<i>Stemphylium lycopersici</i> Nep1-like Protein (NLP) Is a Key Virulence Factor in Tomato Gray Leaf Spot Disease.

ABSTRACT: The fungus Stemphylium lycopersici (S. lycopersici) is an economically important plant pathogen that causes grey leaf spot disease in tomato. However, functional genomic studies in S. lycopersici are lacking, and the factors influencing its pathogenicity remain largely unknown. Here, we present the first example of genetic transformation and targeted gene replacement in S. lycopersici. We functionally analyzed the NLP gene, which encodes a necrosis- and ethylene-inducing peptide 1 (Nep1)-like protein (NLP). We found that targeted disruption of the NLP gene in S. lycopersici significantly compromised its virulence on tomato. Moreover, our data suggest that NLP affects S. lycopersici conidiospore production and weakly affects its adapta

SUBMITTER: Lian J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9144795 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature