Abstract
SummaryClimate change makes plant‐parasitic nematodes (PPN) an increasing threat to commercial crops. PPN can be managed sustainably by the biocontrol fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia (Pc). Chitosan generated from chitin deacetylation enhances PPN parasitism by Pc. In this work, we investigate the molecular mechanisms of Pc for chitosan resistance and root‐knot nematode (RKN) parasitism, using transcriptomics. Chitosan and RKN modify the expression of Pc genes, mainly those involved in oxidation–reduction processes. Both agents significantly modify the expression of genes associated to 113 GO terms and 180 Pc genes. Genes encoding putative glycoproteins (Pc adhesives) to nematode eggshell, as well as genes involved in redox, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism trigger the response to chitosan. We identify genes expressed in both the parasitic and endophytic phases of the Pc lifecycle; these include proteases, chitosanases and transcription factors. Using the Pathogen—Host Interaction database (PHI‐base), our previous RNA‐seq data and RT‐PCR of Pc colonizing banana we have investigated genes expressed both in the parasitic and endophytic phases of Pc lifecycle.
Highlights
Root-knot nematodes (RKN) are a persistent problem in fruit and vegetable crops (Ralmi and Khandaker, 2016)
Pochonia chlamydosporia (=Metacordyceps chlamydosporia) (Goddard) Zare and Gams (Pc) is a nematophagous fungus used for biocontrol of RKN (Meloidogyne spp.) (Forghani and Hajihassani, 2020), cyst nematodes (Heterodera spp. and Globodera spp.) (Willcox and Tribe, 1974; Manzanilla-Lopez et al, 2011) and false RKN (Nacobbus spp.) (Flores-Camacho et al, 2008)
5746, 710 and 6595 genes were expressed in Pc treated with chitosan (PcQ), Pc treated with nematodes (PcRKN) and Pc treated with chitosan and nematode eggs (PcRKNQ) respectively
Summary
Root-knot nematodes (RKN) are a persistent problem in fruit and vegetable crops (Ralmi and Khandaker, 2016). Chitosan is a linear polymer of β-(1-4)-linked Nacetyl-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose (acetylated) and 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose (deacetylated) (Kaur and Dhillon, 2014). This polymer is an elicitor of plant defences (Benhamou and Thériault, 1992; Lafontaine and Benhamou, 1996; Yin et al, 2016; SuarezFernandez et al, 2020) and has antifungal activity (Shih et al, 2019), inhibiting or killing fungal pathogens. Pc is resistant to chitosan and can use it as a nutrient source (Palma-Guerrero et al, 2010). Chitosan improves efficiency in reducing nematode pests by nematophagous fungi (Escudero et al, 2017; Mwaheb et al, 2017). Combining Pc and chitosan could be a good strategy to manage PPN infections in plants
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