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Plant Disease Resistance 2.0

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2022) | Viewed by 52993

Special Issue Editor

Department of Agricultural Science, University of Naples “Federico II,” 80055 Portici, Italy
Interests: plant genomic; R-genes; new resistance genes; bioinformatics platform
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is the second volume of our previous Special Issue "Plant Disease Resistance". Crop production is adversely affected by plant pathogens and pests worldwide that are responsible for devastating yield losses in many species. Plants evolved a complex defense system that is fine-tuned through a knitted plant immune networks. Molecular complex interactions across different host–pathogen combinations demonstrated that cross-talk among pathogen receptors, plant hormones, transcription factors, and other molecules is involved in any given immune response. Discovery genes involved in defense process and specific resistance molecular mechanisms is crucial to improve their use in agriculture. The aim of this special issue is to highlight recent advances in the understanding of mechanism of plant defense response by elucidating immune receptors structure and functioning. Multidisciplinary approaches able to describe the evolution, the function and regulation of the plant immune system are welcome. Researchers can contribute with original research findings and review and perspective article to this issue. 

Dr. Maria R. Ercolano
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • phatogen recpetor genes
  • defense mechanisms
  • signaling pathway interplay
  • evolution
  • plant-pathogen interaction
  • OMICS

Published Papers (23 papers)

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23 pages, 5645 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Tomato Transcriptomic Profiles Reveals Overlapping Patterns in Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses
by Ciro Gianmaria Amoroso, Daniela D’Esposito, Riccardo Aiese Cigliano and Maria Raffaella Ercolano
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 4061; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms24044061 - 17 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1735
Abstract
Until a few years ago, many studies focused on the transcriptomic response to single stresses. However, tomato cultivations are often constrained by a wide range of biotic and abiotic stress that can occur singularly or in combination, and several genes can be involved [...] Read more.
Until a few years ago, many studies focused on the transcriptomic response to single stresses. However, tomato cultivations are often constrained by a wide range of biotic and abiotic stress that can occur singularly or in combination, and several genes can be involved in the defensive mechanism response. Therefore, we analyzed and compared the transcriptomic responses of resistant and susceptible genotypes to seven biotic stresses (Cladosporium fulvum, Phytophthora infestans, Pseudomonas syringae, Ralstonia solanacearum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and Tuta absoluta) and five abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, low temperatures, and oxidative stress) to identify genes involved in response to multiple stressors. With this approach, we found genes encoding for TFs, phytohormones, or participating in signaling and cell wall metabolic processes, participating in defense against various biotic and abiotic stress. Moreover, a total of 1474 DEGs were commonly found between biotic and abiotic stress. Among these, 67 DEGs were involved in response to at least four different stresses. In particular, we found RLKs, MAPKs, Fasciclin-like arabinogalactans (FLAs), glycosyltransferases, genes involved in the auxin, ET, and JA pathways, MYBs, bZIPs, WRKYs and ERFs genes. Detected genes responsive to multiple stress might be further investigated with biotechnological approaches to effectively improve plant tolerance in the field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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17 pages, 4767 KiB  
Article
Analysis of QTLs and Candidate Genes for Tassel Symptoms in Maize Infected with Sporisorium reilianum
by Yu Zhou, Minhao Yao, Qian Wang, Xiaoming Zhang, Hong Di, Lin Zhang, Ling Dong, Qingyu Xu, Xianjun Liu, Xing Zeng and Zhenhua Wang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 14416; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms232214416 - 20 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1254
Abstract
Heat smut is a fungal soil-borne disease caused by Sporisorium reilianum, and affects the development of male and female tassels. Our previous research found that the tassel symptoms in maize infected with Sporisorium reilianum significantly differed in inbred lines with Sipingtou blood, [...] Read more.
Heat smut is a fungal soil-borne disease caused by Sporisorium reilianum, and affects the development of male and female tassels. Our previous research found that the tassel symptoms in maize infected with Sporisorium reilianum significantly differed in inbred lines with Sipingtou blood, and exhibited stable heredity over time at multiple locations. In this study, cytological analysis demonstrated that the cellular organization structures of three typical inbred lines (Huangzao4, Jing7, and Chang7-2) showed significant discrepancies at the VT stage. QTLs that control the different symptoms of maize tassels infected with Sporisorium reilianum were located in two F2 populations, which were constructed using three typical inbred lines. The BSA (bulked segregation analysis) method was used to construct mixed gene pools based on typical tassel symptoms. The QTLs of different symptoms of maize tassels infected with Sporisorium reilianum were detected with 869 SSR markers covering the whole maize genome. The mixed gene pools were screened with polymorphic markers between the parents. Additional SSR markers were added near the above marker to detect genotypes in partially single plants in F2 populations. The QTL controlling tassel symptoms in the Huangzao4 and Jing7 lines was located on the bin 1.06 region, between the markers of umc1590 and bnlg1598, and explained 21.12% of the phenotypic variation with an additive effect of 0.6524. The QTL controlling the tassel symptoms of the Jing7 and Chang7-2 lines was located on the bin 2.07 region, between the markers of umc1042 and bnlg1335, and explained 11.26% phenotypic variation with an additive effect of 0.4355. Two candidate genes (ZmABP2 and Zm00001D006403) were identified by a conjoint analysis of label-free quantification proteome sequencings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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10 pages, 1865 KiB  
Article
NB-LRR Lineage-Specific Equipment Is Sorted Out by Sequence Pattern Adaptation and Domain Segment Shuffling
by Giuseppe Andolfo, Antimo Di Donato and Maria Raffaella Ercolano
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 14269; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms232214269 - 17 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1062
Abstract
The nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NB-LRR) genes, also known as resistance (R)-genes, play an important role in the activation of immune responses. In recent years, large-scale studies have been performed to highlight the diversification of plant NB-LRR repertories. It is well [...] Read more.
The nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NB-LRR) genes, also known as resistance (R)-genes, play an important role in the activation of immune responses. In recent years, large-scale studies have been performed to highlight the diversification of plant NB-LRR repertories. It is well known that, to provide new functionalities, NB-LRR sequences are subject to duplication, domain fusions and acquisition and other kinds of mutations. Although some mechanisms that govern NB-LRR protein domain adaptations have been uncovered, to retrace the plant-lineage-specific evolution routes of R protein structure, a multi-genome comparative analysis was performed. This study allowed us to define groups of genes sharing homology relationships across different species. It is worth noting that the most populated groups contained well-characterized R proteins. The arsenal profile of such groups was investigated in five botanical families, including important crop species, to underline specific adaptation signatures. In addition, the dissection of 70 NB domains of well-characterized R-genes revealed the NB core motifs from which the three main R protein classes have been diversified. The structural remodeling of domain segments shaped the specific NB-LRR repertoires observed in each plant species. This analysis provided new evolutionary and functional insights on NB protein domain shuffling. Taken together, such findings improved our understanding of the molecular adaptive selection mechanisms occurring at plant R loci. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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20 pages, 3754 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Alternative Splicing in Two Contrasting Apple Cultivars Defense against Alternaria alternata Apple Pathotype Infection
by Tingting Zhou, Youlei He, Xianqi Zeng, Binhua Cai, Shenchun Qu and Sanhong Wang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 14202; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms232214202 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1600
Abstract
Alternaria blotch disease, caused by the Alternaria alternata apple pathotype (A. alternata AP), is one of the most serious fungal diseases in apples. Alternative splicing (AS), one of the pivotal post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, plays essential roles in various disease resistance responses. Here, [...] Read more.
Alternaria blotch disease, caused by the Alternaria alternata apple pathotype (A. alternata AP), is one of the most serious fungal diseases in apples. Alternative splicing (AS), one of the pivotal post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, plays essential roles in various disease resistance responses. Here, we performed RNA-Seq for two apple cultivars (resistant cultivar ‘Jonathan’ (J) and susceptible cultivar ‘Starking Delicious’ (SD)) infected by A. alternata AP to further investigate their AS divergence. In total, 1454, 1780, 1367 and 1698 specifically regulated differential alternative splicing (DAS) events were detected in J36, J72, SD36 and SD72 groups, respectively. Retained intron (RI) was the dominant AS pattern. Conformably, 642, 764, 585 and 742 uniquely regulated differentially spliced genes (DSGs) were found during A. alternata AP infection. Comparative analysis of AS genes in differential splicing and expression levels suggested that only a small proportion of DSGs overlapped with differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis demonstrated that the DSGs were significantly enriched at multiple levels of gene expression regulation. Briefly, the specific AS was triggered in apple defense against A. alternata AP. Therefore, this study facilitates our understanding on the roles of AS regulation in response to A. alternata AP infection in apples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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18 pages, 845 KiB  
Article
Advanced Genetic Studies on Powdery Mildew Resistance in TGR-1551
by María López-Martín, Ana Pérez-de-Castro, Belén Picó and María Luisa Gómez-Guillamón
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(20), 12553; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms232012553 - 19 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1583
Abstract
Cucurbits powdery mildew (CPM) is one of the main limiting factors of melon cultivation worldwide. Resistance to races 1, 2, and 5 has been reported in the African accession TGR-1551, whose resistance is controlled by a dominant–recessive epistasis. The dominant and recessive quantitative [...] Read more.
Cucurbits powdery mildew (CPM) is one of the main limiting factors of melon cultivation worldwide. Resistance to races 1, 2, and 5 has been reported in the African accession TGR-1551, whose resistance is controlled by a dominant–recessive epistasis. The dominant and recessive quantitative trail loci (QTL) have previously been located in chromosomes 5 and 12, respectively. We used several densely genotyped BC3 families derived from the cross between TGR-1551 and the susceptible cultivar ‘Bola de Oro’ to finely map these resistance regions. The further phenotyping and genotyping of the selected BC5, BC5S1, BC5S2, BC4S1, BC4xPS, and (BC4xPS) S1 offspring allowed for the narrowing of the candidate intervals to a 250 and 381 kb region in chromosomes 5 and 12, respectively. Moreover, the temperature effect over the resistance provided by the dominant gene has been confirmed. High resolution melting markers (HRM) were tightly linked to both resistance regions and will be useful in marker-assisted selection programs. Candidate R genes with variants between parents that caused a potential modifier impact on the protein function were identified within both intervals. These candidate genes provide targets for future functional analyses to better understand the resistance to powdery mildew in melons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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16 pages, 2366 KiB  
Article
Identification of Novel Genes Associated with Partial Resistance to Aphanomyces Root Rot in Field Pea by BSR-Seq Analysis
by Longfei Wu, Rudolph Fredua-Agyeman, Stephen E. Strelkov, Kan-Fa Chang and Sheau-Fang Hwang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(17), 9744; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23179744 - 28 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2003
Abstract
Aphanomyces root rot, caused by Aphanomyces euteiches, causes severe yield loss in field pea (Pisum sativum). The identification of a pea germplasm resistant to this disease is an important breeding objective. Polygenetic resistance has been reported in the field pea [...] Read more.
Aphanomyces root rot, caused by Aphanomyces euteiches, causes severe yield loss in field pea (Pisum sativum). The identification of a pea germplasm resistant to this disease is an important breeding objective. Polygenetic resistance has been reported in the field pea cultivar ‘00-2067’. To facilitate marker-assisted selection (MAS), bulked segregant RNA-seq (BSR-seq) analysis was conducted using an F8 RIL population derived from the cross of ‘Carman’ × ‘00-2067’. Root rot development was assessed under controlled conditions in replicated experiments. Resistant (R) and susceptible (S) bulks were constructed based on the root rot severity in a greenhouse study. The BSR-seq analysis of the R bulks generated 44,595,510~51,658,688 reads, of which the aligned sequences were linked to 44,757 genes in a reference genome. In total, 2356 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 44 were used for gene annotation, including defense-related pathways (jasmonate, ethylene and salicylate) and the GO biological process. A total of 344.1 K SNPs were identified between the R and S bulks, of which 395 variants were located in 31 candidate genes. The identification of novel genes associated with partial resistance to Aphanomyces root rot in field pea by BSR-seq may facilitate efforts to improve management of this important disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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20 pages, 3937 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Analysis of Subcellular Localization, Immune Function and Role in Bacterial wilt Disease Resistance of Solanum lycopersicum Linn. ROP Family Small GTPases
by Qiong Wang, Dan Zhang, Chaochao Liu, Yuying Li and Yanni Miao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(17), 9727; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23179727 - 27 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1258
Abstract
ROPs (Rho-like GTPases from plants) belong to the Rho-GTPase subfamily and serve as molecular switches for regulating diverse cellular events, including morphogenesis and stress responses. However, the immune functions of ROPs in Solanum lycopersicum Linn. (tomato) is still largely unclear. The tomato genome [...] Read more.
ROPs (Rho-like GTPases from plants) belong to the Rho-GTPase subfamily and serve as molecular switches for regulating diverse cellular events, including morphogenesis and stress responses. However, the immune functions of ROPs in Solanum lycopersicum Linn. (tomato) is still largely unclear. The tomato genome contains nine genes encoding ROP-type small GTPase family proteins (namely SlRop1–9) that fall into five distinct groups as revealed by phylogenetic tree. We studied the subcellular localization and immune response induction of nine SlRops by using a transient overexpression system in Nicotiana benthamiana Domin. Except for SlRop1 and SlRop3, which are solely localized at the plasma membrane, most of the remaining ROPs have additional nuclear and/or cytoplasmic distributions. We also revealed that the number of basic residues in the polybasic region of ROPs tends to be correlated with their membrane accumulation. Though nine SlRops are highly conserved at the RHO (Ras Homology) domains, only seven constitutively active forms of SlRops were able to trigger hypersensitive responses. Furthermore, we analyzed the tissue-specific expression patterns of nine ROPs and found that the expression levels of SlRop3, 4 and 6 were generally high in different tissues. The expression levels of SlRop1, 2 and 7 significantly decreased in tomato seedlings after infection with Ralstonia solanacearum (E.F. Smith) Yabuuchi et al. (GMI1000); the others did not respond. Infection assays among nine ROPs showed that SlRop3 and SlRop4 might be positive regulators of tomato bacterial wilt disease resistance, whereas the rest of the ROPs may not contribute to defense. Our study provides systematic evidence of tomato Rho-related small GTPases for localization, immune response, and disease resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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14 pages, 2224 KiB  
Article
OsWRKY114 Inhibits ABA-Induced Susceptibility to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in Rice
by Seungmin Son, Jong Hee Im, Giha Song, Suhyeon Nam and Sang Ryeol Park
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(15), 8825; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23158825 - 08 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1810
Abstract
The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates various aspects of plant growth, development, and stress responses. ABA suppresses innate immunity to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) in rice (Oryza sativa), but the identity of the underlying regulator is unknown. In [...] Read more.
The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates various aspects of plant growth, development, and stress responses. ABA suppresses innate immunity to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) in rice (Oryza sativa), but the identity of the underlying regulator is unknown. In this study, we revealed that OsWRKY114 is involved in the ABA response during Xoo infection. ABA-induced susceptibility to Xoo was reduced in OsWRKY114-overexpressing rice plants. OsWRKY114 attenuated the negative effect of ABA on salicylic acid-dependent immunity. Furthermore, OsWRKY114 decreased the transcript levels of ABA-associated genes involved in ABA response and biosynthesis. Moreover, the endogenous ABA level was lower in OsWRKY114-overexpressing plants than in the wild-type plants after Xoo inoculation. Taken together, our results suggest that OsWRKY114 is a negative regulator of ABA that confers susceptibility to Xoo in rice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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15 pages, 22049 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome Analysis of Tryptophan-Induced Resistance against Potato Common Scab
by Pan Zhao, Lu Liu, Jingjing Cao, Zhiqin Wang, Yonglong Zhao and Naiqin Zhong
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(15), 8420; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23158420 - 29 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1753
Abstract
Potato common scab (CS) is a worldwide soil-borne disease that severely reduces tuber quality and market value. We observed that foliar application of tryptophan (Trp) could induce resistance against CS. However, the mechanism of Trp as an inducer to trigger host immune responses [...] Read more.
Potato common scab (CS) is a worldwide soil-borne disease that severely reduces tuber quality and market value. We observed that foliar application of tryptophan (Trp) could induce resistance against CS. However, the mechanism of Trp as an inducer to trigger host immune responses is still unclear. To facilitate dissecting the molecular mechanisms, the transcriptome of foliar application of Trp and water (control, C) was compared under Streptomyces scabies (S) inoculation and uninoculation. Results showed that 4867 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified under S. scabies uninoculation (C-vs-Trp) and 2069 DEGs were identified under S. scabies inoculation (S-vs-S+Trp). Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that Trp induced resistance related to the metabolic process, response to stimulus, and biological regulation. As phytohormone metabolic pathways related to inducing resistance, the expression patterns of candidate genes involved in salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid/ethylene (JA/ET) pathways were analyzed using qRT-PCR. Their expression patterns showed that the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and induced systemic resistance (ISR) pathways could be co-induced by Trp under S. scabies uninoculation. However, the SAR pathway was induced by Trp under S. scabies inoculation. This study will provide insights into Trp-induced resistance mechanisms of potato for controlling CS, and extend the application methods of Trp as a plant resistance inducer in a way that is cheap, safe, and environmentally friendly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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17 pages, 5413 KiB  
Article
BcWRKY33A Enhances Resistance to Botrytis cinerea via Activating BcMYB51-3 in Non-Heading Chinese Cabbage
by Huiyu Wang, Yushan Zheng, Dong Xiao, Ying Li, Tongkun Liu and Xilin Hou
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(15), 8222; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23158222 - 26 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1699
Abstract
The transcription factor WRKY33 is a vital regulator of the biological process of the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea). However, its specific regulatory mechanism remains to be further investigated. In non-heading Chinese cabbage (NHCC, Brassica campestris (syn. Brassica rapa) [...] Read more.
The transcription factor WRKY33 is a vital regulator of the biological process of the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea). However, its specific regulatory mechanism remains to be further investigated. In non-heading Chinese cabbage (NHCC, Brassica campestris (syn. Brassica rapa) ssp. Chinensis), our previous study showed that BcWRKY33A is induced not only by salt stress, but also by B. cinerea infection. Here, we noticed that BcWRKY33A is expressed in trichomes and confer plant defense resistance. Disease symptoms and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that BcWRKY33A-overexpressing and -silencing lines were less and more severely impaired, respectively, than wild type upon B. cinerea treatment. Meanwhile, the transcripts’ abundance of indolic glucosinolates’ (IGSs) biosynthetic genes is consistent with plants’ B. cinerea tolerance. Identification and expression pattern analysis of BcMYB51s showed that BcMYB51-3 has a similar trend to BcWRKY33A upon B. cinerea infection. Moreover, BcWRKY33A directly binds to the BcMYB51-3 promoter, which was jointly confirmed by Y1H, dual-LUC, and EMSA assays. The importance of MYB51, the homolog of BcMYB51-3, in the BcWRKY33A-mediated B. cinerea resistance was also verified using the TRV-based VIGS system. Overall, our data concludes that BcWRKY33A directly activates the expression of BcMYB51-3 and downstream IGSs’ biosynthetic genes, thereby improving the B. cinerea tolerance of NHCC plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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18 pages, 4461 KiB  
Article
AtGAP1 Promotes the Resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 by Regulating Cell-Wall Thickness and Stomatal Aperture in Arabidopsis
by Sau-Shan Cheng, Yee-Shan Ku, Ming-Yan Cheung and Hon-Ming Lam
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(14), 7540; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23147540 - 07 Jul 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1826
Abstract
GTP is an important signaling molecule involved in the growth, development, and stress adaptability of plants. The functions are mediated via binding to GTPases which are in turn regulated by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). Satellite reports have suggested the positive roles of GAPs in [...] Read more.
GTP is an important signaling molecule involved in the growth, development, and stress adaptability of plants. The functions are mediated via binding to GTPases which are in turn regulated by GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). Satellite reports have suggested the positive roles of GAPs in regulating ABA signaling and pathogen resistance in plants. However, the molecular mechanisms that bring forth the pathogen resistance have remained unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that the expression of AtGAP1 was inducible by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000). The overexpression of AtGAP1 in Arabidopsis promoted the expression of PR1 and the resistance to Pst DC3000. Proteomic analyses revealed the enhanced accumulation of cell-wall-modifying proteins as a result of AtGAP1 overexpression. By microscopic analyses, we showed that the overexpression of AtGAP1 resulted in increased thickness of the mesophyll cell wall and reduced stomatal aperture, which are effective strategies for restricting the entry of foliar pathogens. Altogether, we demonstrated that AtGAP1 increases the resistance to Pst DC3000 in Arabidopsis by promoting cellular strategies that restrict the entry of pathogens into the cells. These results point to a future direction for studying the modes of action of GAPs in regulating plant cell structures and disease resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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19 pages, 2607 KiB  
Article
Deletion of Diterpenoid Biosynthetic Genes CYP76M7 and CYP76M8 Induces Cell Death and Enhances Bacterial Blight Resistance in Indica Rice ‘9311’
by Min Jiang, Ning Yu, Yingxin Zhang, Lin Liu, Zhi Li, Chen Wang, Shihua Cheng, Liyong Cao and Qunen Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(13), 7234; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23137234 - 29 Jun 2022
Viewed by 1278
Abstract
Lesion mimic mutants (LMMs) are ideal materials for studying cell death and resistance mechanisms. Here, we identified and mapped a novel rice LMM, g380. The g380 exhibits a spontaneous hypersensitive response-like cell death phenotype accompanied by excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species [...] Read more.
Lesion mimic mutants (LMMs) are ideal materials for studying cell death and resistance mechanisms. Here, we identified and mapped a novel rice LMM, g380. The g380 exhibits a spontaneous hypersensitive response-like cell death phenotype accompanied by excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulated expression of pathogenesis-related genes, as well as enhanced resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Using a map-based cloning strategy, a 184,916 bp deletion on chromosome 2 that overlaps with the diterpenoid biosynthetic gene cluster was identified in g380. Accordingly, the content of diterpenoids decreased in g380. In addition, lignin, one of the physical lines of plant defense, was increased in g380. RNA-seq analysis showed 590 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEG) between the wild-type 9311 and g380, 585 of which were upregulated in g380. Upregulated genes in g380 were mainly enriched in the monolignol biosynthesis branches of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, the plant–pathogen interaction pathway and the phytoalexin-specialized diterpenoid biosynthesis pathway. Taken together, our results indicate that the diterpenoid biosynthetic gene cluster on chromosome 2 is involved in immune reprogramming, which in turn regulates cell death in rice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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18 pages, 2909 KiB  
Article
N-Methyltransferase CaASHH3 Acts as a Positive Regulator of Immunity against Bacterial Pathogens in Pepper
by Ansar Hussain, Liu Kaisheng, Ali Noman, Muhammad Furqan Ashraf, Mohammed Albaqami, Muhammad Ifnan Khan, Zhiqin Liu and Shuilin He
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(12), 6492; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23126492 - 10 Jun 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1708
Abstract
Proteins with conserved SET domain play a critical role in plant immunity. However, the means of organization and functions of these proteins are unclear, particularly in non-model plants such as pepper (Capsicum annum L.). Herein, we functionally characterized CaASHH3, a member [...] Read more.
Proteins with conserved SET domain play a critical role in plant immunity. However, the means of organization and functions of these proteins are unclear, particularly in non-model plants such as pepper (Capsicum annum L.). Herein, we functionally characterized CaASHH3, a member of class II (the ASH1 homologs H3K36) proteins in pepper immunity against Ralstonia solanacearum and Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000). The CaASHH3 was localized in the nucleus, and its transcript levels were significantly enhanced by R. solanacearum inoculation (RSI) and exogenous application of salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), ethephon (ETH), and abscisic acid (ABA). Knockdown of CaASHH3 by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) compromised peppers’ resistance to RSI. Furthermore, silencing of CaASHH3 impaired hypersensitive-response (HR)-like cell death response due to RSI and downregulated defense-associated marker genes, including CaPR1, CaNPR1, and CaABR1. The CaASHH3 protein was revealed to affect the promoters of CaNPR1, CaPR1, and CaHSP24. Transiently over-expression of CaASHH3 in pepper leaves elicited HR-like cell death and upregulated immunity-related marker genes. To further study the role of CaASHH3 in plant defense in vivo, CaASHH3 transgenic plants were generated in Arabidopsis. Overexpression of CaASHH3 in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana enhanced innate immunity against Pst DC3000. Furthermore, CaASHH3 over-expressing transgenic A. thaliana plants exhibited upregulated transcriptional levels of immunity-associated marker genes, such as AtNPR1, AtPR1, and AtPR2. These results collectively confirm the role of CaASHH3 as a positive regulator of plant cell death and pepper immunity against bacterial pathogens, which is regulated by signaling synergistically mediated by SA, JA, ET, and ABA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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19 pages, 5664 KiB  
Article
Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Reveals Key Metabolites Involved in Camellia oleifera Defense against Anthracnose
by Chaochen Yang, Pengfei Wu, Xiaohua Yao, Yu Sheng, Chengcai Zhang, Ping Lin and Kailiang Wang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(1), 536; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23010536 - 04 Jan 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3559
Abstract
Camellia oleifera (Ca. oleifera) is a woody tree species cultivated for the production of edible oil from its seed. The growth and yield of tea-oil trees are severely affected by anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides). In this study, the transcriptomic [...] Read more.
Camellia oleifera (Ca. oleifera) is a woody tree species cultivated for the production of edible oil from its seed. The growth and yield of tea-oil trees are severely affected by anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides). In this study, the transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed to detect the key transcripts and metabolites associated with differences in the susceptibility between anthracnose-resistant (ChangLin150) and susceptible (ChangLin102) varieties of Ca. oleifera. In total, 5001 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained, of which 479 DEGs were common between the susceptible and resistant varieties and further analyzed. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that these DEGs were significantly enriched in tyrosine metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis and isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis pathways. Furthermore, 68 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were detected, including flavonoids, such as epicatechin, phenethyl caffeate and procyanidin B2. Comparison of the DEGs and DAMs revealed that epicatechin, procyanidin B2 and arachidonic acid (peroxide free) are potentially important. The expression patterns of genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis were confirmed by qRT-PCR. These results suggested that flavonoid biosynthesis might play an important role in the fight against anthracnose. This study provides valuable molecular information about the response of Ca. oleifera to Co. gloeosporioides infection and will aid the selection of resistant varieties using marker-assisted breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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11 pages, 1454 KiB  
Article
Identification of the Capsicum baccatum NLR Protein CbAR9 Conferring Disease Resistance to Anthracnose
by Seungmin Son, Soohong Kim, Kyong Sil Lee, Jun Oh, Inchan Choi, Jae Wahng Do, Jae Bok Yoon, Jungheon Han, Doil Choi and Sang Ryeol Park
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(22), 12612; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms222212612 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2306
Abstract
Anthracnose is caused by Colletotrichum species and is one of the most virulent fungal diseases affecting chili pepper (Capsicum) yield globally. However, the noble genes conferring resistance to Colletotrichum species remain largely elusive. In this study, we identified CbAR9 as the [...] Read more.
Anthracnose is caused by Colletotrichum species and is one of the most virulent fungal diseases affecting chili pepper (Capsicum) yield globally. However, the noble genes conferring resistance to Colletotrichum species remain largely elusive. In this study, we identified CbAR9 as the causal locus underlying the large effect quantitative trait locus CcR9 from the anthracnose-resistant chili pepper variety PBC80. CbAR9 encodes a nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) protein related to defense-associated NLRs in several other plant species. CbAR9 transcript levels were induced dramatically after Colletotrichum capsici infection. To explore the biological function, we generated transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana lines overexpressing CbAR9, which showed enhanced resistance to C. capsici relative to wild-type plants. Transcript levels of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes increased markedly in CbAR9-overexpressing N. benthamiana plants. Moreover, resistance to anthracnose and transcript levels of PR1 and PR2 were markedly reduced in CbAR9-silenced chili pepper fruits after C. capsici infection. Our results revealed that CbAR9 contributes to innate immunity against C. capsici. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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18 pages, 2752 KiB  
Article
CaWRKY30 Positively Regulates Pepper Immunity by Targeting CaWRKY40 against Ralstonia solanacearum Inoculation through Modulating Defense-Related Genes
by Ansar Hussain, Muhammad Ifnan Khan, Mohammed Albaqami, Shahzadi Mahpara, Ijaz Rasool Noorka, Mohamed A. A. Ahmed, Bandar S. Aljuaid, Ahmed M. El-Shehawi, Zhiqin Liu, Shahid Farooq and Ali Tan Kee Zuan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(21), 12091; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms222112091 - 08 Nov 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2722
Abstract
The WRKY transcription factors (TFs) network is composed of WRKY TFs’ subset, which performs a critical role in immunity regulation of plants. However, functions of WRKY TFs’ network remain unclear, particularly in non-model plants such as pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). This study [...] Read more.
The WRKY transcription factors (TFs) network is composed of WRKY TFs’ subset, which performs a critical role in immunity regulation of plants. However, functions of WRKY TFs’ network remain unclear, particularly in non-model plants such as pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). This study functionally characterized CaWRKY30—a member of group III Pepper WRKY protein—for immunity of pepper against Ralstonia solanacearum infection. The CaWRKY30 was detected in nucleus, and its transcriptional expression levels were significantly upregulated by R. solanacearum inoculation (RSI), and foliar application ethylene (ET), abscisic acid (ABA), and salicylic acid (SA). Virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) of CaWRKY30 amplified pepper’s vulnerability to RSI. Additionally, the silencing of CaWRKY30 by VIGS compromised HR-like cell death triggered by RSI and downregulated defense-associated marker genes, like CaPR1, CaNPR1, CaDEF1, CaABR1, CaHIR1, and CaWRKY40. Conversely, transient over-expression of CaWRKY30 in pepper leaves instigated HR-like cell death and upregulated defense-related maker genes. Furthermore, transient over-expression of CaWRKY30 upregulated transcriptional levels of CaWRKY6, CaWRKY22, CaWRKY27, and CaWRKY40. On the other hand, transient over-expression of CaWRKY6, CaWRKY22, CaWRKY27, and CaWRKY40 upregulated transcriptional expression levels of CaWRKY30. The results recommend that newly characterized CaWRKY30 positively regulates pepper’s immunity against Ralstonia attack, which is governed by synergistically mediated signaling by phytohormones like ET, ABA, and SA, and transcriptionally assimilating into WRKY TFs networks, consisting of CaWRKY6, CaWRKY22, CaWRKY27, and CaWRKY40. Collectively, our data will facilitate to explicate the underlying mechanism of crosstalk between pepper’s immunity and response to RSI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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11 pages, 2502 KiB  
Communication
The Capsicum baccatum-Specific Truncated NLR Protein CbCN Enhances the Innate Immunity against Colletotrichum acutatum
by Seungmin Son, Soohong Kim, Kyong Sil Lee, Jun Oh, Inchan Choi, Jae Wahng Do, Jae Bok Yoon, Jungheon Han and Sang Ryeol Park
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(14), 7672; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22147672 - 18 Jul 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2503
Abstract
Chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) is an important fruit and spice used globally, but its yield is seriously threatened by anthracnose. Capsicum baccatum is particularly valuable as it carries advantageous disease resistance genes. However, most of the genes remain to be identified. [...] Read more.
Chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) is an important fruit and spice used globally, but its yield is seriously threatened by anthracnose. Capsicum baccatum is particularly valuable as it carries advantageous disease resistance genes. However, most of the genes remain to be identified. In this study, we identified the C. baccatum-specific gene CbCN, which encodes a truncated nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat protein in the anthracnose resistant chili pepper variety PBC80. The transcription of CbCN was greater in PBC80 than it was in the susceptible variety An-S after Colletotrichum acutatum inoculation. In order to investigate the biological function of CbCN, we generated transgenic tobacco lines constitutively expressing CbCN. Notably, CbCN-overexpressing transgenic plants exhibited enhanced resistance to C. acutatum compared to wild-type plants. Moreover, the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes was remarkably increased in a CbCN-overexpressing tobacco plants. In order to confirm these results in chili pepper, we silenced the CbCN gene using the virus-induced gene silencing system. The anthracnose resistance and expressions of PR1, PR2, and NPR1 were significantly reduced in CbCN-silenced chili peppers after C. acutatum inoculations. These results indicate that CbCN enhances the innate immunity against anthracnose caused by C. acutatum by regulating defense response genes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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22 pages, 53951 KiB  
Article
An Ancestry Perspective of the Evolution of PBS1 Proteins in Plants
by Edgar Yebrán Villegas-Vázquez, Beatriz Xoconostle-Cázares and Roberto Ruiz-Medrano
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(13), 6819; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22136819 - 25 Jun 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2335
Abstract
The AVRPPHB SUSCEPTIBLE1 (PBS1) and RESISTANCE TO PSEUDOMONAS SYRINGAE 5 (RPS5) proteins are involved in signal transduction to evoke innate plant immune response. In Arabidopsis, PBS1 is cleaved by the AvrPphB (Pseudomonas phaseolicola Avirulence protein B) protease, activating RPS5 and turning in [...] Read more.
The AVRPPHB SUSCEPTIBLE1 (PBS1) and RESISTANCE TO PSEUDOMONAS SYRINGAE 5 (RPS5) proteins are involved in signal transduction to evoke innate plant immune response. In Arabidopsis, PBS1 is cleaved by the AvrPphB (Pseudomonas phaseolicola Avirulence protein B) protease, activating RPS5 and turning in a hypersensitive response (HR). We searched for PBS1 orthologs to trace their origin and evolution. PBS1 orthologs were found in embryophytes and in other plant taxa but with lower similarity. PBS1 phylogenetic analysis indicates high divergence, suggesting that the decoy function described for Arabidopsis PBS1 might be associated with a small fraction of orthologs. Ancestral reconstruction analysis suggests an elevated diversity in the amino acid sequence within the described motifs. All the orthologs contain the conserved PBS1 kinase subdomains, whereas the cleavage motif is present in several embryophyte orthologs but absent in most other taxa. The putative resistance recognition motifs in PBS1 orthologs are highly diverse. PBS1 cleavage site motif is exposed in some 3D structure predictions, whereas it is not in others, suggesting different modes of regulation and functions in PBS1 orthologs. Our findings suggest that PBS1 originated in the lineage that gave rise to embryophytes, with the angiosperm sequences forming a separate clade from pteridophyte proteins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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15 pages, 2547 KiB  
Article
Overexpression of the Apple (Malus × domestica) MdERF100 in Arabidopsis Increases Resistance to Powdery Mildew
by Yiping Zhang, Li Zhang, Hai Ma, Yichu Zhang, Xiuming Zhang, Miaomiao Ji, Steve van Nocker, Bilal Ahmad, Zhengyang Zhao, Xiping Wang and Hua Gao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(11), 5713; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22115713 - 27 May 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2838
Abstract
APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) transcription factors play important roles in plant development and stress response. Although AP2/ERF genes have been extensively investigated in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, little is known about their role in biotic stress response in perennial fruit [...] Read more.
APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR (AP2/ERF) transcription factors play important roles in plant development and stress response. Although AP2/ERF genes have been extensively investigated in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, little is known about their role in biotic stress response in perennial fruit tree crops such as apple (Malus × domestica). Here, we investigated the role of MdERF100 in powdery mildew resistance in apple. MdERF100 localized to the nucleus but showed no transcriptional activation activity. The heterologous expression of MdERF100 in Arabidopsis not only enhanced powdery mildew resistance but also increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and cell death. Furthermore, MdERF100-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants exhibited differential expressions of genes involved in jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) signaling when infected with the powdery mildew pathogen. Additionally, yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays confirmed that MdERF100 physically interacts with the basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) protein MdbHLH92. These results suggest that MdERF100 mediates powdery mildew resistance by regulating the JA and SA signaling pathways, and MdbHLH92 is involved in plant defense against powdery mildew. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the role of MdERF genes in disease resistance, and provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of powdery mildew resistance in apple. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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12 pages, 3280 KiB  
Article
NtRNF217, Encoding a Putative RBR E3 Ligase Protein of Nicotiana tabacum, Plays an Important Role in the Regulation of Resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum Infection
by Ying Liu, Yuanman Tang, Xi Tan and Wei Ding
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(11), 5507; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22115507 - 24 May 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1747
Abstract
E3 ubiquitin ligases, the most important part of the ubiquitination process, participate in various processes of plant immune response. RBR E3 ligase is one of the E3 family members, but its functions in plant immunity are still little known. NtRNF217 is a RBR [...] Read more.
E3 ubiquitin ligases, the most important part of the ubiquitination process, participate in various processes of plant immune response. RBR E3 ligase is one of the E3 family members, but its functions in plant immunity are still little known. NtRNF217 is a RBR E3 ligase in tobacco based on the sequence analysis. To assess roles of NtRNF217 in tobacco responding to Ralstonia solanacearum, overexpression experiments in Nicotiana tabacum (Yunyan 87, a susceptible cultivar) were performed. The results illuminated that NtRNF217-overexpressed tobacco significantly reduced multiplication of R. solanacearum and inhibited the development of disease symptoms compared with wild-type plants. The accumulation of H2O2 and O2 in NtRNF217-OE plants was significantly higher than that in WT-Yunyan87 plants after pathogen inoculation. The activities of CAT and SOD also increased rapidly in a short time after R. solanacearum inoculation in NtRNF217-OE plants. What is more, overexpression of NtRNF217 enhanced the transcript levels of defense-related marker genes, such as NtEFE26, NtACC Oxidase, NtHIN1, NtHSR201, and NtSOD1 in NtRNF217-OE plants after R. solanacearum inoculation. The results suggested that NtRNF217 played an important role in regulating the expression of defense-related genes and the antioxidant enzymes, which resulted in resistance to R. solanacearum infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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Review

Jump to: Research

46 pages, 2494 KiB  
Review
Multi-Omics Approaches to Improve Clubroot Resistance in Brassica with a Special Focus on Brassica oleracea L.
by Ranjan K. Shaw, Yusen Shen, Huifang Yu, Xiaoguang Sheng, Jiansheng Wang and Honghui Gu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(16), 9280; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms23169280 - 17 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2442
Abstract
Brassica oleracea is an agronomically important species of the Brassicaceae family, including several nutrient-rich vegetables grown and consumed across the continents. But its sustainability is heavily constrained by a range of destructive pathogens, among which, clubroot disease, caused by a biotrophic protist Plasmodiophora [...] Read more.
Brassica oleracea is an agronomically important species of the Brassicaceae family, including several nutrient-rich vegetables grown and consumed across the continents. But its sustainability is heavily constrained by a range of destructive pathogens, among which, clubroot disease, caused by a biotrophic protist Plasmodiophora brassicae, has caused significant yield and economic losses worldwide, thereby threatening global food security. To counter the pathogen attack, it demands a better understanding of the complex phenomenon of Brassica-P. brassicae pathosystem at the physiological, biochemical, molecular, and cellular levels. In recent years, multiple omics technologies with high-throughput techniques have emerged as successful in elucidating the responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In Brassica spp., omics technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, ncRNAomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are well documented, allowing us to gain insights into the dynamic changes that transpired during host-pathogen interactions at a deeper level. So, it is critical that we must review the recent advances in omics approaches and discuss how the current knowledge in multi-omics technologies has been able to breed high-quality clubroot-resistant B. oleracea. This review highlights the recent advances made in utilizing various omics approaches to understand the host resistance mechanisms adopted by Brassica crops in response to the P. brassicae attack. Finally, we have discussed the bottlenecks and the way forward to overcome the persisting knowledge gaps in delivering solutions to breed clubroot-resistant Brassica crops in a holistic, targeted, and precise way. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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19 pages, 6502 KiB  
Review
Natural Resources Resistance to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
by Shiming Qi, Shijie Zhang, Md. Monirul Islam, Ahmed H. El-Sappah, Fei Zhang and Yan Liang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(20), 10978; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms222010978 - 12 Oct 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5435
Abstract
Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is one of the most destructive diseases affecting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivation and production worldwide. As defenses against TSWV, natural resistance genes have been identified in tomato, including Sw-1a, Sw-1b, sw-2, sw-3, [...] Read more.
Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is one of the most destructive diseases affecting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivation and production worldwide. As defenses against TSWV, natural resistance genes have been identified in tomato, including Sw-1a, Sw-1b, sw-2, sw-3, sw-4, Sw-5, Sw-6, and Sw-7. However, only Sw-5 exhibits a high level of resistance to the TSWV. Thus, it has been cloned and widely used in the breeding of tomato with resistance to the disease. Due to the global spread of TSWV, resistance induced by Sw-5 decreases over time and can be overcome or broken by a high concentration of TSWV. How to utilize other resistance genes and identify novel resistance resources are key approaches for breeding tomato with resistance to TSWV. In this review, the characteristics of natural resistance genes, natural resistance resources, molecular markers for assisted selection, and methods for evaluating resistance to TSWV are summarized. The aim is to provide a theoretical basis for identifying, utilizing resistance genes, and developing tomato varieties that are resistant to TSWV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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20 pages, 967 KiB  
Review
Recent Progress in Enhancing Fungal Disease Resistance in Ornamental Plants
by Manjulatha Mekapogu, Jae-A Jung, Oh-Keun Kwon, Myung-Suk Ahn, Hyun-Young Song and Seonghoe Jang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(15), 7956; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22157956 - 26 Jul 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4412
Abstract
Fungal diseases pose a major threat to ornamental plants, with an increasing percentage of pathogen-driven host losses. In ornamental plants, management of the majority of fungal diseases primarily depends upon chemical control methods that are often non-specific. Host basal resistance, which is deficient [...] Read more.
Fungal diseases pose a major threat to ornamental plants, with an increasing percentage of pathogen-driven host losses. In ornamental plants, management of the majority of fungal diseases primarily depends upon chemical control methods that are often non-specific. Host basal resistance, which is deficient in many ornamental plants, plays a key role in combating diseases. Despite their economic importance, conventional and molecular breeding approaches in ornamental plants to facilitate disease resistance are lagging, and this is predominantly due to their complex genomes, limited availability of gene pools, and degree of heterozygosity. Although genetic engineering in ornamental plants offers feasible methods to overcome the intrinsic barriers of classical breeding, achievements have mainly been reported only in regard to the modification of floral attributes in ornamentals. The unavailability of transformation protocols and candidate gene resources for several ornamental crops presents an obstacle for tackling the functional studies on disease resistance. Recently, multiomics technologies, in combination with genome editing tools, have provided shortcuts to examine the molecular and genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying fungal disease resistance, ultimately leading to the subsequent advances in the development of novel cultivars with desired fungal disease-resistant traits, in ornamental crops. Although fungal diseases constitute the majority of ornamental plant diseases, a comprehensive overview of this highly important fungal disease resistance seems to be insufficient in the field of ornamental horticulture. Hence, in this review, we highlight the representative mechanisms of the fungal infection-related resistance to pathogens in plants, with a focus on ornamental crops. Recent progress in molecular breeding, genetic engineering strategies, and RNAi technologies, such as HIGS and SIGS for the enhancement of fungal disease resistance in various important ornamental crops, is also described. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Disease Resistance 2.0)
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