Open AccessBotrytis cinerea virulence is drastically reduced after disruption of chitin synthase class III gene ( Bcchs3a )
Author(s) -
Soulié MarieChristine,
Perino Claude,
Piffeteau Annie,
Choquer Mathias,
Malfatti Pierrette,
Cimerman Agnès,
Kunz Caroline,
Boccara Martine,
VidalCros Anne
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2006.00711.x
Subject(s) - botrytis cinerea , chitin synthase , biology , chitin , mutant , hypha , virulence , conidium , arabidopsis thaliana , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , gene , wild type , fungus , botany , chitosan
Summary Botrytis cinerea is an important phytopathogenic fungus requiring new methods of control. Chitin biosynthesis, which involves seven classes of chitin synthases, could be an attractive target. A fragment encoding one of the class III enzymes was used to disrupt the corresponding Bcchs3a gene in the B. cinerea genome. The resulting mutant exhibited a 39% reduction in its chitin content and an 89% reduction in its in vitro chitin synthase activity, compared with the wild‐type strain. Bcchs3a mutant was not affected in its growth in liquid medium, neither in its production of sclerotia, micro‐ and macroconidia. In contrast, the mutant Bcchs3a was severely impaired in its growth on solid medium. Counterbalancing this defect in radial growth, Bcchs3a mutant presented a large increase in hyphal ramification, resulting in an enhanced aerial growth. Observations by different techniques of microscopy revealed a thick extracellular matrix around the hyphal tips. Moreover, Bcchs3a mutant had a largely reduced virulence on Vitis vinifera and Arabidopsis thaliana leaves.