title: Differential protein accumulations in isolates of the strawberry wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae differing in virulence.
abstract: This study was conducted to define differences in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof) isolates with different virulence efficiency to strawberry at the proteome level, in combination with their differences in mycelial growth, conidial production and germination. Comparative proteome analyses revealed substantial differences in mycelial proteomes between Fof isolates, where the 54 differentially accumulated protein spots were consistently over-accumulated or exclusively in the highly virulent isolate. These protein spots were identified through MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry analyses, and the identified proteins were mainly related to primary and protein metabolism, antioxidation, electron transport, cell cycle and transcription based on their putative functions. Proteins of great potential as Fof virulence factors were those involved in ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated protein degradation and reactive oxygen species detoxification; the hydrolysis-related protein haloacid dehalogenase superfamily hydrolase; 3,4-dihydroxy-2-butanone 4-phosphate synthase associated with riboflavin biosynthesis; and those exclusive to the highly virulent isolate. In addition, post-translational modifications may also make an important contribution to Fof virulence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae (Fof), the causal agent of Fusarium wilt in strawberry, is a serious threat to commercial strawberry production worldwide. However, factors and mechanisms contributing to Fof virulence remained unknown. This study provides knowledge of the molecular basis for the differential expression of virulence in Fof, allowing new possibilities towards developing alternative and more effective strategies to manage Fusarium wilt.
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. Electronic address: xiangling.fang@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Xiangling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Barbetti
mesh_terms: D031985:Fragaria / Q000382:microbiology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005670:Fusarium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D025282:Mycelium / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D040901:Proteomics; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae; Fusarium wilt; Mycelial proteome; Strawberry; Virulence factor; Virulence mechanism