Image Credit: Kathryn Bushley
Within the framework of JGI Community Sequencing Project “Defensive Mutualism of Fungal Root Endophytes of Soybean”, we are investigating the potential role of fungal endophytes isolated from soybean roots in protecting against two root pathogens: 1) the root rot fungus causing Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (Fusarium virguliforme) and 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]. Fusarium solani comprises a large monophyletic species complex (FSSC) within the genus Fusarium [3]. The FSSC includes both plant and opportunistic human pathogens [4]. Various previously described forma specialis, including the pea pathogen (F. solani f..sp. pisi) also harbor supernumerary chromosomes carrying virulence factors [5] that confer host-specialization on peas [6]. Members of the FSSC are common in soil and hence as root rot pathogens in various plant species [2]. However, some may also colonize plants as endophytes without causing disease [7] and most produce a plethora of bioactive secondary metabolites [5, 8]. This isolate (7-154) was isolated from a soybean root showing signs of fungal infection.
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.
- Geiser, D.M., et al., Phylogenomic Analysis of a 55.1-kb 19-Gene Dataset Resolves a Monophyletic Fusarium that Includes the Fusarium solani Species Complex. Phytopathology, 2021. 111(7): p. 1064-1079.
- Zhang, N.O.D., Kerry; Sutton, Deanna A.; Nalim, F. Ameena; Summerbell, Richard C.; Padhye, Arvind A.; Geiser, David M, Members of the Fusarium solani species complex that cause infections in both humans and plants are common in the environment. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 44(6): p. 2186–2190. .
- Ma, L.J., et al., Fusarium Pathogenomics, in Annual Review of Microbiology, Vol 67, S. Gottesman, Editor. 2013. p. 399-416.
- Han, Y.N., et al., Genes determining pathogenicity to pea are clustered on a supernumerary chromosome in the fungal plant pathogen Nectria haematococca. Plant Journal, 2001. 25(3): p. 305-314.
- Biswas, S. and S. Sarojini, Fungal endophytic species Fusarium annulatum and Fusarium solani : Identification, molecular characterization, and study of plant growth promotion properties. Plant Science Today, 2024. 11(1): p. 466-472.
- Shah, A., et al., Discovery of anti-microbial and anti-tubercular molecules from Fusarium solani: an endophyte of Glycyrrhiza glabra. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 2017. 122(5): p. 1168-1176.
