title: Mitogen-activated protein kinases are associated with the regulation of physiological traits and virulence in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense.
abstract: Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC) is an important soil-borne fungal pathogen causing devastating vascular wilt disease of banana plants and has become a great concern threatening banana production worldwide. However, little information is known about the molecular mechanisms that govern the expression of virulence determinants of this important fungal pathogen. In this study, we showed that null mutation of three mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase genes, designated as FoSlt2, FoMkk2 and FoBck1, respectively, led to substantial attenuation in fungal virulence on banana plants. Transcriptional analysis revealed that the MAP kinase signaling pathway plays a key role in regulation of the genes encoding production of chitin, peroxidase, beauvericin and fusaric acid. Biochemical analysis further confirmed the essential role of MAP kinases in modulating the production of fusaric acid, which was a crucial phytotoxin in accelerating development of Fusarium wilt symptoms in banana plants. Additionally, we found that the MAP kinase FoSlt2 was required for siderophore biosynthesis under iron-depletion conditions. Moreover, disruption of the MAP kinase genes resulted in abnormal hypha and increased sensitivity to Congo Red, Calcofluor White and H2O2. Taken together, these results depict the critical roles of MAP kinases in regulation of FOC physiology and virulence.
authors: Department of Plant Pathology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
authors: Zhaojian
authors: Z
authors: Ding
authors: Department of Plant Pathology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
authors: Minhui
authors: M
authors: Li
authors: Department of Plant Pathology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Plant Pathology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
authors: Pinggen
authors: P
authors: Xi
authors: Department of Plant Pathology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
authors: Longhua
authors: L
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Plant Pathology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
authors: Lianhui
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Plant Pathology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
authors: Zide
authors: Z
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D019295:Computational Biology; D047630:Depsipeptides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005669:Fusaric Acid / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005670:Fusarium / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D025301:Hyphae / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D017262:Siderophores / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D047630:Depsipeptides; D017262:Siderophores; C004456:beauvericin; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D005669:Fusaric Acid