Characterization of mutants of the chestnut blight fungus (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryphonectria parasitica</Emphasis>) with unusual hypovirus symptoms |
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Authors: | Md Iqbal Faruk Masatoshi Izumimoto Nobuhiro Suzuki |
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Institution: | (1) Agrivirology Laboratory, Research Institute for Bioresources, Okayama University, Kurashiki Okayama, 710-0046, Japan;(2) Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan |
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Abstract: | The type virus of the family Hypoviridae,
Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 strain EP713 (CHV1-EP713), infects Cryphonectria parasitica, the filamentous causal fungus of chestnut blight, and reduces its virulence. This pathosystem serves as a model to study
fungus-mycovirus interactions. We previously developed a genetic screening protocol for host factors associated with symptom
induction by CHV1-EP713 and its mutants. In the procedure the standard field fungal isolate EP155 was transformed by cDNA
from a mild hypovirus mutant Cys(72), launching virus infection, and mutagenized by random plasmid insertion with pHygR conferring
hygromycin resistance. We now report an extension of the study to characterize different mutant strains, with different phenotypes
than their parental strain TCys(72)-1. TCys(72)-1 is moderately reduced in pigmentation and sporulation compared to the uninfected
wild-type strain EP155. Mutants sfb1, sfb2 and k202 were characterized biologically and molecularly in comparison to the previously
isolated mutant (namA) and the parental strain. These mutants harbored one (sfb1) or more copies (sfb2 and k202) of the mutagenic plasmid, pHygR.
The three mutants had similar biological attributes; that is, vegetative growth rate, conidiation and virulence (assay on
apples) was reduced on potato dextrose agar media, relative to the parental strain and pigmentation was the same or slightly
increased. Interestingly, viral dsRNA accumulation levels were apparently unaltered in these mutants. The screening method
was efficient for mining fungal mutants with unusual hypovirus symptoms. Further, characterization of the mutants provides
interesting insights into symptom induction by the hypovirus. |
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Keywords: | Hypovirus Cryphonectria parasitica Chestnut blight fungus Host factor Mycovirus |
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