Cell-Wall-Degrading Enzymes Required for Virulence in the Host Selective Toxin-Producing Necrotroph Alternaria alternata of Citrus.

ABSTRACT: The necrotrophic fungal pathogen Alternaria alternata attacks many citrus species, causing brown spot disease. Its pathogenic capability depends primarily on the production of host-selective ACT toxin. In the current study a Ste12 transcription factor was characterized to be required for conidial formation and the production of cell-wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs) in the tangerine pathotype of A. alternata. The Ste12 deficiency strain (ΔSte12) retained wild-type growth, ACT toxin production, and sensitivity to oxidative and osmotic stress. However, pathogenicity tests assayed on detached Dancy leaves revealed a marked reduction in virulence of ΔSte12. Transcriptome and quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that many genes associated with Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes) w

SUBMITTER: Ma H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6883767 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature