Image Credit: Kathryn Bushley
Within the framework of JGI "Community Sequencing Project: Defensive Mutualism of Fungal Root Endophytes of Soybean" CSP project, we are investigating the potential role of fungal endophytes isolated from soybean roots in protecting the plant from two devastating root plant pathogens: 1) the root rot fungus causing Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (Fusarium virguliforme) and 2) the soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines). These fungi were screened for either anti-fungal or anti-nematode activity in-vitro and genome, transcriptome, and metabolome sequencing will address possible mechanisms of antagonism against these pathogens.
Fusarium is a large genus of filamentous fungi with diverse lifestyles, ranging from pathogens or endophytes of plants, to opportunistic human pathogens, to insect pathogens and mutualists [1, 2]. F. acuminatum is common in soil and is generally considered a plant pathogen, causing root rot, as well as leaf rot of various plant hosts [3-6]. However, some strains have also been isolated as endophytes [7-9], including this isolate from a soybean root without visible signs of disease. While F. acuminatum has not previously been associated with nematodes, one study found a positive correlation between root rot fungi, including F. acuminatum, and the abundance of plant parasitic nematodes [10].
References:
- Hill, R., et al., Lifestyle Transitions in Fusarioid Fungi are Frequent and Lack Clear Genomic Signatures. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2022. 39(4): p. 19.
- Nikitin, D.A., et al., Diversity, Ecological Characteristics and Identification of Some Problematic Phytopathogenic Fusarium in Soil: A Review. Diversity-Basel, 2023. 15(1): p. 18.
- Osawa, H., et al., Autumn potato seedling failure due to potato dry rot in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, caused by Fusarium acuminatum and Fusarium commune. Journal of General Plant Pathology, 2021. 87(1): p. 46-50.
- Shen, B.Y., et al., First Report of Root Rot of Schisandra chinensis Caused by Fusarium acuminatum</i> in Northeast China. Plant Disease, 2022. 106(7): p. 1987-1987.
- Wang, S.Z., et al., Identification of Crucial Genes and Regulatory Pathways in Alfalfa against Fusarium Root Rot. Plants-Basel, 2023. 12(20): p. 15.
- Zhan, Y., et al., First Report of Fusarium acuminatum Causing Leaf Spot on Schisandra chinensis in China. Plant Disease, 2023: p. 1.
- Bashyal, B.P., S.H. Faeth, and A.A.L. Gunatilaka, 13α-hydroxylucilactaene and other metabolites of an endophytic strain of Fusarium acuminatum. Natural Product Communications, 2007. 2(5): p. 547-550.
- Clark, T.N., et al., Antibiotic Mycotoxins from an Endophytic Fusarium acuminatum Isolated from the Medicinal Plant Geum macrophyllum. Natural Product Communications, 2018. 13(10): p. 1301-1304.
- Fang, L., et al., Characterization of a Plant Growth-Promoting Endohyphal Bacillus subtilis in Fusarium acuminatum from Spiranthes sinensis. Polish Journal of Microbiology, 2023. 72(1): p. 29-37.
- Taheri, A., et al., Interaction between root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus neglectus (Rensch 1924) Chitwood and Oteifa 1952, and root rotting fungi of wheat. New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 1994. 22(2): p. 181-185.
