Division of Bio-Resource Sciences, Interdisciplinary Program in Smart Agriculture, and Bioherb Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea.
mBio. 2024 Oct 16;15(10):e0066724. doi: 10.1128/mbio.00667-24. Epub 2024 Sep 9.
species are notorious for causing anthracnose on many fruits, leading to significant economic losses worldwide. As a model, we functionally characterized cys2-his2 (CH) zinc finger proteins (CsCZFs) in , a major causal agent of pepper fruit anthracnose in many countries. In all, 62 CsCZFs were identified by genomic analysis. Twelve were selected based on their expression profiles to generate targeted deletion mutants for functional investigation. markedly reduced conidiation and constitutive expression of partially recovered conidiation in an asexual reproduction-defective mutant, . Deletion of , orthologous to the calcineurin-responsive transcription factor , impaired autophagy in was defective in surface recognition, appressorium formation, and suppression of host defenses. was identified as an essential and novel regulator under the control of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (CsPMK1) in an early step of appressorium development in . This study provides novel insights into -mediated regulation of differentiation and pathogenicity in , contributing to understanding the regulatory mechanisms governing fruit anthracnose epidemics.IMPORTANCEThe phytopathogenic fungus is known to cause serious anthracnose on chili pepper. However, the molecular mechanism underlying anthracnose caused by this fungus remains largely unknown. Here, we systematically analyzed the functional roles of cys2-his2 zinc finger proteins (CsCZFs) in the dissemination and pathogenic development of this fungus. Our results showed that CsCZF1 plays an important role in conidiation and constitutive expression of CsCZF1 restored conidiation in an asexual reproduction-defective mutant, . The CsCZF9, a novel target of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (CsPMK1), is essential for surface recognition to allow appressorium formation and suppression of host defenses in . The CsCZF12, orthologous to the calcineurin-responsive transcription factor Crz1, is involved in the autophagy of . Our findings reveal a comprehensive mechanism underlying CsCZF-mediated regulation of differentiation and pathogenicity of , which contributes to the understanding of fruit anthracnose epidemics and the development of novel strategies for disease management.
种是引起许多水果炭疽病的罪魁祸首，导致全球经济损失惨重。作为一个模型，我们对辣椒炭疽病的主要病原体中的 cys2-his2（CH）锌指蛋白（CsCZFs）进行了功能表征。通过基因组分析，共鉴定出 62 个 CsCZFs。根据表达谱选择了 12 个，以生成用于功能研究的靶向缺失突变体。突变体 显著减少了分生孢子的形成，而在一个无性繁殖缺陷突变体 中，部分恢复了分生孢子的形成。缺失与钙调神经磷酸酶应答转录因子同源的 ，导致自噬缺陷，而 在表面识别、附着胞形成和抑制宿主防御方面存在缺陷。鉴定为在 的附着胞发育早期步骤中受丝裂原激活蛋白激酶（CsPMK1）控制的必需和新型调节剂。该研究提供了有关 调节分化和致病性的新见解，有助于理解控制水果炭疽病流行的调控机制。
已知植物病原菌 会导致辣椒严重炭疽病。然而，这种真菌引起炭疽病的分子机制在很大程度上尚不清楚。在这里，我们系统地分析了 cys2-his2 锌指蛋白（CsCZFs）在该真菌传播和致病发展中的功能作用。我们的结果表明，CsCZF1 在分生孢子的形成中起着重要作用，并且在无性繁殖缺陷突变体 中，组成型表达的 CsCZF1 恢复了分生孢子的形成。CsCZF9 是丝裂原激活蛋白激酶（CsPMK1）的一个新靶标，对于表面识别以允许附着胞形成和抑制宿主防御是必需的。CsCZF12 是钙调神经磷酸酶应答转录因子 Crz1 的同源物，参与 的自噬。我们的研究结果揭示了 CsCZF 介导的分化和致病性调控的综合机制，有助于理解水果炭疽病的流行和疾病管理新策略的发展。
