<i>PdStuA</i> Is a Key Transcription Factor Controlling Sporulation, Hydrophobicity, and Stress Tolerance in <i>Penicillium digitatum</i>
<i>Penicillium digitatum</i> has become one of the main pathogens in citrus due to its high spore production and easy spread. In this study, the function of the APSES transcription factor <i>StuA</i> in <i>P. digitatum</i> was characterized, and the results indica...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/9/941 |
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| author | Yujie Du Jinfan Zhu Zhonghuan Tian Chaoan Long |
| author_facet | Yujie Du Jinfan Zhu Zhonghuan Tian Chaoan Long |
| author_sort | Yujie Du |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Penicillium digitatum</i> has become one of the main pathogens in citrus due to its high spore production and easy spread. In this study, the function of the APSES transcription factor <i>StuA</i> in <i>P. digitatum</i> was characterized, and the results indicated that it was involved in conidium and conidiophore development. No conidiophores were observed in the mycelium of the ∆<i>PdStuA</i> mutant that had grown for two days, while an abnormal conidiophore was found after another two days of incubation, and only small thin phialides as well as a very small number of spores were formed at the top of the hyphae. Moreover, it was observed that the ∆<i>PdStuA</i> mutant showed various defects, such as reduced hydrophobicity and decreased tolerance to cell wall inhibitors and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Compared to the original <i>P. digitatum</i>, the colony diameter of the ∆<i>PdStuA</i> mutant was not significantly affected, but the growth of aerial hyphae was obviously induced. In in vivo experiments, the spore production of the ∆<i>PdStuA</i> mutant grown on citrus fruit was remarkably decreased; however, there was no significant difference in the lesion diameter between the mutant and original strain. It could be inferred that less spore production might result in reduced spread in citrus, thereby reducing the green mold infection in citrus fruit during storage. This study provided a gene, <i>PdStuA</i>, which played key role in the sporulation of <i>P. digitatum</i>, and the results might provide a reference for the molecular mechanisms of sporulation in <i>P. digitatum</i>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:35:17Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:35:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
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| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-8d237f202e0948ee88e6a221bb2e6c362023-11-19T11:29:26ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2023-09-019994110.3390/jof9090941<i>PdStuA</i> Is a Key Transcription Factor Controlling Sporulation, Hydrophobicity, and Stress Tolerance in <i>Penicillium digitatum</i>Yujie Du0Jinfan Zhu1Zhonghuan Tian2Chaoan Long3National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, National R&D Center for Citrus Preservation, National Centre of Citrus Breeding, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, National R&D Center for Citrus Preservation, National Centre of Citrus Breeding, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, National R&D Center for Citrus Preservation, National Centre of Citrus Breeding, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, ChinaNational Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops, National R&D Center for Citrus Preservation, National Centre of Citrus Breeding, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China<i>Penicillium digitatum</i> has become one of the main pathogens in citrus due to its high spore production and easy spread. In this study, the function of the APSES transcription factor <i>StuA</i> in <i>P. digitatum</i> was characterized, and the results indicated that it was involved in conidium and conidiophore development. No conidiophores were observed in the mycelium of the ∆<i>PdStuA</i> mutant that had grown for two days, while an abnormal conidiophore was found after another two days of incubation, and only small thin phialides as well as a very small number of spores were formed at the top of the hyphae. Moreover, it was observed that the ∆<i>PdStuA</i> mutant showed various defects, such as reduced hydrophobicity and decreased tolerance to cell wall inhibitors and H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Compared to the original <i>P. digitatum</i>, the colony diameter of the ∆<i>PdStuA</i> mutant was not significantly affected, but the growth of aerial hyphae was obviously induced. In in vivo experiments, the spore production of the ∆<i>PdStuA</i> mutant grown on citrus fruit was remarkably decreased; however, there was no significant difference in the lesion diameter between the mutant and original strain. It could be inferred that less spore production might result in reduced spread in citrus, thereby reducing the green mold infection in citrus fruit during storage. This study provided a gene, <i>PdStuA</i>, which played key role in the sporulation of <i>P. digitatum</i>, and the results might provide a reference for the molecular mechanisms of sporulation in <i>P. digitatum</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/9/941<i>Penicillium digitatum</i>conidiaconidiophore<i>PdStuA</i>stress tolerancehydrophobicity |
| spellingShingle | Yujie Du Jinfan Zhu Zhonghuan Tian Chaoan Long <i>PdStuA</i> Is a Key Transcription Factor Controlling Sporulation, Hydrophobicity, and Stress Tolerance in <i>Penicillium digitatum</i> Journal of Fungi <i>Penicillium digitatum</i> conidia conidiophore <i>PdStuA</i> stress tolerance hydrophobicity |
| title | <i>PdStuA</i> Is a Key Transcription Factor Controlling Sporulation, Hydrophobicity, and Stress Tolerance in <i>Penicillium digitatum</i> |
| title_full | <i>PdStuA</i> Is a Key Transcription Factor Controlling Sporulation, Hydrophobicity, and Stress Tolerance in <i>Penicillium digitatum</i> |
| title_fullStr | <i>PdStuA</i> Is a Key Transcription Factor Controlling Sporulation, Hydrophobicity, and Stress Tolerance in <i>Penicillium digitatum</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>PdStuA</i> Is a Key Transcription Factor Controlling Sporulation, Hydrophobicity, and Stress Tolerance in <i>Penicillium digitatum</i> |
| title_short | <i>PdStuA</i> Is a Key Transcription Factor Controlling Sporulation, Hydrophobicity, and Stress Tolerance in <i>Penicillium digitatum</i> |
| title_sort | i pdstua i is a key transcription factor controlling sporulation hydrophobicity and stress tolerance in i penicillium digitatum i |
| topic | <i>Penicillium digitatum</i> conidia conidiophore <i>PdStuA</i> stress tolerance hydrophobicity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/9/9/941 |
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