Plant Powdery Mildews: Host-Pathogen Interactions, Co-evolution, and Disease Control

A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungal Pathogens".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2023) | Viewed by 12132

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Interests: plant genomics; plant structural and functional genomics studies; population genetics of wild cereals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Interests: plant genomics; plant structural and functional genomics studies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,
Powdery mildew diseases are caused by many different species of fungi in the order Erysiphales. These pathogens can infect a wide range of plants that display white powdery spots on the surface of leaves, buds, young shoots, fruits, and flowers. Powdery mildews are among the most destructive plant diseases and can cause significant yield losses in agricultural fields. Deployment of effective powdery mildew resistance (Pm) genes in plant varieties is an important approach to reduce disease losses. Furthermore, regulation of resistance pathways by certain compounds (e.g. BTH and glycerol) was also shown to improve resistance to powdery mildew in several plant species.

Plants developed multifaceted innate immunity systems during their long co-evolution alongside their pathogens. Various plant resistance mechanisms have been demonstrated to be activated by specific surface-localized or cytoplasmic receptors in response to infection by powdery mildew. After recognition, several downstream signaling events can be elicited, such as accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), activation of various resistance signaling cascades, and interaction with plant hormones (e.g. salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, auxin, etc.).

In this exciting context, Pathogens is launching a Special Issue devoted to ‘Plant Powdery Mildews: Host-Pathogen Interactions, Co-evolution, and Disease Control’. Both original research and review articles are welcome. Potential topics include, but are not limited to the following:

(i) The molecular mechanisms and related pathways involved in plant immunity to powdery mildew.
(ii) Identification of Pm genes/QRLs/R-proteins that confer resistance to powdery mildew.
(iii) Identification of pathogen effectors, their interaction with host proteins, and their role in pathogenicity.
(iv) Allelic diversity, population genetic, and co-evolution of host resistance and pathogen virulence.
(v) Resistance breeding and/or pyramiding R-genes for improving resistance to powdery mildew.
(vi) New strategies and perspectives for disease control, including biological control.

Prof. Tzion Fahima
Dr. Yinghui Li
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • powdery mildew
  • disease-resistance gene
  • NLR
  • QRL mapping
  • resistance alleles
  • molecular breeding
  • plant–pathogen co-evolution
  • crop wild relatives
  • host–parasite interactions

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 2675 KiB  
Communication
A Complete Genome Sequence of Podosphaera xanthii Isolate YZU573, the Causal Agent of Powdery Mildew Isolated from Cucumber in China
by Ziyi Wang, Yujiao Du, Suhao Li, Xuewen Xu and Xuehao Chen
Pathogens 2023, 12(4), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12040561 - 06 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1382
Abstract
Podosphaera xanthii is a well-known obligate biotrophic pathogen that causes powdery mildew (PM) disease on cucurbitaceous plants and is one of the most important limiting factors for cucumber production worldwide. To better understand the avirulence effector proteins in this species that are known [...] Read more.
Podosphaera xanthii is a well-known obligate biotrophic pathogen that causes powdery mildew (PM) disease on cucurbitaceous plants and is one of the most important limiting factors for cucumber production worldwide. To better understand the avirulence effector proteins in this species that are known to be involved in host-pathogen interaction, the draft genome assembly of P. xanthii isolate YZU573 from cucumber leaves with symptoms of PM was obtained with a hybrid approach, combining nanopore long-read and llumina paired-end sequencing. The final P. xanthii YZU573 genome assembly of 152.7 Mb consists of 58 contigs, with an N50 value of 0.75 Mb and 6491 predicted protein-coding genes. The effector analysis using the whole-genome sequence information revealed a total of 87 putative effector candidates, and 65 of them had their analogs, whereas the remaining 22 were novel ones. The new P. xanthii genome provides valuable resources to better understand plant-microbe interaction in cucumber PM disease. Full article
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8 pages, 2426 KiB  
Article
Haplotype Analysis Sheds Light on the Genetic Evolution of the Powdery Mildew Resistance Locus Pm60 in Triticum Species
by Xuhui Huang, Xueli Jin, Xiaojie Ren, Wenxuan Wu, Wenjun Ji, Lihua Feng, Bo Jiang, Ming Hao, Shunzong Ning, Zhongwei Yuan, Lianquan Zhang, Bihua Wu, Dengcai Liu, Zhen-Zhen Wei and Lin Huang
Pathogens 2023, 12(2), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12020241 - 02 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1531
Abstract
Wheat powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, Bgt, recently clarified as B. graminis s. str.), is one of the most destructive diseases of wheat. Pm60 is a nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) gene that confers race-specific resistance to Bgt. [...] Read more.
Wheat powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, Bgt, recently clarified as B. graminis s. str.), is one of the most destructive diseases of wheat. Pm60 is a nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) gene that confers race-specific resistance to Bgt. Allelic variants (Pm60, Pm60a, and Pm60b) were found in Triticum urartu and T. dicoccoides, the wild progenitors of wheat. In the present study, we studied the diversity of the Pm60 locus in a large set of wheat germplasm and found 20 tetraploid wheats harboring the Pm60 alleles, which correspond to three novel haplotypes (HapI–HapIII). HapI (Pm60 allele) and HapII (Pm60a allele) were present in domesticated tetraploid wheats, whereas HapIII (Pm60a allele) was identified in wild tetraploid T. araraticum. A sequence comparison of HapII and HapIII revealed that they differed by three SNPs and a GCC deletion. Results of the phylogenetic analysis revealed that HapII was more closely related to the functional haplotype MlIW172. Infection tests showed that HapII-carrying lines display a partial resistance response to Bgt#GH, while HapI was susceptible. Our results provide insights into the genetic evolution of the Pm60 locus and potential valuable alleles for powdery mildew resistance breeding. Full article
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9 pages, 2595 KiB  
Article
Postulation of Specific Disease Resistance Genes in Cereals: A Widely Used Method and Its Detailed Description
by Antonín Dreiseitl
Pathogens 2022, 11(3), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11030284 - 23 Feb 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1680
Abstract
Cultivation of resistant varieties is an environmentally friendly and inexpensive method of crop protection. Numerous alleles of specific disease resistance occur in cereals and other crops, and knowledge of their presence in individual varieties has wide utilization in research and practice. Postulation based [...] Read more.
Cultivation of resistant varieties is an environmentally friendly and inexpensive method of crop protection. Numerous alleles of specific disease resistance occur in cereals and other crops, and knowledge of their presence in individual varieties has wide utilization in research and practice. Postulation based on phenotyping host—pathogen interactions and the gene-for-gene model is a common way of identifying these genes. The same technique and design of tests are used for postulating virulence when pathogen populations are studied. Powdery mildews caused by different formae speciales of Blumeria graminis (Bg) are important cereal diseases. In this contribution, experimental methods are described that use a model organism Bg f. sp. hordei, which can be employed for other cereal mildews and possibly rusts. It includes illustrations and a summary of our long-term practical experience. It also critically evaluates the benefits of leaf segment tests compared with screening whole plants. Full article
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11 pages, 1881 KiB  
Article
Introgression of the Powdery Mildew Resistance Genes Pm60 and Pm60b from Triticum urartu to Common Wheat Using Durum as a ‘Bridge’
by Qiang Zhang, Yinghui Li, Yiwen Li, Tzion Fahima, Qianhua Shen and Chaojie Xie
Pathogens 2022, 11(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11010025 - 26 Dec 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2873
Abstract
Powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), has limited wheat yields in many major wheat-production areas across the world. Introducing resistance genes from wild relatives into cultivated wheat can enrich the genetic resources for disease resistance [...] Read more.
Powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), has limited wheat yields in many major wheat-production areas across the world. Introducing resistance genes from wild relatives into cultivated wheat can enrich the genetic resources for disease resistance breeding. The powdery mildew resistance gene Pm60 was first identified in diploid wild wheat Triticum urartu (T. urartu). In this study, we used durum as a ‘bridge’ approach to transfer Pm60 and Pm60b into hexaploid common wheat. Synthetic hexaploid wheat (SHW, AABBAuAu), developed by crossing T. urartu (AuAu) with durum (AABB), was used for crossing and backcrossing with common wheat. The Pm60 alleles were tracked by molecular markers and the resistance to powdery mildew. From BC1F1 backcross populations, eight recombinant types were identified based on five Pm60-flanking markers, which indicated different sizes of the introgressed chromosome segments from T. urartu. Moreover, we have selected two resistance-harboring introgression lines with high self-fertility, which could be easily used in wheat breeding system. Our results showed that the durum was an excellent ‘bridge’ for introducing the target gene from diploid T. urartu into the hexaploid cultivated wheat. Moreover, these introgression lines could be deployed in wheat resistance breeding programs, together with the assistance of the molecular markers for Pm60 alleles. Full article
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Review

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18 pages, 781 KiB  
Review
Powdery Mildew Resistance Genes in Vines: An Opportunity to Achieve a More Sustainable Viticulture
by Viviana Sosa-Zuniga, Álvaro Vidal Valenzuela, Paola Barba, Carmen Espinoza Cancino, Jesus L. Romero-Romero and Patricio Arce-Johnson
Pathogens 2022, 11(6), 703; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11060703 - 18 Jun 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2991
Abstract
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is one of the main fruit crops worldwide. In 2020, the total surface area planted with vines was estimated at 7.3 million hectares. Diverse pathogens affect grapevine yield, fruit, and wine quality of which powdery mildew is the [...] Read more.
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is one of the main fruit crops worldwide. In 2020, the total surface area planted with vines was estimated at 7.3 million hectares. Diverse pathogens affect grapevine yield, fruit, and wine quality of which powdery mildew is the most important disease prior to harvest. Its causal agent is the biotrophic fungus Erysiphe necator, which generates a decrease in cluster weight, delays fruit ripening, and reduces photosynthetic and transpiration rates. In addition, powdery mildew induces metabolic reprogramming in its host, affecting primary metabolism. Most commercial grapevine cultivars are highly susceptible to powdery mildew; consequently, large quantities of fungicide are applied during the productive season. However, pesticides are associated with health problems, negative environmental impacts, and high costs for farmers. In paralleled, consumers are demanding more sustainable practices during food production. Therefore, new grapevine cultivars with genetic resistance to powdery mildew are needed for sustainable viticulture, while maintaining yield, fruit, and wine quality. Two main gene families confer resistance to powdery mildew in the Vitaceae, Run (Resistance to Uncinula necator) and Ren (Resistance to Erysiphe necator). This article reviews the powdery mildew resistance genes and loci and their use in grapevine breeding programs. Full article
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