes significant increases in the development of Arabidopsis root systems. The aim of this work is to elucidate the mechanism of root growth promotion. One approach is to analyse the transcriptome of plants grown in the presence and absence of the fungus. Experimenter name = Christopher Thornton; Experimenter phone = 01392 264653 / 01392 264689; Experimenter department = Washington Singer Lab; Experimenter address = School of Biological and Chemical Sciences; Experimenter address = University of Exeter; Experimenter address = Perry Road, Exeter,; Experimenter zip/postal_code = EX4 4QG; Experimenter country = UK Experiment Overall Design: 2 samples were used in this experiment
Project description:Cropping soils vary in extent of natural suppression of soil-borne plant diseases. However, it is unknown whether similar variation occurs across pastoral agricultural systems. We examined soil microbial community properties known to be associated with disease suppression across 50 pastoral fields varying in management intensity. The composition and abundance of the disease-suppressive community were assessed from both taxonomic and functional perspectives.
Project description:Trichoderma spp. are ubiquitous soil-borne ascomycetous fungi that have been used widely in the biological control of plant diseases. Certain strains also exhibit growth promotion of plants, but the mechanism for this phenomenon has not yet been elucidated. We have recently identified an isolate of T. hamatum that causes significant increases in the development of Arabidopsis root systems. The aim of this work is to elucidate the mechanism of root growth promotion. One approach is to analyse the transcriptome of plants grown in the presence and absence of the fungus. Experimenter name = Christopher Thornton Experimenter phone = 01392 264653 / 01392 264689 Experimenter department = Washington Singer Lab Experimenter address = School of Biological and Chemical Sciences Experimenter address = University of Exeter Experimenter address = Perry Road, Exeter, Experimenter zip/postal_code = EX4 4QG Experimenter country = UK Keywords: pathogenicity_design, stimulus_or_stress_design
Project description:Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne vascular pathogen that causes severe wilt symptoms in a wide range of plants. Co-culture of the fungus with Arabidopsis roots for 24 hours induces many changes in the gene expression profiles of both partners, even before defense-related phytohormone levels are induced in the plant. Both partners reprogram sugar and amino acid metabolism, activate genes for signal perception and transduction, and induce defense and stress responsive genes. Furthermore, analysis of Arabidopsis expression profiles suggests a redirection from growth to defense. The plant and fungal genes that rapidly respond to the presence of the partner might be crucial for early recognition steps and the future development of the interaction. Thus they are potential targets for the control of V. dahliae-induced wilt diseases.