ABSTRACT
MAIN CONCLUSION: This review provides valuable insights into plant molecular regulatory mechanisms during fungus attacks, highlighting potential miRNA candidates for future disease management. Plant defense responses to biotic stress involve intricate regulatory mechanisms, including post-transcriptional regulation of genes mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs). These small RNAs play a vital role in the plant's innate immune system, defending against viral, bacterial, and fungal attacks. Among the plant pathogenic fungi, Colletotrichum spp. are notorious for causing anthracnose, a devastating disease affecting economically important crops worldwide. Understanding the molecular machinery underlying the plant immune response to Colletotrichum spp. is crucial for developing tools to reduce production losses. In this comprehensive review, we examine the current understanding of miRNAs associated with plant defense against Colletotrichum spp. We summarize the modulation patterns of miRNAs and their respective target genes. Depending on the function of their targets, miRNAs can either contribute to host resistance or susceptibility. We explore the multifaceted roles of miRNAs during Colletotrichum infection, including their involvement in R-gene-dependent immune system responses, hormone-dependent defense mechanisms, secondary metabolic pathways, methylation regulation, and biosynthesis of other classes of small RNAs. Furthermore, we employ an integrative approach to correlate the identified miRNAs with various strategies and distinct phases of fungal infection. This study provides valuable insights into the current understanding of plant miRNAs and their regulatory mechanisms during fungus attacks.
Subject(s)
Colletotrichum , MicroRNAs , MicroRNAs/genetics , Crops, AgriculturalABSTRACT
Shrimp antilipopolysaccharide factors (ALFs) form a multifunctional and diverse family of antimicrobial host defense peptides (AMPs) composed of seven members (groups A to G), which differ in terms of their primary structure and biochemical properties. They are amphipathic peptides with two conserved cysteine residues stabilizing a central ß-hairpin that is understood to be the core region for their biological activities. In this study, we synthetized three linear (cysteine-free) peptides based on the amino acid sequence of the central ß-hairpin of the newly identified shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) ALFs from groups E to G. Unlike whole mature ALFs, the ALF-derived peptides exhibited an α-helix secondary structure. In vitro assays revealed that the synthetic peptides display a broad spectrum of activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi but not against the protozoan parasites Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania (L.) infantum. Remarkably, they displayed synergistic effects and showed the ability to permeabilize bacterial membranes, a mechanism of action of classical AMPs. Having shown low cytotoxicity to THP-1 human cells and being active against clinical multiresistant bacterial isolates, these nature-inspired peptides represent an interesting class of bioactive molecules with biotechnological potential for the development of novel therapeutics in medical sciences.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Anti-Infective Agents , Humans , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , Gram-Negative Bacteria , Gram-Positive Bacteria , Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/pharmacology , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/chemistry , Microbial Sensitivity TestsABSTRACT
Herbaspirillum seropedicae is an endophytic diazotrophic bacterium and a plant growth promoting bacteria. Colletotrichum graminicola causes the anthracnose, one of the most destructive maize diseases worldwide. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of H. seropedicae SmR1 strain on the plant growth and leaf anthracnose of maize plants grown in substrate amended or not amended with humic substances. In the first assay, plants were pre-treated with H. seropedicae and inoculated with C. graminicola at 7, 14 and 21 days after treatment (DAT). In the second assay, plants were treated with H. seropedicae, grown in substrate amended with humic substances and inoculated at 3 and 7 DAT. The anthracnose severity was assessed by measurement of necrotic and chlorotic leaf area, and bacteria were quantified in leaves by quantitative PCR. H. seropedicae did not affect the disease severity in maize leaves, although it efficiently colonized the leaf tissues and it promoted maize leaf growth. Humic substances improved H. seropedicae colonization in maize.
ABSTRACT
O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a duração da resistência induzida, a eficiência do número e intervalo de aplicações de ulvana, bem como a influência de diferentes concentrações de inóculo no controle e na severidade da antracnose do feijão. Para tanto, foram realizados três experimentos independentes. Plantas de feijão (P. vulgaris, cv. Uirapuru) foram cultivadas em condições de casa-de-vegetação e, no primeiro experimento, foram pulverizadas com ulvana em uma única aplicação aos: nove dias antes da inoculação (dai) V3(i); seis dai V3(m); três dai V3(f); ou duas aplicações consecutivas realizadas aos nove e seis dai V3(i)/(m); nove e três dai V3(i)/(f) ou seis e três dai V3(m)/(f) e inoculadas em um mesmo momento. No segundo e terceiro experimentos, plantas de feijão foram tratadas duas vezes (seis e três dai) e inoculadas em diferentes momentos ou com diferentes concentrações de inóculo, respectivamente. A pulverização de ulvana reduziu a severidade da antracnose em cerca de 50%. Duas aplicações de ulvana foram mais eficientes em induzir respostas de defesa em feijão contra a antracnose que somente uma. A maior redução (96%) da doença ocorreu com pulverizações sucessivas em V3(m)/(f). O efeito de duas aplicações do polissacarídeo persistiu até nove dias após o tratamento. A redução na severidade da antracnose foi maior quando foram utilizadas concentrações intermediárias de inóculo (105 e 106 conídios por mL).
The present work aimed to evaluate the persistence of the induced resistance, the efficiency of the number and the interval of ulvan applications and the influence of different inoculum concentrations in the control of bean anthracnose. Three independent experiments were carried out. Bean plants (P. vulgaris, cv. Uirapuru) were cultivated under green house conditions and, in the first experiment, they were treated with ulvan once at nine days before inoculation (dbi) V3(i); six dbi V3(m) or three dbi V3(f) or they were treated twice at nine and six dbi V3(i)/(m); nine and three V3(i)/(f) or six and three (dbi) V3(m)/(f), the they were inoculated at the same time. In the second and third experiments, bean plants were treated twice (six and three dbi) then inoculated in different moments or with different inoculums concentrations, respectively. The application of ulvan reduced the anthracnose severity by 50%. Two ulvan applications were more efficient in inducing defense responses in bean plants than a single application. The highest disease reduction (96%) was achieved by spraying ulvan twice at V3(m)/(f). The effect of two applications persists until nine days after the treatment. The reduction on the anthracnose severity was higher when intermediate (105 e 106 conidia per mL) inoculum concentrations were used.
Subject(s)
Antifungal Agents , Colletotrichum , PhaseolusABSTRACT
O mal-do-panamá, causado por Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC), é um dos principais problemas fitossanitários da bananicultura. O uso de cultivares resistentes é o método preferencialmente recomendado para o seu controle, sendo a avaliação da diversidade genética do patógeno necessária no desenvolvimento de estratégias de manejo da doença a longo prazo. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a variabilidade genética de isolados de FOC por marcadores moleculares RAPD e SSR. Foram avaliados 64 isolados coletados em regiões produtoras do estado de Santa Catarina, sendo que 100 por cento deles foram patogênicos à bananeira da cv. 'Enxerto'. As análises de conglomerados com esses marcadores revelaram variabilidade entre os isolados amostrados. As técnicas moleculares aplicadas foram eficientes em separar os isolados em três grupos distintos. Os membros de cada grupo, em cada uma das técnicas, em geral, foram coincidentes e três dos isolados (CO16, JS23 e JS26) apresentaram-se mais distantes geneticamente nos dendrogramas de similaridade.
Panama disease, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (FOC), is one of the major disease of banana crop. The use of resistant cultivars is the recommended control method, but the assessment of the pathogen genetic diversity is necessary for the development of long-term management strategies. This study aimed to analyze the genetic variability of isolates of FOC in Santa Catarina state, using RAPD and SSR molecular markers. It was evaluated 64 isolates collected in the producing regions of Santa Catarina state, where 100 percent of them were pathogenic to banana cv. 'Enxerto'. Cluster analysis by molecular markers revealed variability among the isolates. Both molecular techniques were effective in separating the isolates into tree distinct groups and, in general, led to similar grouping. Three isolates (CO16, JS23 and JS26) were genetically more distant in dendograms of similarity.