Liquid-liquid phase separation of H3K27me3 reader BP1 regulates transcriptional repression.

BACKGROUND: Bromo-adjacent homology-plant homeodomain domain containing protein 1 (BP1) is a reader of histone post-translational modifications in fungi. BP1 recognizes trimethylation of lysine 27 in histone H3 (H3K27me3), an epigenetic hallmark of gene silencing. However, whether and how BP1 participates in transcriptional repression remains poorly understood. RESULTS: We report that BP1 forms phase-separated liquid condensates to modulate its biological function in Fusarium graminearum. Deletion assays reveal that intrinsically disordered region 2 (IDR2) of BP1 mediates its liquid-liquid phase separation. The phase separation of BP1 is indispensable for its interaction with suppressor of Zeste 12, a component of polycomb repressive complex 2. Furthermore, IDR2 deletion abolishes BP1-H3K27me3 binding and alleviates the transcriptional repression of secondary metabolism-related genes, especially deoxynivalenol mycotoxin biosynthesis genes. CONCLUSIONS: BP1 maintains transcriptional repression by forming liquid-liquid phase-separated condensates, expanding our understanding of the relationship between post-translational modifications and liquid-liquid phase separation.

A fungal core effector exploits the OsPUX8B.2-OsCDC48-6 module to suppress plant immunity.

Proteins containing a ubiquitin regulatory X (UBX) domain are cofactors of Cell Division Cycle 48 (CDC48) and function in protein quality control. However, whether and how UBX-containing proteins participate in host-microbe interactions remain unclear. Here we show that MoNLE1, an effector from the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, is a core virulence factor that suppresses rice immunity by specifically interfering with OsPUX8B.2. The UBX domain of OsPUX8B.2 is required for its binding to OsATG8 and OsCDC48-6 and controls its 26 S proteasome-dependent stability. OsPUX8B.2 and OsCDC48-6 positively regulate plant immunity against blast fungus, while the high-temperature tolerance heat-shock protein OsBHT, a putative cytoplasmic substrate of OsPUX8B.2-OsCDC48-6, negatively regulates defense against blast infection. MoNLE1 promotes the nuclear migration and degradation of OsPUX8B.2 and disturbs its association with OsBHT. Given the high conservation of MoNLE1 among fungal isolates, plants with broad and durable blast resistance might be generated by engineering intracellular proteins resistant to MoNLE1.

Population genomics of Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici highlights the role of admixture in the origin of virulent wheat rust races.

Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici (Pgt) causes stem rust disease in wheat that can result in severe yield losses. The factors driving the evolution of its virulence and adaptation remain poorly characterized. We utilize long-read sequencing to develop a haplotype-resolved genome assembly of a U.S. isolate of Pgt. Using Pgt haplotypes as a reference, we characterize the structural variants (SVs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms in a diverse panel of isolates. SVs impact the repertoire of predicted effectors, secreted proteins involved in host-pathogen interaction, and show evidence of purifying selection. By analyzing global and local genomic ancestry we demonstrate that the origin of 8 out of 12 Pgt clades is linked with either somatic hybridization or sexual recombination between the diverged donor populations. Our study shows that SVs and admixture events appear to play an important role in broadening Pgt virulence and the origin of highly virulent races, creating a resource for studying the evolution of Pgt virulence and preventing future epidemic outbreaks.

The Haplotype-Based Analysis of Aegilops tauschii Introgression Into Hard Red Winter Wheat and Its Impact on Productivity Traits.

The introgression from wild relatives have a great potential to broaden the availability of beneficial allelic diversity for crop improvement in breeding programs. Here, we assessed the impact of the introgression from 21 diverse accessions of Aegilops tauschii, the diploid ancestor of the wheat D genome, into 6 hard red winter wheat cultivars on yield and yield component traits. We used 5.2 million imputed D genome SNPs identified by the whole-genome sequencing of parental lines and the sequence-based genotyping of introgression population, including 351 BC1F3:5 lines. Phenotyping data collected from the irrigated and non-irrigated field trials revealed that up to 23% of the introgression lines (ILs) produce more grain than the parents and check cultivars. Based on 16 yield stability statistics, the yield of 12 ILs (3.4%) was stable across treatments, years, and locations; 5 of these lines were also high yielding lines, producing 9.8% more grain than the average yield of check cultivars. The most significant SNP- and haplotype-trait associations were identified on chromosome arms 2DS and 6DL for the spikelet number per spike (SNS), on chromosome arms 2DS, 3DS, 5DS, and 7DS for grain length (GL) and on chromosome arms 1DL, 2DS, 6DL, and 7DS for grain width (GW). The introgression of haplotypes from A. tauschii parents was associated with an increase in SNS, which was positively correlated with a heading date (HD), whereas the haplotypes from hexaploid wheat parents were associated with an increase in GW. We show that the haplotypes on 2DS associated with an increase in the spikelet number and HD are linked with multiple introgressed alleles of Ppd-D1 identified by the whole-genome sequencing of A. tauschii parents. Meanwhile, some introgressed haplotypes exhibited significant pleiotropic effects with the direction of effects on the yield component traits being largely consistent with the previously reported trade-offs, there were haplotype combinations associated with the positive trends in yield. The characterized repertoire of the introgressed haplotypes derived from A. tauschii accessions with the combined positive effects on yield and yield component traits in elite germplasm provides a valuable source of alleles for improving the productivity of winter wheat by optimizing the contribution of component traits to yield.

SSR Marker Development, Linkage Mapping, and QTL Analysis for Establishment Rate in Common Bermudagrass.

Common bermudagrass has been widely used as a major warm-season turf, forage, and soil stabilization grass in the southern United States. However, codominant marker development, linkage, and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping resources are limited in the important taxon. Accordingly, the objectives of this study were to develop simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, construct a genetic map, and identify genomic regions associated with establishment rate. Five genomic SSR libraries were constructed, sequenced, and used in the development of 1003 validated SSR primer pairs (PPs). A linkage map was constructed using a first-generation selfed population derived from a genotype A12359 (2 = 4 = 36). A total of 249 polymorphic SSR PPs were mapped to 18 linkage groups (LGs). The total length of the map is 1094.7 cM, with an average marker interval of 4.3 cM. Ninety-eight out of 252 mapped loci (39%) were found to be distorted from the Mendelian 1:2:1 segregation ratio. Among the other 154 nondistorted loci, 88 coupling vs. 66 repulsion linkage phases were observed to confirm the allopolyploid origin of the parent. Ground coverage (GCR) phenotypic data in the establishment stage were collected in two replicated field trials. Quantitative trait loci mapping identified five genomic regions significantly related to the trait. The findings of this study provide valuable genetic tools and resources for genomic research, genetic improvement, and breeding new cultivars in the species.

Disomic Inheritance and Segregation Distortion of SSR Markers in Two Populations of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. var. dactylon.

Common bermudagrass [C. dactylon (L.) Pers. var. dactylon] is economically and environmentally the most important member among Cynodon species because of its extensive use for turf, forage and soil erosion control in the world. However, information regarding the inheritance within the taxon is limited. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to determine qualitative inheritance mode in common bermudagrass. Two tetraploid (2n = 4x = 36), first-generation selfed (S1) populations, 228 progenies of 'Zebra' and 273 from A12359, were analyzed for segregation with 21 and 12 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, respectively. It is concluded that the inheritance mode of tetraploid bermudagrass was complete or near complete disomic. It is evident that the two bermudagrass parents had an allotetraploid genome with two distinct subgenomes since 33 SSR primer pairs amplified 34 loci, each having two alleles. Severe transmission ratio distortions occurred in the Zebra population while less so in the A12359 population. The findings of disomic inheritance and segregation ratio distortion in common bermudagrass is significant in subsequent linkage map construction, quantitative trait locus mapping and marker-assisted selection in the species.