RESUMEN
Xanthomonas spp. encompass a wide range of phytopathogens that brings great economic losses to various crops. Rational use of pesticides is one of the effective means to control the diseases. Xinjunan (Dioctyldiethylenetriamine) is structurally unrelated to traditional bactericides, and is used to control fungal, bacterial, and viral diseases with their unknown mode of actions. Here, we found that Xinjunan had a specific high toxicity toward Xanthomonas spp., especially to the Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causal agent of rice bacterial leaf blight. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) confirmed its bactericidal effect by morphological changes, including cytoplasmic vacuolation and cell wall degradation. DNA synthesis was significantly inhibited, and the inhibitory effect enhanced with the increase of the chemical concentration. However, the synthesis of protein and EPS was not affected. RNA-seq revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) particularly enriched in iron uptake, which was subsequently confirmed by siderophore detection, intracellular Fe content and iron-uptake related genes transcriptional level. The laser confocal scanning microscopy and growth curve monitoring of the cell viability in response to different Fe condition proved that the Xinjunan activity relied on the addition of iron. Taken together, we speculated that Xinjunan exerted bactericidal effect by affecting cellular iron metabolism as a novel mode of action. IMPORTANCE Sustainable chemical control for rice bacterial leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae need to be developed due to limited bactericides with high efficiency, low cost, and low toxicity in China. This present study verified a broad-spectrum fungicide named Xinjunan possessing a specific high toxicity to Xanthomonas pathogens, which were further confirmed by affecting the cellular iron metabolism of Xoo as a novel mode of action. These findings will contribute to the application of the compound in the field control of Xanthomonas spp.-caused diseases, and be directive for future development of novel specific drugs for the control of severe bacterial diseases based on this novel mode of action.
RESUMEN
According to the ability of the field isolates of Gibberella zeae to grow on the PSA with varying carbendazim(MBC) concentrations, three sensitivity levels of isolates were determined in vitro. The sensitive isolates(S) could grow at 0.5 microgram/ml, but were completely inhibited at 1.4 micrograms/ml. The moderate resistant isolates (MR) could grow fast at 1.4 micrograms/ml and slow at 50 micrograms/ml, but could not grow at 100 micrograms/ml. The high resistant isolates(HR) could grow faster than R at 50 micrograms/ml, and also could grow at 100 micrograms/ml. No low resistant isolates, that could grow fast at 1.4 micrograms/ml but could not grow at 50 micrograms/ml, were found among the field isolates. The genetics of resistance to carbendazim in G. zeae was investigated by analyzing the sensitivity of sexual outcrossed progeny to MBC. The nitrate non-utilizing mutant (nit) as an another added genetic marker was used to select the out-crossed perithecium from self-crossed perithecia. Seven crosses were tested in all, including cross between S x S, MR x S, MR x MR, HR x S, as well as HR x MR. The results showed that no recombinant phenotype was found among all progeny of seven crosses. Progeny segregation of crosses between the parents with different sensitive levels(i.e. MR x S, HR x S, HR x MR) clearly fit a 1:1 ratio of two parental phenotypes, and no segregation was found in the crosses of S x S and MR x MR. So it can be concluded that the two levels of MBC resistance in G. zeae are conferred by two loci mutations or one locus with different allelic mutations that constitute a polymorphic series in a single Mendelian gene. In these isolates, the MBC resistance is not affected by modifying genes or cytoplasmic components.