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Plant Disease Resistance 3.0

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 5401

Special Issue Editor

Department of Agricultural Science, University of Naples “Federico II,” 80055 Portici, Italy
Interests: plant genomic; R-genes; new resistance genes; bioinformatics platform
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Plants evolved a sophisticated pathogen defense mechanism based on innate immunity receptors. The resistance mechanisms to various plant enemies have been under investigation for a long time. A complex network of interactions involved in pathogen recognition and the defense response has been discovered. Genes involved in perception, signaling, hormones and transcription are able to activate or repress several pathogen responsive proteins. To this end, improving our knowledge on molecular alterations in plants subjected to various enemies could aid the identification of principal genes that participate in resistance or susceptibility processes.

The aim of this Special Issue is to illustrate the mechanism of the plant defense response. Multidisciplinary approaches that describe the evolution, function and regulation of the plant immune system are welcome. Researchers can contribute with original research findings and reviews to this Special Issue.

Dr. Maria R. Ercolano
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • pathogen receptor genes
  • defense mechanisms
  • signaling pathway interplay
  • evolution
  • plant–pathogen interaction
  • OMICS

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 9519 KiB  
Article
The Identification, Characterization, and Functional Analysis of the Sugar Transporter Gene Family of the Rice False Smut Pathogen, Villosiclava virens
by Huimin Qin, Weixiao Yin, Chaoxi Luo and Lianmeng Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(1), 600; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010600 - 02 Jan 2024
Viewed by 682
Abstract
False smut, caused by Villosiclava virens, is becoming increasingly serious in modern rice production systems, leading to yield losses and quality declines. Successful infection requires efficient acquisition of sucrose, abundant in rice panicles, as well as other sugars. Sugar transporters (STPs) may [...] Read more.
False smut, caused by Villosiclava virens, is becoming increasingly serious in modern rice production systems, leading to yield losses and quality declines. Successful infection requires efficient acquisition of sucrose, abundant in rice panicles, as well as other sugars. Sugar transporters (STPs) may play an important role in this process. STPs belong to a major facilitator superfamily, which consists of large multigenic families necessary to partition sugars between fungal pathogens and their hosts. This study identified and characterized the STP family of V. viren, and further analyzed their gene functions to uncover their roles in interactions with rice. Through genome-wide and systematic bioinformatics analyses, 35 STPs were identified from V.virens and named from VvSTP1 to VvSTP35. Transmembrane domains, gene structures, and conserved motifs of VvSTPs have been identified and characterized through the bioinformatic analysis. In addition, a phylogenetic analysis revealed relationship between VvSTPs and STPs from the other three reference fungi. According to a qRT-PCR and RNA-sequencing analysis, VvSTP expression responded differently to different sole carbon sources and H2O2 treatments, and changed during the pathogenic process, suggesting that these proteins are involved in interactions with rice and potentially functional in pathogenesis. In total, 12 representative VvSTPs were knocked out through genetic recombination in order to analyze their roles in pathogenicity of V. virens. The knock-out mutants of VvSTPs showed little difference in mycelia growth and conidiation, indicating a single gene in this family cannot influence vegetative growth of V. virens. It is clear, however, that these mutants result in a change in infection efficiency in a different way, indicating that VvSTPs play an important role in the pathogenicity of virens. This study is expected to contribute to a better understanding of how host-derived sugars contribute to V. virens pathogenicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 3.0)
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13 pages, 1610 KiB  
Article
The First Genome-Wide Mildew Locus O Genes Characterization in the Lamiaceae Plant Family
by Andolfo Giuseppe and Ercolano Maria Raffaella
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(17), 13627; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713627 - 04 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 784
Abstract
Powdery mildew (PM) is a widespread plant disease that causes significant economic losses in thousands crops of temperate climates, including Lamiaceae species. Multiple scientific studies describe a peculiar form of PM-resistance associated at the inactivation of specific members of the Mildew Locus O [...] Read more.
Powdery mildew (PM) is a widespread plant disease that causes significant economic losses in thousands crops of temperate climates, including Lamiaceae species. Multiple scientific studies describe a peculiar form of PM-resistance associated at the inactivation of specific members of the Mildew Locus O (MLO) gene family, referred to as mlo-resistance. The characterization of Lamiaceae MLO genes, at the genomic level, would be a first step toward their potential use in breeding programs. We carried out a genome-wide characterization of the MLO gene family in 11 Lamiaceae species, providing a manual curated catalog of 324 MLO proteins. Evolutionary history and phylogenetic relationships were studied through maximum likelihood analysis and motif patter reconstruction. Our approach highlighted seven different clades diversified starting from an ancestral MLO domain pattern organized in 18 highly conserved motifs. In addition, 74 Lamiaceae putative PM susceptibility genes, clustering in clade V, were identified. Finally, we performed a codon-based evolutionary analysis, revealing a general high level of purifying selection in the eleven Lamiaceae MLO gene families, and the occurrence of few regions under diversifying selection in candidate susceptibility factors. The results of this work may help to address further biological questions concerning MLOs involved in PM susceptibility. In follow-up studies, it could be investigated whether the silencing or loss-of-function mutations in one or more of these candidate genes may lead to PM resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 3.0)
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16 pages, 16588 KiB  
Article
The ATP Synthase Subunits FfATPh, FfATP5, and FfATPb Regulate the Development, Pathogenicity, and Fungicide Sensitivity of Fusarium fujikuroi
by Xin Yang, Zhili Yuan, Xiaowei Cai, Shuai Gui, Mingguo Zhou and Yiping Hou
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(17), 13273; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713273 - 26 Aug 2023
Viewed by 723
Abstract
ATP synthase catalyzes the synthesis of ATP by consuming the proton electrochemical gradient, which is essential for maintaining the life activity of organisms. The peripheral stalk belongs to ATP synthase and plays an important supporting role in the structure of ATP synthase, but [...] Read more.
ATP synthase catalyzes the synthesis of ATP by consuming the proton electrochemical gradient, which is essential for maintaining the life activity of organisms. The peripheral stalk belongs to ATP synthase and plays an important supporting role in the structure of ATP synthase, but their regulation in filamentous fungi are not yet known. Here, we characterized the subunits of the peripheral stalk, FfATPh, FfATP5, and FfATPb, and explored their functions on development and pathogenicity of Fusarium Fujikuroi. The FfATPh, FfATP5, and FfATPb deletion mutations (∆FfATPh, ∆FfATP5, and ∆FfATPb) presented deficiencies in vegetative growth, sporulation, and pathogenicity. The sensitivity of ∆FfATPh, ∆FfATP5, and ∆FfATPb to fludioxonil, phenamacril, pyraclostrobine, and fluazinam decreased. In addition, ∆FfATPh exhibited decreased sensitivity to ionic stress and osmotic stress, and ∆FfATPb and ∆FfATP5 were more sensitive to oxidative stress. FfATPh, FfATP5, and FfATPb were located on the mitochondria, and ∆FfATPh, ∆FfATPb, and ∆FfATP5 disrupted mitochondrial location. Furthermore, we demonstrated the interaction among FfATPh, FfATP5, and FfATPb by Bimolecular Fluorescent Complimentary (BiFC) analysis. In conclusion, FfATPh, FfATP5, and FfATPb participated in regulating development, pathogenicity, and sensitivity to fungicides and stress factors in F. fujikuroi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 3.0)
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9 pages, 1120 KiB  
Communication
OsWRKY114 Is a Player in Rice Immunity against Fusarium fujikuroi
by Giha Song, Seungmin Son, Suhyeon Nam, Eun-Jung Suh, Soo In Lee and Sang Ryeol Park
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6604; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076604 - 01 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1195
Abstract
Every year, invasive pathogens cause significant damage to crops. Thus, identifying genes conferring broad-spectrum resistance to invading pathogens is critical for plant breeding. We previously demonstrated that OsWRKY114 contributes to rice (Oryza sativa L.) immunity against the bacterial pathovar Xanthomonas oryzae pv. [...] Read more.
Every year, invasive pathogens cause significant damage to crops. Thus, identifying genes conferring broad-spectrum resistance to invading pathogens is critical for plant breeding. We previously demonstrated that OsWRKY114 contributes to rice (Oryza sativa L.) immunity against the bacterial pathovar Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). However, it is not known whether OsWRKY114 is involved in defense responses to other pathogens. In this study, we revealed that OsWRKY114 enhances innate immunity in rice against the fungal pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi, which is the causal agent of bakanae disease. Transcript levels of various gibberellin-related genes that are required for plant susceptibility to F. fujikuroi were reduced in rice plants overexpressing OsWRKY114. Analysis of disease symptoms revealed increased innate immunity against F. fujikuroi in OsWRKY114-overexpressing rice plants. Moreover, the expression levels of OsJAZ genes, which encode negative regulators of jasmonic acid signaling that confer immunity against F. fujikuroi, were reduced in OsWRKY114-overexpressing rice plants. These results indicate that OsWRKY114 confers broad-spectrum resistance not only to Xoo but also to F. fujikuroi. Our findings provide a basis for developing strategies to mitigate pathogen attack and improve crop resilience to biotic stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 3.0)
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18 pages, 2605 KiB  
Article
Plant Defense Elicitation by the Hydrophobin Cerato-Ulmin and Correlation with Its Structural Features
by Mariana Gallo, Simone Luti, Fabio Baroni, Ivan Baccelli, Eduardo Maffud Cilli, Costanza Cicchi, Manuela Leri, Alberto Spisni, Thelma A. Pertinhez and Luigia Pazzagli
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2251; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032251 - 23 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1418
Abstract
Cerato-ulmin (CU) is a 75-amino-acid-long protein that belongs to the hydrophobin family. It self-assembles at hydrophobic–hydrophilic interfaces, forming films that reverse the wettability properties of the bound surface: a capability that may confer selective advantages to the fungus in colonizing and infecting elm [...] Read more.
Cerato-ulmin (CU) is a 75-amino-acid-long protein that belongs to the hydrophobin family. It self-assembles at hydrophobic–hydrophilic interfaces, forming films that reverse the wettability properties of the bound surface: a capability that may confer selective advantages to the fungus in colonizing and infecting elm trees. Here, we show for the first time that CU can elicit a defense reaction (induction of phytoalexin synthesis and ROS production) in non-host plants (Arabidopsis) and exerts its eliciting capacity more efficiently when in its soluble monomeric form. We identified two hydrophobic clusters on the protein’s loops endowed with dynamical and physical properties compatible with the possibility of reversibly interconverting between a disordered conformation and a β-strand-rich conformation when interacting with hydrophilic or hydrophobic surfaces. We propose that the plasticity of those loops may be part of the molecular mechanism that governs the protein defense elicitation capability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 3.0)
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