Potential Role of Laccases in the Relationship of the Maize Late Wilt Causal Agent, <i>Magnaporthiopsis maydis</i>, and Its Host
Late wilt is a vascular disease of maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) caused by the soil-borne and seed-borne fungus <i>Magnaporthiopsis maydis.</i> The pathogen penetrates the roots of maize plants at the seedling stage, grows into the xylem vessels, and gradually spreads upwards. F...
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/6/2/63 |
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| author | Ofir Degani Yuval Goldblat |
| author_facet | Ofir Degani Yuval Goldblat |
| author_sort | Ofir Degani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Late wilt is a vascular disease of maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) caused by the soil-borne and seed-borne fungus <i>Magnaporthiopsis maydis.</i> The pathogen penetrates the roots of maize plants at the seedling stage, grows into the xylem vessels, and gradually spreads upwards. From the flowering stage to the kernel ripening, the fungal hyphae and secreted materials block the water supply in susceptible maize cultivars, leading to rapid dehydration and death. Laccase is an enzyme secreted by fungus for diverse purposes. The <i>M. maydis</i> laccase gene was identified in our laboratory, but under what conditions it is expressed and to what functions remain unknown. In the current study, we tested the influence of plant age and tissue source (roots or leaves) on <i>M. maydis</i> laccase secretion. The results show increasing laccase secretion as corn parts (as ground tissue) were added to the minimal medium (MM). Furthermore, roots stimulated laccase secretion more than leaves, and adult plants enhanced laccase secretion more than young plants. This implies the possibility that the richer lignin tissue of adult plants may cause increased secretion of the enzyme. In vitro pathogenicity assay proved the ability of <i>M. maydis</i> to develop inside detached roots of maize, barley, watermelon, and cotton but not peanut. Testing root powder from those plants in MM revealed a negative correlation between <i>M. maydis</i> growth (expressed as biomass) and laccase secretion. For example, while the addition of maize, barley, or cotton root powder led to increasing fungal dry weight, it also resulted in relatively lower laccase activity. Watermelon and peanut root powder led to opposite responses. These findings suggest a pivotal role of laccase in the ability of <i>M. maydis</i> to exploit and grow on different host tissues. The results encourage further examination and a deeper understanding of the laccase role in these interesting host–pathogen interactions. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-1b3b1cd8cb204a14941dbaa553ee3fb62023-11-20T00:44:53ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2020-05-01626310.3390/jof6020063Potential Role of Laccases in the Relationship of the Maize Late Wilt Causal Agent, <i>Magnaporthiopsis maydis</i>, and Its HostOfir Degani0Yuval Goldblat1Plant Sciences Department, MIGAL–Galilee Research Institute, Tarshish 2, Kiryat Shmona 11016, IsraelPlant Sciences Department, MIGAL–Galilee Research Institute, Tarshish 2, Kiryat Shmona 11016, IsraelLate wilt is a vascular disease of maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) caused by the soil-borne and seed-borne fungus <i>Magnaporthiopsis maydis.</i> The pathogen penetrates the roots of maize plants at the seedling stage, grows into the xylem vessels, and gradually spreads upwards. From the flowering stage to the kernel ripening, the fungal hyphae and secreted materials block the water supply in susceptible maize cultivars, leading to rapid dehydration and death. Laccase is an enzyme secreted by fungus for diverse purposes. The <i>M. maydis</i> laccase gene was identified in our laboratory, but under what conditions it is expressed and to what functions remain unknown. In the current study, we tested the influence of plant age and tissue source (roots or leaves) on <i>M. maydis</i> laccase secretion. The results show increasing laccase secretion as corn parts (as ground tissue) were added to the minimal medium (MM). Furthermore, roots stimulated laccase secretion more than leaves, and adult plants enhanced laccase secretion more than young plants. This implies the possibility that the richer lignin tissue of adult plants may cause increased secretion of the enzyme. In vitro pathogenicity assay proved the ability of <i>M. maydis</i> to develop inside detached roots of maize, barley, watermelon, and cotton but not peanut. Testing root powder from those plants in MM revealed a negative correlation between <i>M. maydis</i> growth (expressed as biomass) and laccase secretion. For example, while the addition of maize, barley, or cotton root powder led to increasing fungal dry weight, it also resulted in relatively lower laccase activity. Watermelon and peanut root powder led to opposite responses. These findings suggest a pivotal role of laccase in the ability of <i>M. maydis</i> to exploit and grow on different host tissues. The results encourage further examination and a deeper understanding of the laccase role in these interesting host–pathogen interactions.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/6/2/63<i>Cephalosporium maydis</i>corncottonenzymefungus<i>Harpophora maydis</i> |
| spellingShingle | Ofir Degani Yuval Goldblat Potential Role of Laccases in the Relationship of the Maize Late Wilt Causal Agent, <i>Magnaporthiopsis maydis</i>, and Its Host Journal of Fungi <i>Cephalosporium maydis</i> corn cotton enzyme fungus <i>Harpophora maydis</i> |
| title | Potential Role of Laccases in the Relationship of the Maize Late Wilt Causal Agent, <i>Magnaporthiopsis maydis</i>, and Its Host |
| title_full | Potential Role of Laccases in the Relationship of the Maize Late Wilt Causal Agent, <i>Magnaporthiopsis maydis</i>, and Its Host |
| title_fullStr | Potential Role of Laccases in the Relationship of the Maize Late Wilt Causal Agent, <i>Magnaporthiopsis maydis</i>, and Its Host |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential Role of Laccases in the Relationship of the Maize Late Wilt Causal Agent, <i>Magnaporthiopsis maydis</i>, and Its Host |
| title_short | Potential Role of Laccases in the Relationship of the Maize Late Wilt Causal Agent, <i>Magnaporthiopsis maydis</i>, and Its Host |
| title_sort | potential role of laccases in the relationship of the maize late wilt causal agent i magnaporthiopsis maydis i and its host |
| topic | <i>Cephalosporium maydis</i> corn cotton enzyme fungus <i>Harpophora maydis</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/6/2/63 |
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