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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 (15 March 2024) | Viewed by 8122

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Zhuo Chen

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Guest Editor

Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide & Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education Center for Research and Development of Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Interests: action mechanism of fungicide; plant–pathogen interactions; resistance responses of plant host; non-coding RNAs and coding RNAs

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant diseases caused by fungal phytopathogens can negatively affect the productivity and quality of crops. The study of plant–pathogen interactions could contribute to our understanding of the occurrence and epidemic laws of diseases, pathogenic mechanisms of pathogens, and resistance responses of the host. At present, the axial regulation mechanisms from non-coding RNAs and coding RNAs to proteins can help us to better understand plant–pathogen interactions. In addition, the emerging field of bidirectional regulation mechanisms from plant host and pathogens at the RNA level can help us to reveal the mechanisms of infection or resistance responses of the host. Meanwhile, whole-transcriptome sequencing, degradation sequencing, and single-cell sequencing, as well as the study of the interactions between coding RNAs and non-coding RNAs (circular RNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and microRNAs), would provide many methods for studying the interaction of plant host and fungal pathogens. Results have indicated that some non-coding RNAs from plant host or pathogen can interact with some messenger RNAs, thus changing the function of some proteins. The interactions would participate in the mechanism of pathogens, and resistance response of the host. This Special Issue will publish 15 to 18 research articles on the interactions between plants and the fungal phytopathogens. The research field will be related to some important food crops, vegetables, and cash crops, and the latest advances in plant and disease interaction will be reviewed, which will provide new knowledge for domestic and foreign counterparts. We expect to publish 18 to 20 research articles and review articles in this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Zhuo Chen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

coding RNAs
non-coding RNAs
axial regulation mechanisms
bidirectional regulation mechanisms
pathogenic mechanisms of pathogens
resistance responses of the host

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 26472 KiB

Open AccessArticle

CgNis1’s Impact on Virulence and Stress Response in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

by Sheng Guo, Qianlong Sun, Sizhen Liu, Fei Wu, Chenggang Li, Xin Zhang, Chao OuYang, Yue Chen and Xinqiu Tan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(6), 3505; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063505 - 20 Mar 2024

Viewed by 458

Abstract

Pepper anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infection is an important fungal disease and represents a serious threat to pepper yield and quality. At present, the pathogenic molecular mechanism of C. gloeosporioides is not very clear. In our study, we characterized the function of C. gloeosporioides CgNis1, a homolog of Magnaporthe oryzae MoNis1. We found that the ∆Cgnis1 mutant reduced the growth rate and was defective in conidiation. Although the rate of appressorium formation was unaffected, the germ tube was found to be abnormal. CgNis1 was shown to be involved in the H₂O₂ stress response and maintaining cell membrane permeability. The pathogenicity assays performed in this study indicated that the deletion of CgNIS1 is associated with virulence. Our results indicate that CgNis1 is necessary for the growth, development, and pathogenicity of the fungus. This work provides an in-depth analysis of the Nis1 protein, helps to enhance studies on pathogen-related molecular mechanisms, and provides a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of C. gloeosporioides in peppers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Plant-Fungal Interactions)

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18 pages, 6730 KiB

Open AccessArticle

MoNOT3 Subunit Has Important Roles in Infection-Related Development and Stress Responses in Magnaporthe oryzae

by Youngmin Kim, Miju Jo, Sunmin An, Yerim Lee, Eu Ddeum Choi, Min-Hye Jeong, Ki-Tae Kim and Sook-Young Park

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(6), 3290; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063290 - 14 Mar 2024

Viewed by 423

Abstract

The multifunctional carbon catabolite repression negative on TATA-box-less complex (CCR4-NOT) is a multi-subunit complex present in all eukaryotes, including fungi. This complex plays an essential role in gene expression; however, a functional study of the CCR4-NOT complex in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae has not been conducted. Seven genes encoding the putative CCR4-NOT complex were identified in the M. oryzae genome. Among these, a homologous gene, MoNOT3, was overexpressed during appressorium development in a previous study. Deletion of MoNOT3 in M. oryzae resulted in a significant reduction in hyphal growth, conidiation, abnormal septation in conidia, conidial germination, and appressorium formation compared to the wild-type. Transcriptional analyses suggest that the MoNOT3 gene affects conidiation and conidial morphology by regulating COS1 and COM1 in M. oryzae. Furthermore, Δmonot3 exhibited a lack of pathogenicity, both with and without wounding, which is attributable to deficiencies in the development of invasive growth in planta. This result was also observed in onion epidermal cells, which are non-host plants. In addition, the MoNOT3 gene was involved in cell wall stress responses and heat shock. Taken together, these observations suggest that the MoNOT3 gene is required for fungal infection-related cell development and stress responses in M. oryzae. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Plant-Fungal Interactions)

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22 pages, 7687 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the ABCF Gene Family in Triticum aestivum

by Mila Wu, Aizhu Tu, Huimin Feng, Yunfei Guo, Gecheng Xu, Jingjing Shi, Jianping Chen, Jian Yang and Kaili Zhong

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(22), 16478; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216478 - 18 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1262

Abstract

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily of proteins is a group of evolutionarily conserved proteins. The ABCF subfamily is involved in ribosomal synthesis, antibiotic resistance, and transcriptional regulation. However, few studies have investigated the role of ABCF in wheat (Triticum aestivum) immunity. Here, we identified 18 TaABCFs and classified them into four categories based on their domain characteristics. Functional similarity between Arabidopsis and wheat ABCF genes was predicted using phylogenetic analysis. A comprehensive genome-wide analysis of gene structure, protein motifs, chromosomal location, and cis-acting elements was also performed. Tissue-specific analysis and expression profiling under temperature, hormonal, and viral stresses were performed using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction after randomly selecting one gene from each group. The results revealed that all TaABCF genes had the highest expression at 25 °C and responded to methyl jasmonate induction. Notably, TaABCF2 was highly expressed in all tissues except the roots, and silencing it significantly increased the accumulation of Chinese wheat mosaic virus or wheat yellow mosaic virus in wheat leaves. These results indicated that TaABCF may function in response to viral infection, laying the foundation for further studies on the mechanisms of this protein family in plant defence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Plant-Fungal Interactions)

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14 pages, 2867 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Wheat Annexin TaAnn12 Plays Positive Roles in Plant Disease Resistance by Regulating the Accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species and Callose

by Beibei Shi, Weijian Liu and Qing Ma

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(22), 16381; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216381 - 16 Nov 2023

Viewed by 995

Abstract

(1) Annexins are proteins that bind phospholipids and calcium ions in cell membranes and mediate signal transduction between Ca²⁺ and cell membranes. They play key roles in plant immunity. (2) In this study, virus mediated gene silencing and the heterologous overexpression of TaAnn12 in Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 trials were used to determine whether the wheat annexin TaAnn12 plays a positive role in plant disease resistance. (3) During the incompatible interaction between wheat cv. Suwon 11 and the Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) race CYR23, the expression of TaAnn12 was significantly upregulated at 24 h post inoculation (hpi). Silencing TaAnn12 in wheat enhanced the susceptibility to Pst. The salicylic acid hormone contents in the TaAnn12-silenced plants were significantly reduced. The overexpression of TaAnn12 in A. thaliana significantly increased resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, and the symptoms of the wild-type plants were more serious than those of the transgenic plants; the amounts of bacteria were significantly lower than those in the control group, the accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)and callose deposition increased, and the expression of resistance-related genes (AtPR1, AtPR2, and AtPR5) significantly increased. (4) Our results suggest that wheat TaAnn12 resisted the invasion of pathogens by inducing the production and accumulation of ROS and callose. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Plant-Fungal Interactions)

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13 pages, 8092 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Some Structural Elements of Bacterial Protein MF3 That Influence Its Ability to Induce Plant Resistance to Fungi, Viruses, and Other Plant Pathogens

by Denis Erokhin, Sophya Popletaeva, Igor Sinelnikov, Alexandra Rozhkova, Larisa Shcherbakova and Vitaly Dzhavakhiya

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(22), 16374; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216374 - 15 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 757

Abstract

The ability of the MF3 protein from Pseudomonas fluorescens to protect plants by inducing their resistance to pathogenic fungi, bacteria, and viruses is well confirmed both in greenhouses and in the field; however, the molecular basis of this phenomenon remains unexplored. To find a relationship between the primary (and spatial) structure of the protein and its target activity, we analyzed the inducing activity of a set of mutants generated by alanine scanning and an alpha-helix deletion (ahD) in the part of the MF3 molecule previously identified by our group as a 29-amino-acid peptide working as the inducer on its own. Testing the mutants’ inducing activity using the “tobacco–tobacco mosaic virus” pathosystem revealed that some of them showed an almost threefold (V60A and V62A) or twofold (G51A, L58A, ahD) reduction in inducing activity compared to the wild-type MF3 type. Interestingly, these mutations demonstrated close proximity in the homology model, probably contributing to MF3 reception in a host plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Plant-Fungal Interactions)

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22 pages, 4053 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Piriformospora indica Increases Resistance to Fusarium pseudograminearum in Wheat by Inducing Phenylpropanoid Pathway

by Liang Li, Ruiying Hao, Xiurong Yang, Yu Feng and Zhenghui Bi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(10), 8797; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24108797 - 15 May 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1378

Abstract

Fusarium crown rot (FCR), mainly caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum, not only seriously threatens the yield and quality of wheat, but also endangers the health and safety of humans and livestock. Piriformospora indica is a root endophytic fungus that colonizes plant roots extensively and can effectively promote plant growth and improve plant resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, the mechanism of FCR resistance mediated by P. indica in wheat was revealed from the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway. The results showed that the colonization of P. indica significantly reduced the progression of wheat disease, the amount of F. pseudograminearum colonization, and the content of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat roots. RNA-seq suggested that P. indica colonization could reduce the number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the transcriptome caused by F. pseudograminearum infection. The DEGs induced by the colonization of P. indica were partially enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Transcriptome sequencing and qPCR indicated that the colonization of P. indica up-regulated the expression of genes involved in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway. The metabolome analysis indicated that the colonization of P. indica increased the metabolites’ accumulation in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Consistent with transcriptome and metabolomic analysis, microscopic observations showed enhanced lignin accumulation in the roots of the Piri and Piri+Fp lines, most likely contributing to the arrested infection by F. pseudograminearum. These results suggested that P. indica increased resistance to F. pseudograminearum in wheat by inducing the phenylpropanoid pathway. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Plant-Fungal Interactions)

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19 pages, 8587 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Draft Genome and Biological Characteristics of Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum Causing Black Rot in Gastrodia elata

by Jinshao Li, Ke He, Qian Zhang, Xiaoyi Wu, Zhong Li, Xuejun Pan, Yong Wang, Cheng Li and Manman Zhang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(5), 4545; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054545 - 25 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2093

Abstract

Gastrodia elata is a valuable traditional Chinese medicinal plant. However, G. elata crops are affected by major diseases, such as brown rot. Previous studies have shown that brown rot is caused by Fusarium oxysporum and F. solani. To further understand the disease, we studied the biological and genome characteristics of these pathogenic fungi. Here, we found that the optimum growth temperature and pH of F. oxysporum (strain QK8) and F. solani (strain SX13) were 28 °C and pH 7, and 30 °C and pH 9, respectively. An indoor virulence test showed that oxime tebuconazole, tebuconazole, and tetramycin had significant bacteriostatic effects on the two Fusarium species. The genomes of QK8 and SX13 were assembled, and it was found that there was a certain gap in the size of the two fungi. The size of strain QK8 was 51,204,719 bp and that of strain SX13 was 55,171,989 bp. Afterwards, through phylogenetic analysis, it was found that strain QK8 was closely related to F. oxysporum, while strain SX13 was closely related to F. solani. Compared with the published whole-genome data for these two Fusarium strains, the genome information obtained here is more complete; the assembly and splicing reach the chromosome level. The biological characteristics and genomic information we provide here lay the foundation for further research on G. elata brown rot. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Plant-Fungal Interactions)

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