Recovery of Mutants Impaired in Pathogenicity After Transposition of Impala in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis

ABSTRACT The ability of transposon impala to inactivate genes involved in pathogenicity was tested in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis. Somatic excision of an impala copy inserted in the nitrate reductase-encoding niaD gene was positively selected through a phenotypic assay based on the restoration of nitrate reductase activity. Independent excision events were analyzed molecularly and shown to carry reinsertedimpala in more than 70% of the cases. Mapping of reinserted impala elements on large NotI-restriction fragments showed that impala transposes randomly. By screening 746 revertants on plants, a high proportion (3.5%) of mutants impaired in their pathogenic potential was recovered. According to the kinetics of wilt symptom development, the strains that were impaired in pathogenicity were clustered in three classes: class 1 grouped two strains that never induced Fusarium wilt symptoms on the host plant; class 2 and class 3 grouped 15 and 9 revertants which caused symptoms more than 50 and 30 days after inoculation, respectively. The first results demonstrate the efficiency of transposition in generating mutants affected in pathogenicity, which are usually difficult to obtain by classical mutagenesis, and open the possibility to clone the altered genes with impala as a tag.     

Cytological Analysis of Defense-Related Mechanisms Induced in Pea Root Tissues in Response to Colonization by Nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum Fo47

The ability of nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum, strain Fo47, to trigger plant defense reactions was investigated using Ri T-DNA-transformed pea roots. Cytological investigations of strain Fo47-inoculated roots showed that the fungus grew actively at the root surface and colonized a number of epidermal and cortical cells, inducing marked host cell metabolic changes. In roots inoculated with pathogenic F. oxysporum f. sp. pisi, the pathogen multiplied abundantly through much of the tissues, whereas in Fo47-inoculated roots, fungal growth was restricted to the epidermis and the outer cortex. Invading cells of strain Fo47 suffered from serious alterations, a phenomenon that was not observed in control roots in which F. oxysporum f. sp. pisi grew so actively that the vascular stele was invaded within a few days. Strain Fo47 establishment in the root tissues resulted in a massive elaboration of hemispherical wall appositions and in the deposition of an electron-opaque material frequently encircling pathogen hyphae and accumulating in the noninfected xylem vessels. This suggests that the host roots were signaled to defend themselves through the rapid stimulation of a general cascade of nonspecific defense responses. The specific relationship established between strain Fo47 and the root tissues is discussed in relation to other types of plant-fungus interactions, including pathogenic and symbiotic associations.     

Implication of Systemic Induced Resistance in the Suppression of Fusarium Wilt of Tomato by Pseudomonas fluorescens WCS417r and by Nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum Fo47

Fluorescent pseudomonads and nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum have been shown to suppress fusarium wilts. This suppression has been related to both microbial antagonism and induced resistance.The aim of the present study was to assess the relative importance of systemic induced resistance in the suppression of fusarium wilt of tomato in commercial-like conditions by a reference strain of each type of microorganism (P. fluorescens WCS417r and nonpathogenic F. oxysporum Fo47). The spatial separation of the pathogen and the biocontrol strains excluded any possible microbial antagonism and implicated the involvement of the systemic induced resistance; whereas the absence of any separation between these microorganisms allowed the expression of both mechanisms. Since systemic induced resistance has often been associated with the synthesis of PR-proteins, their accumulation in tomato plants inoculated with WCS417r or with Fo47 was determined.The analysis of the results indicates that the suppression of fusarium wilt by P. fluorescens WCS417r was ascribed to systemic induced resistance without any detection of the PR-proteins tested (PR-1 and chitinases). In contrast, the suppression achieved by nonpathogenic F. oxysporum Fo47 appeared to be mainly ascribed to microbial antagonism but also to a lesser extent to systemic induced resistance. This induced resistance could be related to the accumulation of PR-1 and chitinases.The possible relationship between the ability of Fo47 to suppress fusarium wilt more efficiently than WCS417r and its ability to show both mechanisms is discussed.     

Fusarium oxysporum Fo47 confers protection to pepper plants against Verticillium dahliae and Phytophthora capsici,and induces the expression of defence genes

The application of the nonpathogenic isolate Fusarium oxysporum 47 (Fo47) reduced the symptoms of verticillium wilt, phytophthora root rot and phytophthora blight in pepper plants. Botrytis cinerea was also tested on the leaves of plants treated with Fo47, but no protection was observed. Verticillium dahliae colonies cultured in the presence of Fo47 grew slower than control cultures, but Phytophthora capsici growth was unaffected by Fo47. At least part of the protection effect observed against V. dahliae could therefore be due to antagonism or competition. In order to search for induced resistance mechanisms, three defence genes previously related to pepper resistance were monitored over time. These genes encode a basic PR‐1 protein (CABPR1), a class II chitinase (CACHI2) and a sesquiterpene cyclase (CASC1) involved in the synthesis of capsidiol, a phytoalexin. These three genes were transiently up‐regulated in the roots by Fo47 in the absence of inoculation with the pathogen, but in the stem only CABPR1 was up‐regulated. In plants that were inoculated with V. dahliae after the Fo47 treatment, the three genes had a higher relative expression level than the control in both the roots and the stem.     

Isolation of Nonpathogenic Mutants of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis for Biological Control of Fusarium Wilt in Cucurbits

ABSTRACT Two nonpathogenic mutant strains 4/4 and 15/15 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (race 1,2) were isolated by a continuous dipinoculation technique following UV mutagenesis of the virulent wild-type isolate FOM1.2. No disease symptoms or detrimental effects were observed following inoculation of muskmelon seedlings by strain 4/4. In contrast, strain 15/15 caused mortality of susceptible cultivars although to a lesser extent than the wild-type isolate. Strain 4/4 colonized a variety of muskmelon and watermelon cultivars. In muskmelon cv. Ein Dor, seedlings were dipped in a conidial suspension of strain 4/4 and planted in medium amended with the mutant to achieve 100% colonization of roots and between 30 to 70% of the lower stem tissues 7 days after planting. Similar percent colonization of watermelon seedlings by strain 4/4 was recorded. In cross-protection experiments with muskmelon cultivars, significant reduction in seedling mortality was observed between 4/4-colonized FOM1.2. challenged plants compared with that of wild-type challenged plants alone. Similarly, strain 4/4 was able to significantly reduce mortality of watermelon seedlings caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. niveum race 2. This novel approach of generating nonpathogenic mutants for biological control in Fusarium spp. and other fungal pathogens from virulent wild-type isolates may be beneficial for control, because the mutant strains, lacking only in pathogenicity, may compete more efficiently than other biocontrol organisms against the pathogen of origin.     

Expression of NEP1 by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. erythroxyli After Gene Replacement and Overexpression Using Polyethylene Glycol-Mediated Transformation

ABSTRACT The necrosis inducing extracellular protein Nep1 is produced by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. erythroxyli in liquid culture. NEP1, the Nep1 protein structural gene, was disrupted in F. oxysporum f. sp. erythroxyli isolate EN-4 by gene replacement using polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated transformation. NEP1 disruption was verified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Southern blot, and northern blot analysis. NEP1-disrupted transformants failed to produce Nep1 in liquid culture. NEP1 disruption did not affect the pathogenicity of isolate EN-4 toward Erythroxylum coca. Transformation of isolate EN-4 with construct pPB-FO11-45 carrying NEP1 between the trpC promoter and terminator resulted in increased production of Nep1 in potato dextrose broth plus 1% casamino acids or Czapek-Dox broth plus 1% casamino acids but not in potato dextrose broth alone. Transformation of EN-4 with construct pPB-FO11-45 was verified by PCR and Southern blot analysis. Overexpression of NEP1 was confirmed by northern blot and Tricine-sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. NEP1-overexpressing transformant 15 produced 64 to 128 times as much Nep1 as EN-4 wild type when grown in shake cultures. Transformants overexpressing Nep1 in liquid culture were no more or less pathogenic toward E. coca than wild-type isolates. Nep1 was not detected in E. coca seedlings infected with NEP1-overexpressing transformants or with EN-4 wild type. In large-scale fermentations of NEP1-overexpressing transformant 15, the amount of secreted protein including Nep1 was 15.1 times that of the wild-type EN-4, providing a ready source of Nep1 for future study.     

Occurrence of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis Race 1 in Japan

In 1994, Fusarium wilt of melon cultivars which are resistant to races 0 and 2 of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis was observed in southern area of the Lake Biwa region, Shiga prefecture. In commercial fields, mature plants of cv. Amus which were grafted onto cv. Enken Daigi 2, and of cv. FR Amus showed yellowing, wilting and finally death before harvesting of fruits. Diseased plants had vascular and root discolorations, and their stem sections yielded typical colonies of F. oxysporum. When the Shiga strains were tested for their pathogenicity to 12 species of cucurbits, they caused wilts only on melon. Using race differential cultivars of melon, the Shiga strains were classified as race 1 of F. oxysporum f. sp. melonis, which has not been reported in Japan. To further characterize their pathogenicity, the strains were used to inoculate 46 additional cultivars of melon, oriental melon and oriental pickling melon. All the race 1 strains were pathogenic to the cultivars tested, and their host range was apparently different from those of strains belonging to other races (races 0, 2 and 1,2y). DNA fingerprinting with a repetitive DNA sequence, FOLR3, differentiated race 1 strains from strains of races 0 and 2, but not from race 1,2y strains. Received 2 July 1999/ Accepted in revised form 30 September 1999     

Modes of action of the protective strain Fo47 in controlling verticillium wilt of pepper

The protective fungus Fusarium oxysporum Fo47 reduces the severity of wilt caused by the soilborne pathogen Verticillium dahliae in pepper. Modes of action responsible for the biocontrol activity were studied. Microscopic observations of fluorescent protein‐transformed strains colonizing the root surface show that the colonization patterns of Fo47 and V. dahliae were similar. Pixel counting of the images obtained by confocal microscopy showed that Fo47 reduces colonization of the root surface by V. dahliae, suggesting a possible role of competition for nutrients at the root surface. Besides these effects on surface colonization, the hormonal pathways activated during priming of plant defence responses were identified by measuring the amount of some phytohormones and their derivatives in roots and stems of pepper. Results showed an early, slight increase of jasmonyl isoleucine, followed by a transient increase of salicylic acid during the pre‐challenged phase of priming and an increase of 12‐oxo‐phytodienoic acid during the challenge phase of priming. The caffeic, ferulic and chlorogenic acids, known to play a role in plant defence reactions, showed a strong antimicrobial activity against V. dahliae in vitro. In pepper roots, Fo47 stimulated the biosynthesis of caffeic acid and primed that of chlorogenic acid. These results demonstrated that the effective control of V. dahliae provided by Fo47 is based on different but complementary mechanisms.     

甜瓜枯萎病菌（Fusarium oxysporum）专化型的初步研究

本研究获得的甜瓜枯萎病病株9株分离物（南通市6株,新疆3株）,经PDA培养性状发现,其在菌落颜色、质地和生长速率方面存在差异,大型分生孢子的大小为(19.54～41.11)μm×(4.90～8.16)μm,与西瓜枯萎病菌的大型分生孢子有较大差异。胚根法成株期致病性测定结果发现,本研究的甜瓜枯萎病菌分离物在不同鉴别寄主和鉴别品种上致病性存在专化型和生理小种方面的差异,但分离物中不存在西瓜枯萎病菌。利用核糖体转录间隔区保守序列设计引物,PCR检测也证明本研究甜瓜枯萎病菌不同分离物中不存在西瓜枯萎病菌。     

Recent developments in the molecular discrimination of formae speciales of Fusarium oxysporum

Rapid and reliable detection and identification of potential plant pathogens is required for taking appropriate and timely disease management measures. For many microbial species of which all strains generally are plant pathogens on a known host range, this has become quite straightforward. However, for some fungal species this is quite a challenge. One of these is Fusarium oxysporum Schlechtend:Fr., which, as a species, has a very broad host range, while individual strains are usually highly host-specific. Moreover, many strains of this fungus are non-pathogenic soil inhabitants. Thus, with regard to effective disease management, identification below the species level is highly desirable. So far, the genetic basis of host specificity in F. oxysporum is poorly understood. Furthermore, strains that infect a particular plant species are not necessarily more closely related to each other than to strains that infect other hosts. Despite these difficulties, recently an increasing number of studies have reported the successful development of molecular markers to discriminate F. oxysporum strains below the species level.     

FoAP1基因在香蕉枯萎病菌致病过程中的功能分析

 为了探究AP1转录因子在尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型4号生理小种(Foc4)中是否参与香蕉枯萎病的致病过程,借助尖孢镰刀菌Fo5176菌株(GenBank序列号:AFQF01001482.1)全基因组序列,通过PCR和RT-PCR技术克隆获得了Foc4中AP1转录因子的基因组DNA和cDNA编码序列.利用PEG介导的原生质体转化法获得AP1基因敲除转化子。利用qRT-PCR分析AP1可能调控的下游基因表达。利用灌根法(直接在根部浇菌)检测了AP1缺失突变体的致病能力。结果表明Foc4的AP1转录因子cDNA编码序列长1770bp,编码63.9kDa(589aa)蛋白,是一个典型的bZIP型转录因子,命名为FoAP1;FoAP1缺失突变体的气生菌丝大量减少,菌丝的入侵生长受到严重限制。对外源氧化胁迫不敏感,但致病能力减弱。     

接种根瘤菌及尖孢镰刀菌对大豆防御酶活性的影响

用尖孢镰刀菌接种盛花期（播种60 d）的结瘤大豆,接种0、24、48、72、96、120、144 h后测定叶片中苯丙氨酸解氨酶、多酚氧化酶、超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶4种防御酶的活性变化并进行分析。结果表明,接种尖孢镰刀菌后接种根瘤菌的大豆植株防御酶活性均高于未接种根瘤菌的大豆植株和空白对照,表明大豆接种根瘤菌对尖孢镰刀菌具有一定的防御能力,同时可提高其叶片中苯丙氨酸解氨酶、多酚氧化酶、超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶4种防御酶的活性。     

香蕉枯萎病菌群体多样性研究进展

香蕉枯萎病严重威胁世界香蕉产业,而目前尚无有效防治药剂。开发快速诊断技术以加强检疫,控制其传播速度,同时加快选育抗病品种是有效控制该病的根本策略。然而,无论是研发快速诊断的分子技术还是进行抗病品种的选育,都需要深入了解病原菌的群体结构及其基因多样性背景。香蕉枯萎病菌经过一个多世纪的变异与进化,已分化出4个生理小种,23个营养亲合群和多个基因多样性类群。本文从香蕉枯萎病的起源及其病原菌培养性状、生理小种、致病性、营养亲合群及基因多样性等方面研究进展进行梳理和分析,以期为下一步的研究提供思路和启发。     

Role of new bacterial surfactins in the antifungal interaction between Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Fusarium oxysporum

The aim of this work was to investigate the major mechanisms involved in antagonism of BO7, a novel strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens isolated from orchard soil, against the vascular wilt fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol). BO7 markedly reduced the incidence of Fol vascular wilt on tomato plants and displayed strong in vitro inhibitory activity against Fol. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the ability of BO7 cells to adhere to fungal hyphae and to efficiently colonize tomato roots. The low molecular weight fraction of BO7 culture filtrate displayed high antifungal activity against Fol, resulting in growth inhibition and dramatic alterations of hyphal morphology. Three structurally related surfactin lipopeptides, identified as the major components of the bioactive fraction, were assayed for their inhibitory activity against Fol. One of these compounds exerted a strong and uncommon antifungal activity for lipopeptides of the surfactin family, accounting for most of the inhibitory activity of the BO7 culture filtrate. Among a collection of Fol knockout isolates tested, mutants altered in cell wall structure showed increased sensitivity to the bacterial compounds. These results suggest that the fungal cell wall might have a key role in the sensitivity of Fol towards bacterial surfactins from B. amyloliquefaciens.     

半夏防御酶系对Fusarium oxysporum和Phytophthora parasitica侵染的动态反应

尖孢镰刀菌(Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht)和寄生疫霉(Phytophthora parasitica Dastur)分别为引起半夏块茎腐烂病和疫病的病原,为探索半夏在受到这2种病原侵染时的生理生化反应,采用室内盆栽方法,研究超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、多酚氧化酶(PPO)、苯丙氨酸解氨酶(PAL)5种寄主防御酶活性在块茎腐烂病和疫病发生过程中的变化趋势。结果表明,半夏在接种2种病原菌后,分别于第2天和第3天出现发病症状,第5天病情指数分别高达70.3、70.6;SOD活性都于接种后第1天达到高峰,POD活性都于接种后第3天达到高峰,CAT活性都于接种后第2天达到高峰,PAL活性分别于接种后第2天和第3天达到高峰,而PPO活性分别于接种后第3天和第4天有小幅上升。初步表明,在寄主显症之前或发病初期酶活性达到高峰的SOD、POD、CAT、PAL在半夏抗病生理机制中起着重要作用,在半夏抗病种质筛选时需要重点关注。     

Response of carnation cultivars to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. dianthi in the field

The response of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cultivars toFusarium oxysporum f.sp.dianthi (F.o.d.) was evaluated in an artificially infested field from 1988/9 to 1991/2. Disease incidence was highly correlated with disease severity, indicating that disease incidence may be used to estimate the impact ofF.o.d. on the host. Based on the results, the following stepwise procedure was developed for characterizing the response of carnation cultivars toF.o.d. First, the general response of the tested cultivar was classified as resistant or susceptible on the basis of disease incidence values recorded 180 days after planting. Empirical analysis of the data revealed that a disease incidence level of 75% may be taken as a reliable cut-off point for separation of cultivars into the two groups. Within each group, cultivars were then subjected to a more explicit classification: in the resistant group the records of actual disease incidence were used for classification, while in the susceptible group the linear rearrangement of the disease progress curve was calculated according to the Gompertz function, and the value of the intercept was used for classification.Contribution No. 3539-E series, from the Agricultural Research Organization.