Abstract
During host plant infection, pathogens produce a wide array of cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) to break the plant cell wall. Among CWDEs, xylanases are key enzymes in the degradation of xylan, the main component of hemicellulose. Targeted deletion experiments support the direct involvement of the xylanase BcXyn11a in the pathogenesis of Botrytis cinerea. Since the Triticum aestivum xylanase inhibitor-I (TAXI-I) has been shown to inhibit BcXyn11a, we verified if TAXI-I could be exploited to counteract B. cinerea infections. With this aim, we first produced Nicotiana tabacum plants transiently expressing TAXI-I, observing increased resistance to B. cinerea. Subsequently, we transformed Arabidopsis thaliana to express TAXI-I constitutively, and we obtained three transgenic lines exhibiting a variable amount of TAXI-I. The line with the higher level of TAXI-I showed increased resistance to B. cinerea and the absence of necrotic lesions when infiltrated with BcXyn11a. Finally, in a droplet application experiment on wild-type Arabidopsis leaves, TAXI-I prevented the necrotizing activity of BcXyn11a. These results would confirm that the contribution of BcXyn11a to virulence is due to its necrotizing rather than enzymatic activity. In conclusion, our experiments highlight the ability of the TAXI-I xylanase inhibitor to counteract B. cinerea infection presumably by preventing the necrotizing activity of BcXyn11a.
Highlights
Botrytis cinerea Pers. is a necrotrophic fungus causing grey mold disease on several dicotyledonous plants
Compared2 to the tobacco actin gene used as housekeeping, agro-infiltrated tobacco plasmid was 2.25 ± 0.23 cm, with a significant symptom reduction of about 20% in Triticum aestivum xylanase inhibitor-I (TAXI-I) plants in leaves expressing Triticum aestivum XI (TAXI)-I showed a peak of expression two days after agro-infiltration, with about a comparison to the control plants (Figure 1C)
SDS-PAGE, a kDa band was present in the extracellular fluids of all the three linesin plasmid was 2.25 ± 0.23 cm, with a significant symptom reduction of about 20% in TAXI-I plants while it was absent in pBI:GUS
Summary
Botrytis cinerea Pers. is a necrotrophic fungus causing grey mold disease on several dicotyledonous plants. Is a necrotrophic fungus causing grey mold disease on several dicotyledonous plants. This fungus can infect more than 1000 plant species [1], including almost all vegetable and fruit crops. It causes severe damage, both pre- and post-harvest, with annual losses of $10 billion to. Genomic studies reveal that necrotrophic pathogens such as B. cinerea contain core functions, including cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs) and secondary metabolites (e.g., toxins) that support. Pieces of evidence suggest that B. cinerea has a short biotrophic phase during which the fungus would suppress autophagy, a PCD mechanism activated by plants as defense response after pathogen recognition
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
