Abstract
Verticillium dahliae, a notorious phytopathogenic fungus, causes vascular wilt diseases in many plant species resulting in devastating yield losses worldwide. Due to its ability to colonize plant xylem and form microsclerotia, V. dahliae is highly persistent and difficult to control. In this study, we show that the MADS-box transcription factor VdMcm1 is a key regulator of conidiation, microsclerotia formation, virulence, and secondary metabolism of V. dahliae. In addition, our findings suggest that VdMcm1 is involved in cell wall integrity. Finally, comparative RNA-Seq analysis reveals 823 significantly downregulated genes in the VdMcm1 deletion mutant, with diverse biological functions in transcriptional regulation, plant infection, cell adhesion, secondary metabolism, transmembrane transport activity, and cell secretion. When taken together, these data suggest that VdMcm1 performs pleiotropic functions in V. dahliae.
Highlights
Verticillium dahliae Kleb. is a devastating soil-borne plant pathogen that causes Verticillium wilt disease, which causes severe damages to diverse plant species worldwide, including economically important crops, ecologically significant trees, and shrubs (Klosterman et al, 2009; Wang et al, 2013)
We examined the V. dahliae genome database (JGI) and identified a gene (VDAG_01770) encoding 222 amino acids protein, which was homologous to S. cerevisiae Mcm1 (54.05% overall identity)
Multiple sequence alignment confirmed that MADS-box domains of Mcm1 orthologs from V. dahliae, S. cerevisiae, M. oryzae, Neurospora crassa, and F. graminearum are highly conserved (Figure 1B)
Summary
Verticillium dahliae Kleb. is a devastating soil-borne plant pathogen that causes Verticillium wilt disease, which causes severe damages to diverse plant species worldwide, including economically important crops, ecologically significant trees, and shrubs (Klosterman et al, 2009; Wang et al, 2013). Is a devastating soil-borne plant pathogen that causes Verticillium wilt disease, which causes severe damages to diverse plant species worldwide, including economically important crops, ecologically significant trees, and shrubs (Klosterman et al, 2009; Wang et al, 2013). Since 2005, Verticillium wilt disease has caused serious mortality of the smoke trees and impacted the red-leaf landscape (Wang et al, 2013). Dormant structures formed by V. dahliae, play crucial roles in disease spread and its long-term survival in nature (Green, 1980; Xiao et al, 1998) They germinate and enter the host when suitable hosts and favorable conditions are available (Wilhelm, 1955)
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