Open AccessCGTase, a novel antimicrobial protein from Bacillus cereus YUPP‐10, suppresses Verticillium dahliae and mediates plant defence responses
Author(s) -
Zhou Jinglong,
Feng Zili,
Liu Shichao,
Wei Feng,
Shi Yongqiang,
Zhao Lihong,
Huang Wanting,
Zhou Yi,
Feng Hongjie,
Zhu Heqin
Publication year - 2021
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.13014
Subject(s) - verticillium dahliae , biology , verticillium wilt , verticillium , microbiology and biotechnology , plant disease resistance , spore germination , pathogenic fungus , genetically modified crops , bacillus cereus , botany , transgene , gene , spore , fungus , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics
Verticillium wilt is a plant vascular disease caused by the soilborne fungus Verticillium dahliae that severely limits cotton production. In a previous study, we screened Bacillus cereus YUPP‐10, an efficient antagonistic bacterium, to uncover mechanisms for controlling verticillium wilt. Here, we report a novel antimicrobial cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) from YUPP‐10. Compared to other CGTases, six different conserved domains were identified, and six mutants were constructed by gene splicing with overlap extension PCR. Functional analysis showed that domain D was important for hydrolysis activity and domains A1 and C were important for inducing disease resistance. Direct effects of recombinant CGTase on V. dahliae included reduced mycelial growth, spore germination, spore production, and microsclerotia germination. In addition, CGTase also elicited cotton's innate defence reactions. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines that overexpress CGTase showed higher resistance to verticillium wilt. Transgenic CGTase A. thaliana plants grew faster and resisted disease better. CGTase overexpression enabled a burst of reactive oxygen species production and activated pathogenesis‐related gene expression, indicating that the transgenic cotton was better prepared to protect itself from infection. Our work revealed that CGTase could inhibit the growth of V. dahliae , activate innate immunity, and play a major role in the biocontrol of fungal pathogens.