Abstract
Fusarium graminearum is a devasting mycotoxin-producing pathogen of grain crops. F. graminearum has been extensively studied to understand its pathogenicity and virulence factors. These studies gained momentum with the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and proteomics. NGS and proteomics have enabled the discovery of a multitude of pathogenicity and virulence factors of F. graminearum. This current review aimed to trace progress made in discovering F. graminearum pathogenicity and virulence factors in general, as well as pathogenicity and virulence factors discovered using NGS, and to some extent, using proteomics. We present more than 100 discovered pathogenicity or virulence factors and conclude that although a multitude of pathogenicity and virulence factors have already been discovered, more work needs to be done to take advantage of NGS and its companion applications of proteomics.
Highlights
Plant pathogens have developed sophisticated penetration, infection, and colonization strategies to suppress plant defense mechanisms of susceptible hosts and cause disease
In order to offset the serious pathogenic problems caused by F. graminearum and to develop insights into the virulence and antagonistic defense mechanisms in host plants, it appears imperative to undertake the identification of the pathogenicity and virulence factors which make up the attack arsenal of F. graminearum
The infection mechanism of the plant pathogenic fungus F. graminearum is complex and intricate. It involves the production of a germ tube from conidia, the production of cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs), and eventually, the production of mycotoxins, type B trichothecene mycotoxins, DON, and NIV
Summary
Plant pathogens have developed sophisticated penetration, infection, and colonization strategies to suppress plant defense mechanisms of susceptible hosts and cause disease. The serious effects of crop infection by F. graminearum require in-depth studies on the pathogen, primarily its pathogenicity and virulence factors which can be comprehensively studied using, among other techniques, whole-genome sequencing, transcriptomics using the convenient, reliable, and large data-generating tools of NGS and proteomics. In order to offset the serious pathogenic problems caused by F. graminearum and to develop insights into the virulence and antagonistic defense mechanisms in host plants, it appears imperative to undertake the identification of the pathogenicity and virulence factors which make up the attack arsenal of F. graminearum For this reason, the MIPS Fusarium graminearum Genome Database (FGDB) with an updated set with an estimated 14,000 genes and downstream analysis in a live gene validation process was established to provide a comprehensive genomic and molecular analysis [40]. Before discussing pathogenicity and virulence factors of F. graminearum, we look at pathogenicity and virulence factors of plant pathogens generally
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