Structural conservation of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">hrp</Emphasis> gene cluster in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomons oryzae</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">oryzae</Emphasis>

The clustered hrp genes encoding the type III secretion system in the Japanese strains MAFF301237 and MAFF311018 of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae were sequenced and compared. The strains differ in their pathogenicity, location, and year of isolation. A 30-kbp sequence comprising 29 open reading frames (ORFs) was identical in its structural arrangement in both strains but differed from X. campestris pv. campestris, X. axonopodis pv. citri, and X. axonopodis pv. glycines in certain genes located between the hpaB-hrpF interspace region. The DNA sequence and the putative amino acid sequence in each ORF was also identical in both X. oryzae pv. oryzae strains as were the PIP boxes and the relative sequences. These facts clearly showed that the structure of the hrp gene cluster in X. oryzae pv. oryzae is unique.     

Susceptibility to citrus canker caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas axonopodis</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">citri</Emphasis> depends on the nuclear genome of the host plant

Susceptibility to Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri of a citrus cybrid, in which the nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes were derived from Citrus sinensis and C. unshiu, respectively, was evaluated. Bacterial growth in the leaves of the cybrid was similar to that in C. sinensis after pin-prick inoculation throughout the experiment, whereas growth was greater than that in C. unshiu from 8 days after inoculation. Lesion expansion and pustules that later developed from the lesions on the cybrid and on C. sinensis also appeared to be greater than those on C. unshiu. The incidence of citrus canker disease caused by the bacteria on the cybrid trees was in the field was equivalent to that on C. sinensis but was severer than on C. unshiu. These results indicate that the nuclear genome of the cybrid plays a critical role in susceptibility to citrus canker disease. However, the pathogenicity gene pthA of the bacteria is not likely to be involved in the difference in susceptibility to the bacteria between C. unshiu and C. sinensis because their susceptibility to a pthA-deficient mutant of the bacteria also differs.     

Molecular characterization of the avrXa7 locus from Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae field isolates

The effector gene avrXa7 from Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae has avirulence function in rice with the Xa7 resistance gene and confers pathogenic fitness (aggressiveness). Field strains of X. oryzae pv. oryzae displayed a diversity of phenotypes on rice ranging from complete to partial loss of these functions. To understand the molecular basis for variation in avrXa7 function, we sequenced the alleles from seven field strains. The avrXa7 gene is an avrBs3/pthA family member and contains nuclear localization signal sequences and an acidic activation domain (AAD) in the 3′ end and a central region containing repeated sequences, all of which are important for avirulence and aggressiveness. Sequence analysis revealed changes in the avrXa7 alleles ranging from a point mutation to multiple mutations spread throughout the alleles. Some strains with identical mutant alleles exhibited different levels of aggressiveness to rice, suggesting the presence of second mutations. A point mutation found at the beginning of the AAD of one avrXa7 allele was reconstructed in the wild type gene; this mutant exhibited partial loss of avirulence and aggressiveness. Our data suggest that adaptation of X. oryzae pv. oryzae to Xa7 rice fields involves not only alterations in avrXa7, but may include changes in other gene family members resulting from recombination between family members.     

A single amino acid substitution in PthA of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas axonopodis</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">citri</Emphasis> altering canker formation on grapefruit leaves

The typical citrus canker lesions produced by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri are erumpent, callus-like, with water-soaked margins. Three novel atypical symptom-producing variants of X. axonopodis pv. citri were described recently in Taiwan. Only the variant designated as A^f type produces typical erumpent canker lesions on Mexican lime (Citrus aurantifolia) but induces flat necrotic with water-soaked margin lesions on grapefruit leaves (C. paradisi). Two homologous pthA were cloned and characterized from strains XW19 (a typical canker lesion producing strain) and XW47 (a strain of A^f type). The pthA homolog from XW19 was transformed into XW47. The transformant of XW47 induced typical erumpent canker lesions on grapefruit leaves. Sequence analyses of transformants XW19 and XW47 revealed over 99% homology in nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences compared with pthA homologs deposited in GenBank. The amino acid residues located at positions 49, 286, 742 and 767 of PthA were different between XW47 and XW19. The PthA mutants with a single amino acid substitution at each of these four positions were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. Modified PthA (S286P) from XW47 in transformant 47SP induced erumpent canker lesions on grapefruit leaves, whereas another modified PthA (P286S) from XW19 in transformant 47PS only induced flat necrotic lesions. These results suggested that a single amino acid substitution from either serine to proline or proline to serine at position 286 of PthA can alter canker formation by X. axonopodis pv. citri on grapefruit leaves.     

Generation and characterisation of Tn5-tagged <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas oryzae</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">oryzae</Emphasis> mutants that overcome <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xa23</Emphasis>-mediated resistance to bacterial blight of rice

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae causes bacterial blight of rice. Xa23, a bacterial blight resistance gene identified originally in wild rice, Oryza rufipogon, is dominant and resistant to all X. oryzae pv. oryzae field isolates tested. The corresponding avirulence gene avrXa23 is unknown. Here we report the generation of a random insertion mutant library of X. oryzae pv. oryzae strain PXO99 using a Tn5-derived transposon tagging system, and identification of mutant strains that are virulent on CBB23, a near-isogenic rice line containing Xa23. A total of 24,192 Tn5 inserted clones was screened on CBB23 by leaf-cutting inoculation and at least eight of them caused lesions on CBB23 comparable to those on JG30, the susceptible recurrent parent of CBB23. Polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis showed that all the eight mutants, designated as P99M1, P99M2, P99M3, P99M4, P99M5, P99M6, P99M7 and P99M8, have a single Tn5-insertion in their genomes. The flanking DNA sequences of the Tn5-insertion sites were isolated by PCR-walking and sequenced. Bioinformatic analysis of the flanking sequences, by aligning them with the whole genome sequences of X. oryzae pv. oryzae strains PXO99, KACC10331 and MAFF311018 through NCBI, revealed that the Tn5-insertions disrupted genes that encode TAL effector AvrBs3/PthA, ISXo1 transposase, Type II secretion system protein-like protein or outer membrane protein, glycogen synthase, cytochrome C5 and conserved hypothetical protein. Further identification of these mutants will facilitate the molecular cloning of avirulence gene avrXa23. The authors C.-L. Wang, A.-B. Xu contributed equally to this work; Y. Gao and Y.-L. Fan contributed equally to this work.     

Notes on the occurrence of pathogenic races of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae found in Hiroshima Prefecture during 2000–2003

The pathogenic races of 450 cultures of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, isolated from eight locations in the inland mountainous area of Hiroshima Prefecture during 2000 to 2003, were determined with a set of Japanese differentials. The rice cultivars infected with the bacterium are thought to be in the Kinmaze group, which does not have any resistance genes. Five Japanese races IA, IB, II, V, and VII occurred across the area, although the composition of the races in each location altered during the surveyed 4 years.     

华南水稻白叶枯病菌致病性分化检测与分析

为了解华南稻区水稻白叶枯病菌的致病性分化和变异动态,采集华南地区水稻白叶枯病病叶标样分离病原菌,应用中国鉴别寄主IR26、南粳15、爪哇14、特特普、金刚30和国际水稻已知抗病基因的近等基因系IRBB5、IRBB13、IRBB3、IRBB14、IRBB2、IR24两套鉴别寄主,在水稻孕穗期采用剪叶法接种,依据寄主和菌株的互作反应检测病菌的致病性分化。结果显示,参试菌株可划分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅸ六个致病型和R1、R2、R3、R4、R5、R8、R10七个致病小种。Ⅴ、Ⅳ致病型和R8、R5小种出现频率分别为27.40%、19.30%和44.67%、15.34%,为华南稻区优势种群。Ⅸ、Ⅴ、Ⅳ致病型和R8、R5小种对500份华南稻区品种资源的致病率依次为96.40%、95.00%、50.40%、62.00%和42.60%;Ⅸ致病型毒性最强且发展很快;强致病菌系Ⅴ型已替代Ⅳ型发展为华南优势致病菌系。     

Hpa1 secretion via type III secretion system in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas oryzae</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">oryzae</Emphasis>

In many Gram-negative plant pathogenic bacteria the type III secretion system (TTSS), encoded by hrp genes, is essential for pathogenicity in the host and induction of a hypersensitive reaction (HR) in nonhost plants. The expression of hrp genes has been suggested to be repressed in complex media, whereas it is induced in planta and under certain in vitro conditions. We recently reported that XOM2 medium allows efficient hrp expression by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. In this study, we investigated hrp-dependent secretion of proteins by the bacteria in vitro. Using modified XOM2, in which bovine serum albumin was added and the pH was lowered to 6.0, we detected at least 10 secreted proteins and identified one as Hpa1. This is the first evidence of protein secretion via TTSS in X. oryzae pv. oryzae.     

HrpG regulates type II secretory proteins in Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri

HrpG, a two-component response regulator-like protein, is a key regulator of the type III secretion system (T3SS) in Xanthomonas spp. In X. campestris pv. vesicatoria, HrpG with a single amino acid substitution (HrpG*) gains the ability to induce the expression of T3SS-related genes even under nutrient-rich conditions. In this study, we investigated the role of HrpG in the synthesis of the secretory protein using HrpG* in strain NA-1 of X. axonopodis pv. citri (Xac NA-1), a causal agent of citrus canker. Eleven proteins secreted via a type II secretion system (T2SS) were induced by HrpG*. In proteomic analyses, six of the 11 proteins were identified as extracellular enzymes, and the others as a fimbrial biogenesis-related protein, a type IV-related protein, two hypothetical proteins, and a conserved hypothetical protein. Further analysis of these proteins revealed that the genes coding all 11 proteins were upregulated by HrpG*, even though they had different expression patterns for HrpXct-dependency. The data indicated that HrpG, a key regulator of T3SS, also acts as a positive regulator of certain proteins secreted via a T2SS in Xac NA-1.     

水稻白叶枯病菌酸性还原酮加双氧酶的鉴定分析

 酸性还原酮加双氧酶(ARD)催化很多原核和真核生物中的甲硫氨酸急救途径(MSP)倒数第二步。本研究鉴定了水稻白叶枯病菌Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo)中的酸性还原酮加双氧酶, 命名为xard。Xoo 菌株PXO99^A、MAFF311018和KACC10331中的xard核苷酸序列完全相同。xard基因突变菌株在甲硫基腺苷(MTA)为唯一硫源时不能正常生长。这一结果证明Xard在MSP中起作用。xard突变体和野生型菌株PXO99^A 接种水稻IR24后病斑长度数据表明该基因突变对Xoo在水稻上的毒性没有影响。     

Pathogenesis-related gene expression in rice is correlated with developmentally controlled Xa21-mediated resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae

Disease resistance mediated by the resistance gene Xa21 is developmentally controlled in rice. We examined the relationship between Pathogenesis Related (PR) defense gene expression and Xa21-mediated developmental disease resistance induced by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). OsPR1a, OsPR1b, and OsPR1c genes were cloned and their induction was analyzed, in addition to the OsPR10a gene, at the juvenile and adult stages in response to a wildtype Xoo strain that induces a resistance response (incompatible interaction) and an isogenic mutant Xoo strain that does not (compatible interaction). We found that the adult stage leaves are more competent to express these OsPR1 genes and that the Xa21 locus is required for the highest levels of induction.     

黑龙江省水稻种质抗瘟性及稻瘟病菌致病性分析

为明确黑龙江省水稻种质抗性及稻瘟病菌的致病性,以黑龙江省8个水稻品种、24个单基因系作为供试材料,120株稻瘟病菌株作为接种体,采用喷雾接种法测定了各供试水稻的抗瘟性及稻瘟病菌的致病性。结果表明,水稻品种对2010年和2011年菌株的抗性频率分别在31.67%~68.33%和21.67%~55.00%之间,2010年最好的抗性品种为松粳12,2011年最好的抗性品种为五优稻4和东农425;松粳12东农425组合联合抗病性最好。水稻单基因系对2010年和2011年菌株的抗性频率分别在10.00%~90.00%和5.00%~86.67%之间,抗性最好的单基因系分别为IRBLzt-T(Pi-zt)和IRBLz5-CA(Pi-z5);松粳12、东农425和龙粳22的基因聚合效果最好。2010年和2011年菌株对抗瘟基因群的致病率分别在8.33%~95.83%和25.00%~95.83%之间;无毒基因总出现频率分别为461和412次。研究表明,水稻种质抗性受菌株致病性影响较大,但高抗种质相对稳定,基因聚合方式更适宜当地品种抗性改良。     

Bacterial blight of rice and its control in Nepal

Research on Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the bacterial blight of rice pathogen, was initiated at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) with the main objective of assessing the population structure of X. o. pv. oryzae through the use of both conventional and molecular markers in combination with virulence typing. A high DNA polymorphism was detected in the pathogen populations using different DNA probes and rep-PCR primers. Most strains were avirulent to cultivars containing the bacterial blight resistance gene Xa-21, which suggested the strategy that targets gene deployment is feasible in Nepal.     

Induction of systemic resistance byPseudomonas fluorescens Pf1 againstXanthomonas oryzae pv.Oryzae in rice leaves

When lower leaves of rice plants were inoculated with powder formulation of a saprophytic strain ofPseudomonas fluorescens, Pfl, upper leaves, in addition to the inoculated lower leaves, showed resistance to the rice bacterial blight pathogenXanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae. When the leaves were challenge-inoculated withX. oryzae pv.oryzae 4 days afterP. fluorescens application on lower leaves, the disease intensity in upper leaves decreased from 6.7 to 1.1. When rice seeds were treated with the formulation ofP. fluorescens Pfl and sown, 30-day-old seedlings showed resistance toX. oryzae pv.oryzae and the disease intensity decreased from 6.8 to 1.2. The induced resistance was transient; leaves sprayed withP. fluorescens Pfl at 30 days after treatment and leaves of 60-day-old seedlings fromP. fluorescens-treated seeds did not show resistance to the pathogen. In field trials, seed treatment followed by foliar application of the powder formulation ofP. fluorescens Pfl effectively controlled rice bacterial blight and increased the yield. In the induced resistant leaves a sharp increase in lignification and activities of peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and 4-coumarate: CoA ligase was observed when the leaves were challenge-inoculated withX. oryzae pv.oryzae. An approximately threefold increase in lignin content, peroxidase activity and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and a fivefold increase in 4-coumarate: CoA ligase activity were observed 5 days after challenge inoculation withX. oryzae pv.oryzae in rice leaves pretreated withP. fluorescens for 5 days. A similar increase in defense-related activities was not observed in susceptible interactions or inP. fluorescens-treated plants at later stages of interactions when no resistance to the pathogen was observed.     

Transient expression of pepper Bs2 gene in Citrus limon as an approach to evaluate its utility for management of citrus canker disease

The pepper Bs2 gene confers resistance to Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv) pathogenic strains containing the avrBs2 avirulence gene in susceptible pepper and tomato. The avrBs2 gene is highly conserved in the Xanthomonas genus and when bacteria lack this gene their growth in a susceptible host is diminished, indicating that the avrBs2 gene product could confer an adaptive advantage to the pathogen. The avrBs2 of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc), cause of citrus canker, shares 96% homology with avrBs2 of Xcv. To evaluate if Bs2 could recognize avrBs2 of Xcc in citrus plants and thereby activate plant defence mechanisms to increase resistance to canker, transient expression experiments were conducted using Agrobacterium tumefaciens in lemon plants subsequently challenged with wildtype Xcc. The results showed that transient expression of Bs2 reduced canker formation in lemon and induced plant defence mechanisms, as shown by callose deposition and PR‐1 expression. Moreover, when an avrBs2 mutant of Xcc was used, no decrease in disease symptoms was observed. This work shows that the Bs2 gene from Solanaceae is functional in lemon, a member of the Rutaceae family. Therefore, Bs2 is a potential candidate gene for stable expression in transgenic citrus plants in order to improve resistance to canker disease.     

水直播条件下黑龙江省不同稻区稻瘟病菌致病性分析

为明确水直播条件下黑龙江省不同稻区稻瘟病菌Magnaporthe oryzae的致病性分化情况,以24个抗瘟单基因系品种为寄主,来源于2017—2018年黑龙江省水直播稻田的242株稻瘟病菌菌株为接种体,采用离体划伤方法接种,记录病斑反应型,计算有效致病菌株率和抗性频率,并进行聚类分析。结果显示,在水直播条件下,2017年,黑龙江省南部和中东部稻区稻瘟病菌菌株对抗瘟单基因系品种的有效致病菌株率介于8.33%~95.83%和20.83%~95.83%之间,无毒基因出现频率分别为575次和622次;2018年,南部和中东部稻区稻瘟病菌菌株对鉴别体系的有效致病菌株率介于29.17%~95.83%和20.83%~91.67%之间,无毒基因出现频率分别为536次和571次。2017年,黑龙江省南部和中东部稻区稻瘟病菌菌株的致病性相似系数介于0.15~1.00和0.14~1.00之间,以致病性相似系数0.40为阈值,可将菌株分别划分为5个类群和6个类群;2018年,南部和中东部稻区菌株的致病性相似系数介于0.15~0.93和0.26~1.00之间,以致病性相似系数0.40为阈值,可将菌株分别划分为5个类群和4个类群。2017年,抗瘟单基因系品种对黑龙江省南部和中东部稻区稻瘟病菌菌株的抗性频率介于11.29%~88.71%和10.77%~86.15%之间,其中抗瘟单基因系品种IRBL9-W（Pi-9）和IRBLz5-CA（Pi-z5）抗性表现最好;2018年,抗瘟单基因系品种对南部和中东部稻区菌株的抗性频率介于10.34%~82.67%和15.79%~85.96%之间,其中抗瘟单基因系品种IRBL9-W（Pi-9）和IRBLz5-CA（Pi-z5）抗性表现最好。表明水直播条件下黑龙江省稻瘟病菌致病性分化剧烈,稻瘟病菌整体致病力较强,但仍有部分水稻种质抗性较好且相对稳定,基因聚合后抗性会得到进一步提升。