A Sclerotinia sclerotiorum transcription factor involved in sclerotial development and virulence on pea
Journal
mSphere
Journal Volume
4
Journal Issue
1
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Abstract
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a plant-pathogenic ascomycete fungus and infects over 400 host plants, including pea (Pisum sativum L.). The fungus causes white mold on pea, and substantial yield loss is attributed to the disease. To improve white mold management, further understanding of S. sclerotiorum pathogenicity is crucial. In this study, 389 transcription factors (TFs) were mined from the complete genome sequence of S. sclerotiorum and their in planta expression patterns were determined in susceptible and partially resistant pea lines and compared to in vitro expression patterns on culture medium. One of the transcription factors was significantly induced in planta at 24 and 48 h postinfection compared to the expression in vitro. This putative C6 transcription factor of S. sclerotiorum (SsC 6 TF1) was knocked down using a gene-silencing approach to investigate its functions in vegetative growth and sclerotial development as well as its virulence and pathogenicity in pea. While the SsC 6 TF1 knockdown mutants had hyphal growth rates identical to those of the wild-type strain and were capable of infection, the knockdown mutants produced no sclerotia or significantly fewer and smaller sclerotia on the culture medium and exhibited reduced virulence on both pea lines. This study profiled genome-wide expression for S. sclerotiorum transcription factors in planta and in vitro and functionally characterized a novel transcription factor, SsC 6 TF1, which positively regulates sclerotial development and virulence on pea. The finding provides molecular insights into S. sclerotiorum biology and interaction with pea and other economically important crops. ? 2019 Sang et al.
Subjects
transcription factor; virulence factor; Ascomycetes; gene expression profiling; gene knockdown; genetics; growth, development and aging; metabolism; microbiology; pathogenicity; pea; plant disease; virulence; Ascomycota; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Peas; Plant Diseases; Transcription Factors; Virulence; Virulence Factors
SDGs
Type
journal article