Review
Microbiology
Johannes Mapuranga, Na Zhang, Lirong Zhang, Jiaying Chang, Wenxiang Yang
Summary: This article introduces the efforts made to decipher the effector proteins of biotrophic fungal pathogens and demonstrates the rapid progress in the field of obligate biotrophy.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Dongdong Lu, Jixian Zhai, Mengli Xi
Summary: The endosperm is a crucial storage tissue in plant seeds, providing nutrients for embryos or seedlings during seed development and germination. Although genetic information in the endosperm cannot be directly passed on, its inherited epigenetic marks have an impact on gene expression and subsequently influence embryo and seed growth. Understanding the effects of endosperm DNA methylation on crop yield and traits is highly significant.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Daniela Ramos-Cruz, A. Niloya Troyee, Claude Becker
Summary: Plants are the central hubs of organismic interactions, constantly engaging in beneficial or competitive exchanges with various organisms. In order to establish and maintain these interactions, as well as defend against pathogens and herbivores, plants have evolved intricate regulatory mechanisms, with epigenetic mechanisms emerging as an additional regulatory entity. This review highlights recent advances in understanding the contribution of various epigenetic components and diversity to plant-organismic interactions.
CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Susan Breen, Hazel McLellan, Paul R. J. Birch, Eleanor M. Gilroy
Summary: The growth-defense trade-off in plants refers to the need for plants to balance resource allocation between growth and defense against pests and pathogens. Light perception plays a crucial role in growth control and can influence defense mechanisms. Plant pathogens secrete effector proteins that manipulate defense signaling, and some of these effectors target light signaling pathways. Additionally, plant pathogens also react to and regulate their own growth, development, and virulence in response to light. Recent research suggests that manipulating light wavelengths may be a novel approach to control or prevent disease outbreaks in plants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ying-Ning Ho, Sin Yong Hoo, Bo-Wei Wang, Chi-Ting Hsieh, Ching-Chih Lin, Chi-Hui Sun, Chia-Chi Peng, Chih Lin, Yu-Liang Yang
Summary: The interactions between bacteria and fungi are complex, with their secreted metabolites playing important roles in microbial communities. Research has shown that a plant pathogen can modify a siderophore produced by bacteria, leading to a loss of antifungal activity.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shengping Shang, Guangli Liu, Song Zhang, Xiaofei Liang, Rong Zhang, Guangyu Sun
Summary: The study identified a novel effector, named CfEC12, which is essential for the virulence of C. fructicola. Overexpression of CfEC12 in Nicotiana benthamiana suppressed plant immune responses such as cell death, callose deposition, and ROS burst. CfEC12 interacts with MdNIMIN2, a protein involved in regulating the SA defense pathway in apple, and competes with MdNPR1 for binding to MdNIMIN2, thereby inhibiting the interaction between MdNIMIN2 and MdNPR1. This finding reveals a mechanism by which the fungal effector targets the salicylic acid defense pathway to promote fungal infection.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Nathaniel M. Westrick, Damon L. Smith, Mehdi Kabbage
Summary: The article discusses how necrotrophic fungi overcome plant defense compounds to achieve successful pathogenesis, including strategies such as enzymatic detoxification and toxin sequestration and efflux. Efficient detoxification of host PDCs is critical for successful infection and often determines pathogen host range.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Michael Habig, Klaas Schotanus, Kim Hufnagel, Petra Happel, Eva H. Stukenbrock
Summary: This study elucidates the conservation of the RNAi machinery within the genus Zymoseptoria and its impact on the production of asexual propagules in planta. The results suggest a role of the RNAi pathway during host infection, but not in the stability of accessory chromosomes in Z. tritici.
Review
Microbiology
H. Martin Kramer, David E. Cook, Michael F. Seidl, Bart P. H. J. Thomma
Summary: Through the association of protein complexes to DNA, the eukaryotic nuclear genome is organized into open euchromatin that is accessible and condensed heterochromatin that is inaccessible. Chromatin alterations impact its organization and functionality and are important regulators of nuclear processes. Studies in fungal plant pathogens uncover the association between chromatin organization and the expression of in planta-induced genes that are important for pathogenicity.
Review
Microbiology
David B. Collinge, Birgit Jensen, Hans J. L. Jorgensen
Summary: The enigmatic endophytic fungi can manipulate hosts for their own benefit and produce effector proteins and molecules that can be exploited for biological control. Molecular genetics and functional characterization are valuable approaches for understanding endophytic fungal interactions.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Luke G. Barrett, Marcello Zala, Alexey Mikaberidze, Julien Alassimone, Muhammad Ahmad, Bruce A. McDonald, Andrea Sanchez-Vallet
Summary: Infections by multiple strains of a pathogen are common in nature and can have significant impacts on virulence, transmission, and evolution. The outcomes of mixed infections are determined by various factors and can affect infection dynamics and pathogen population structure, potentially influencing disease epidemics and virulence evolution.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Prabhjot Singla, Rachana D. Bhardwaj, Sucheta Sharma, Sunidhi
Summary: Plants and fungi engage in a complex interaction where fungi employ various strategies to extract nutrients from host plants, while plants have developed constitutive and induced defense mechanisms to counteract fungal attacks. However, this ongoing co-evolutionary arms race between pathogens and plants at the molecular level remains a topic of intensive research. This review aims to enhance our understanding of the intricate events occurring during plant-fungus interaction and shed light on the unexpected complexity of this process.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Eline A. Ampt, Davide Francioli, Jasper van Ruijven, Sofia I. F. Gomes, Jose G. Macia-Vicente, Aad J. Termorshuizen, Lisette M. Bakker, Liesje Mommer
Summary: Plant diversity can influence the risk of plant disease, but it is the composition of plant communities that is the key factor. This study found that in mixed plant communities, the relative abundance of root-associated fungal pathogens increased in both host and non-host plant species. The composition of the plant community, specifically the presence of certain neighboring host species, had a significant impact on the abundance of the pathogens. The results suggest that below-ground disease risk depends on the interactions between plant species and their root-associated pathogens.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Huchen Chen, Shengnan He, Shuhan Zhang, Runa A, Wenling Li, Shouan Liu
Summary: This study investigates the interaction between Botrytis cinerea and its host plants. The results show that upon infection, plant defense responses change from activation to repression. The transcription factor BcSpd1 plays a key role in suppressing plant defense and affecting fungal pathogenicity.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jing Wang, Zhicheng Huang, Pengyun Huang, Qing Wang, Yan Li, Xiao-Hong Liu, Fu-Cheng Lin, Jianping Lu
Summary: This study shows that the Clp1 protein in M. oryzae regulates development and pathogenicity by maintaining autophagy homeostasis and affecting gene transcription in the nucleus.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Hua Li, Zhanquan Zhang, Guozheng Qin, Chang He, Boqiang Li, Shiping Tian
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xiaoyun Liu, Xiaomin Cui, Dongchao Ji, Zhanquan Zhang, Boqiang Li, Yong Xu, Tong Chen, Shiping Tian
Summary: The exogenous application of luteolin in sweet cherry can enhance antioxidative capacity and reduce fungal disease incidence, thereby maintaining better fruit quality.
Article
Agronomy
Yongxiu Xia, Ruiling Zhuo, Boqiang Li, Shiping Tian
Summary: The study demonstrated that 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) effectively reduced fruit decay caused by Phomopsis sp., improved antioxidant capacity, elevated phenolic compound contents, and reduced polygalacturonase activity in 'Hongyang' kiwifruit during long-term cold storage. Additionally, treatment with 1-MCP maintained higher fruit firmness and reduced the incidence of decay during the late stage of storage.
NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF CROP AND HORTICULTURAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Mengyang Xing, Yong Chen, Boqiang Li, Shiping Tian
Summary: The cloned SDR gene CgSDR can effectively transform patulin into E-ascladiol in vitro, showing significant degradation ability; addition of CgSDR can reduce 80% of patulin in apple juice without affecting its quality.
Article
Microbiology
Zhanquan Zhang, Chang He, Yong Chen, Boqiang Li, Shiping Tian
Summary: Botrytis cinerea is a destructive fungal pathogen causing economic losses in horticultural products. DNA methyltransferases play an important role in regulating the development and pathogenicity of B. cinerea.
Article
Microbiology
Xiaodi Xu, Yong Chen, Boqiang Li, Shiping Tian
Summary: This study functionally characterized four PRMTs in P. expansum and demonstrated the important roles of PeRmtC in the development, pathogenicity, and secondary metabolism of P. expansum.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Wei Liu, Kui Liu, Daoguo Chen, Zhanquan Zhang, Boqiang Li, Mohamed M. El-Mogy, Shiping Tian, Tong Chen
Summary: Fruits, vegetables, and other plant-derived foods are important for human diets and are widely favored by consumers worldwide. Within these crops, tomatoes are highly valued due to their abundant nutritional constituents and are also used as a model species for studying various biological events. In addition to their economic and nutritional values, tomatoes also provide a rich source of health-promoting secondary metabolites, making them valuable for investigating nutrient biosynthesis and availability in food science.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mengyang Xing, Yong Chen, Wanqin Dai, Xiao He, Boqiang Li, Shiping Tian
Summary: A novel patulin-degrading enzyme preparation was developed, which efficiently degraded the important mycotoxin patulin in fruit-derived products. The immobilized enzyme exhibited high efficiency, stability, safety, and easy separation, establishing the first step in building a bio-detoxification system to control patulin contamination in juice and beverage products.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Horticulture
Ting Liu, Yong Chen, Shiping Tian, Boqiang Li
Summary: Horticultural crops are susceptible to bacterial, fungal, and oomycete pathogens, which secrete effectors to evade plant immunity. This review summarizes the functions and mechanisms of action of proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous effectors secreted by these pathogens. Plant hosts have evolved specific recognition mechanisms and activate effector-triggered immunity (ETI) to counteract effectors. The potential application of effector biology in disease management and breeding of resistant varieties is also discussed.
Article
Microbiology
Ruiling Zhuo, Yong Chen, Mengyang Xing, Zhanquan Zhang, Shiping Tian, Boqiang Li
Summary: In this study, it was found that Penicillium expansum is a main producer of patulin that causes severe postharvest decay and food safety issues in the fruit industry. The development, pathogenicity, and patulin production of P. expansum are strongly influenced by the PacC-pH signaling pathway. The PeEna family proteins, as important downstream targets of PePacC, play a crucial role in patulin biosynthesis in P. expansum.
Article
Microbiology
Yong Chen, Yichen Zhang, Dongying Xu, Zhanquan Zhang, Boqiang Li, Shiping Tian
Summary: In this study, the transcription factor PeAP1 was identified as a regulator of oxidative stress response in P. expansum. Deletion of PeAP1 led to defects in hyphal growth and virulence, and the presence of PeAP1 prevented the accumulation of H2O2. Additionally, the application of antioxidants and an oxidase inhibitor partially restored the growth and virulence of the PeAP1 mutant.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ruiling Zhuo, Boqiang Li, Shiping Tian
Summary: The present study investigated the effects of alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) soaking treatment on postharvest quality and disease in kiwifruit. The results showed that AOS treatment reduced the incidence of gray mold and improved the overall quality of kiwifruit during storage. AOS also enhanced the activity of enzymes related to pathogen defense and improved the antioxidant capacity of kiwifruit.
HORTICULTURAL PLANT JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhanquan Zhang, Yong Chen, Boqiang Li, Tong Chen, Shiping Tian
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2020)
Article
Agronomy
Xiaoyun Liu, Dongchao Ji, Xiaomin Cui, Zhanquan Zhang, Boqiang Li, Yong Xu, Tong Chen, Shiping Tian
POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
(2020)
