Generation of a ToxA knockout strain of the wheat tan spot pathogen Pyrenophora tritici-repentis.
The necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora tritici-repentis causes tan spot, a major disease of wheat, throughout the world. The proteinaceous effector ToxA is responsible for foliar necrosis on ToxA-sensitive wheat genotypes. The single copy ToxA gene was deleted from a wild-type race 1 P. tritici-repentis isolate via homologous recombination of a knockout construct. Expression of the ToxA transcript was found to be absent in transformants (toxa), as was ToxA protein production in fungal culture filtrates. Plant bioassays were conducted to test transformant pathogenicity. The toxa strains were unable to induce necrosis on ToxA-sensitive wheat genotypes. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a targeted gene knockout in P. tritici-repentis. The ability to undertake gene deletions will facilitate the characterization of other pathogenicity effectors of this economically significant necrotroph.
Centre for Crop and Disease Management, Department of Environment and Agriculture, School of Science, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia.
Caroline S
CS
Moffat
Pao Theen
PT
See
Richard P
RP
Oliver
D001203:Ascomycota / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D005838:Genotype; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000235:genetics*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D014908:Triticum / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D009183:Mycotoxins; C105776:TOXA protein, Pyrenophora tritici-repentis
Triticum aestivum; homologous recombination; necrotrophic effector; toxin; transformation; yellow leaf spot; yellow spot