Open AccessYAP1 homologue‐mediated redox sensing is crucial for a successful infection by Monilinia fructicola
Author(s) -
Yu PeiLing,
Wang ChihLi,
Chen PeiYin,
Lee MiinHuey
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
molecular plant pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.945
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1364-3703
pISSN - 1464-6722
DOI - 10.1111/mpp.12438
Subject(s) - biology , monilinia fructicola , yap1 , virulence , reactive oxygen species , microbiology and biotechnology , oxidative stress , gene , pathogen , transcription factor , genetics , botany , biochemistry , fungicide
Summary Monilinia fructicola (G. Winter) Honey is a devastating pathogen on Rosaceae which causes blossom blight and fruit rot. Only a few studies related to the plant–pathogen interaction have been published and there is limited knowledge on the relationship between oxidative stress and successful infection in M. fructicola . In this study, we cloned and characterized a redox‐responsive transcription factor MFAP1, a YAP1 homologue. MfAP1 ‐silenced strains were generated by polyethylene glycol‐mediated protoplast transformation or Agrobacterium T‐DNA‐mediated transformation. Pathogenicity assay demonstrated that MfAP1 ‐silenced strains caused smaller lesions on rose and peach petals. Transformants carrying extra copies of MfAP1 , driven by the native promoter, were generated for MfAP1 overexpression. Interestingly, MfAP1‐ overexpressing strains also caused smaller lesions on rose petals. Strains carrying two copies of MfAP1 accumulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) at higher levels and exhibited delayed accumulation of MfAP1 transcripts compared with the wild‐type during pathogenesis. By the analysis of ROS production and the expression patterns of redox‐ and virulence‐related genes in the wild‐type strain and an MfAP1 ‐overexpressing strain, we found that the M. fructicola wild‐type strain responded to oxidative stress at the infection site, activated the expression of MfAP1 and up‐regulated the genes required for ROS detoxification and fungal virulence. In contrast, MfAP1 expression in the MfAP1 ‐overexpressing strain was suppressed after the induction of a strong oxidative burst at the infection site, altering the expression of ROS detoxification and virulence‐related genes. Our results highlight the importance of MfAP1 and ROS accumulation in the successful infection of M. fructicola .