Multiomics analysis reveals the molecular mechanisms underlying virulence in Rhizoctonia and jasmonic acid-mediated resistance in Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum).

Rhizoctonia solani is a devastating soil-borne pathogen that seriously threatens the cultivation of economically important crops. Multiple strains with a very broad host range have been identified, but only 1 (AG1-IA, which causes rice sheath blight disease) has been examined in detail. Here, we analyzed AG4-HGI 3 originally isolated from Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum), but with a host range comparable to AG1-IA. Genome comparison reveals abundant pathogenicity genes in this strain. We used multiomic approaches to improve the efficiency of screening for disease resistance genes. Transcriptomes of the plant-fungi interaction identified differentially expressed genes associated with virulence in Rhizoctonia and resistance in Tartary buckwheat. Integration with jasmonate-mediated transcriptome and metabolome changes revealed a negative regulator of jasmonate signaling, cytochrome P450 (FtCYP94C1), as increasing disease resistance probably via accumulation of resistance-related flavonoids. The integration of resistance data for 320 Tartary buckwheat accessions identified a gene homolog to aspartic proteinase (FtASP), with peak expression following R. solani inoculation. FtASP exhibits no proteinase activity but functions as an antibacterial peptide that slows fungal growth. This work reveals a potential mechanism behind pathogen virulence and host resistance, which should accelerate the molecular breeding of resistant varieties in economically essential crops.

Combretastatin A-4 and Derivatives: Potential Fungicides Targeting Fungal Tubulin.

Combretastatin A-4, first isolated from the African willow tree Combretum caffrum, is a tubulin polymerization inhibitor in medicine. It was first postulated as a potential fungicide targeting fungal tubulin for plant disease control in this study. Combretastatin A-4 and its derivatives were synthesized and tested against Rhizoctonia solani and Pyricularia oryzae. Several compounds have EC50 values similar to or better than that of isoprothiolane, which is widely used for rice disease control. Structure-activity relationship study indicated the the cis configuration and hydroxyl group in combretastatin A-4 are crucial to the antifungal effect. Molecular modeling indicated the binding sites of combretastatin A-4 and carbendazim on fungal tubulin are totally different. The bioactivity of combretastatin A-4 and its derivatives against carbendazim-resistant strains was demonstrated in this study. The results provide a new approach for fungicide discovery and fungicide resistance management.

Mycoparasitism studies of Trichoderma harzianum strains against Rhizoctonia solani: evaluation of coiling and hydrolytic enzyme production.

The genus Trichoderma is a potential biocontrol agent against several phytopathogenic fungi. One parameter for its successful use is an efficient coiling process followed by a substantial production of hydrolytic enzymes. The interaction between fifteen isolates of Trichoderma harzianum and the soil-borne plant pathogen, Rhizoctonia solani, was studied by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Macroscopic observations of fungal growth in dual cultures revealed that growth inhibition of the pathogen occurred soon after contact with the antagonist. All T. harzianum isolates tested exhibited coiling around the hyphae of R. solani. The strains ALL23, ALL40, ALL41, ALL43 and ALL49 did not differ in coiling frequency and gave equal coiling performances. No correlation between coiling frequency and the production of cell wall-degrading chitinases, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and beta-1,3-glucanases, was found.

Study of the aggressiveness of Rhizoctonia solani isolates.

This paper presents an in vitro test to screen the pathogenicity of different Rhizoctonia solani isolates on a host range. The level of aggressivity of the different isolates was different for several host plants tested. There were significant differences between the crops and the isolates tested. In general, the disease level was higher on beans, lettuce and cabbage. In carrot and rye grass the level of infection was lower for the isolates of R. solani tested. The potato isolates of R. solani were less aggressive than the isolates coming from maize, fodder beet and sugar beet. The R. solani isolates were also biochemically characterized by pectic zymograms: the isolates Rs0401 (from maize) and Rs0504 (from sugar beet) belong both to the anastomosis group AG2-2.

Simultaneous quantitative LC-ESI-MS/MS analyses of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid in crude extracts of Cucumis sativus under biotic stress.

Salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) are plant hormones involved in basal resistance against plant pathogens and also in induced resistance. The aim of this study is to develop a fast and sensitive method to determine simultaneously the levels of both these hormones. The present paper proposes a method that includes hormone extraction with MeOH-H(2)O-HOAc (90:9:1, v/v), evaporation of the extracts, and injection into the liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) system in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Endogenous SA and JA levels in noninfested control cucumber cotyledons were 30.96 and 0.73ngg(-1) fresh weight, respectively. In roots, the levels were 8.31 and 15.82ngg(-1) FW, respectively. In plants treated with the biological control agent Trichoderma asperellum strain T-34, the levels of SA and JA did not differ from control plants. Rhizoctonia solani-diseased cucumber plants showed higher levels of SA and JA compared to noninfested controls (up to 2 and 13-fold higher, respectively). Detection limits for SA and JA were 0.45 and 0.47ngg(-1) fresh weight, respectively. The results of our research include the development of a method that is both fast and highly sensitive in the simultaneous quantitation of SA and JA from crude cucumber plant extracts, avoiding any purification and derivatization steps.

Designer phytoalexins: probing camalexin detoxification pathways in the phytopathogen Rhizoctonia solani.

To probe the specificity of a camalexin detoxifying enzyme(s) produced by Rhizoctonia solani, the putative 5-camalexin hydroxylase (5-CAHY), the naturally occurring phytoalexin 1-methylcamalexin and designer phytoalexins in which the H-5 of camalexin was replaced with either a methyl group or a fluorine atom were synthesised. This investigation showed that biotransformation of 5-fluorocamalexin by R. solani was substantially slower than that of camalexin (12 days vs. six to eight hours), 5-methylcamalexin (5-6 days) or 1-methylcamalexin (5-6 days). Antifungal bioassays showed that 5-fluorocamalexin, 5-methylcamalexin and 1-methylcamalexin were more inhibitory to R. solani than camalexin, whereas their metabolic products displayed substantially lower inhibitory activity. It was concluded that detoxification via oxidation of the indole moiety of camalexins is predominant in the biotransformation of both camalexin and 5-methylcamalexin and likely catalysed by a specific 5-CAHY. By contrast, the pathways for detoxification of 1-methylcamalexin and 5-fluorocamalexin are likely catalysed by non-specific "house-keeping" enzymes. Most importantly, because 1- methylcamalexin showed stronger antifungal activity and was metabolised at substantially slower rate than camalexin this work suggested that, from a plant's perspective 1-methylcamalexin could be a more effective antifungal defence than camalexin.

Pectic zymogram variation and pathogenicity of Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 to bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) isolates in Isfahn, Iran.

Rhizoctonia disease, caused by Rhizoctonia solani is one of the most important fungal diseases in bean fields in Isfahan, Iran. Bean plants showing stem and root cankers were collected and Rhizoctonia-like fungi obtained from the samples were identified by anastomosis. Pure cultures of bean isolates of R. solani were identified as AG-4. There were also AG-4 isolates from tomato, potato, cucumber, alfalfa and sugar beet in the areas sampled. A total of 163 isolates of R. solani AG-4 originating from stem and root cankers of beans were examined using pectic zymogram electrophoresis. Polygalacturonase (PG) and pectin estrase isozymes were observed in all AG-4 isolates tested. One (PG) and one pectic esterase (PE) band was found in common between all isolates examined. The electrophoretic patterns were grouped into seven zymogram groups (ZGs) according to the diagnostic PG and PE bands. One ZG occurred in a high frequency throughout the areas sampled. A pathogenicity test was conducted and representative isolates of each ZG were used to inoculate healthy bean plants. The results showed that each ZG caused different symptoms with varying severity. Isolates belonging to two ZGs were highly pathogenic causing root, stem and hypocotyl cankers whereas isolates of the other ZGs produced weak or no symptoms.

Enhanced production of antimicrobial sesquiterpenes and lipoxygenase metabolites in elicitor-treated hairy root cultures of Solanum tuberosum.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) hairy root cultures, established by infecting potato tuber discs with Agrobacterium rhizogenes, were used as a model system for the production of antimicrobial sesquiterpenes and lipoxygenase (LOX) metabolites. Of the four sesquiterpene phytoalexins (rishitin, lubimin, phytuberin and phytuberol) detected in elicitor-treated hairy root cultures, rishitin (213 micrograms g-1 dry wt) was the most predominant followed by lubimin (171 micrograms g-1 dry wt). The elicitors also induced LOX activity (25-fold increase) and LOX metabolites, mainly 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid and 9-hydroxyoctadecatrienoic acid, in potato hairy root cultures. The combination of fungal elicitor plus cyclodextrin was the most effective elicitor treatment, followed by methyl jasmonate plus cyclodextrin in inducing sesquiterpenes and LOX metabolites.

Biotransformation of the phytoalexin camalexin by the phytopathogen Rhizoctonia solani.

The unusual metabolism of the cruciferous phytoalexin camalexin by virulent and weakly virulent isolates of the root rot fungus Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn is reported. This biotransformation proceeded via 5-hydroxycamalexin, which was further biotransformed into more polar metabolites. Importantly, the metabolites resulting from transformation of camalexin were significantly less toxic to the pathogen than camalexin. Thus, it was concluded that R. solani can detoxify camalexin through oxidation of the indole ring. The chemistry involved in the structure determination of the intermediates of this pathway, their synthesis as well as antifungal activity is described.

Strategies of cruciferous pathogenic fungi: detoxification of the phytoalexin cyclobrassinin by mimicry.

The remarkable metabolism of the cruciferous phytoalexin cyclobrassinin by the phytopathogenic root rot (Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn) and blackleg [Phoma lingam (Tode ex Fr.) Desm., asexual stage of Leptosphaeria maculans (Desm.) Ces. et de Not.] fungi is reported. It was established that R. solani metabolized and detoxified cyclobrassinin via the phytoalexin brassicanal A, which was further transformed into nontoxic products. Detoxification of cyclobrassinin in P. lingam avirulent isolate Unity occurred via the phytoalexin brassilexin, whereas the detoxification in P. lingam virulent isolate BJ 125 occurred via the phytoalexin dioxibrassinin. The chemistry involved in the structure determination of the intermediates of these three apparently different pathways and their antifungal activities are described. In addition, efficient syntheses of both phytoalexins brassicanal A and brassilexin by mimicry of the fungal biotransformation route are reported. Implications of these unprecedented transformations are discussed.

Changes in metabolic activities of Fusarium oxysporum f. fabae and Rhizoctonia solani in response to Dithan A-40 fungicide.

The effect of different concentrations of Dithan A-40 fungicide on the metabolic activities of the wilt fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. fabae and the root rot agent Rhizoctonia solani was studied. All toxicant concentrations reduced energy generation, total phosphorus and nitrogen content of both fungi. In addition, the toxicant caused a shift in free amino acids pool. As a result of these changes, the mycelium dry weight of both fungi was greatly reduced. R. solani was more sensitive to the toxic effect of Dithan A-40 than F. oxysporum.

Production of protein by fungi from agricultural wastes. III. Effect of phosphorus on the efficiency of substrate utilization and protein production by Rhizoctonia melongina, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Coprinus aratus.

An attempt was made to select a source of phosphorus that is readily available and ensures maximum protein efficiency for Rhizoctonia melongina, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Coprinus aratus, using sugarcane bagasse for the former two and wheat straw for the latter one in the liquid medium. Of the six different phosphorus compounds tested, urea phosphate was unanimously preferred by the three fungi. The concentration of urea phosphate for maximum protein output was then standardized.