Genome sequencing and comparative genomics reveal insights into pathogenicity and evolution of Fusarium zanthoxyli, the causal agent of stem canker in prickly ash.

BACKGROUND: Fusarium zanthoxyli is a destructive pathogen causing stem canker in prickly ash, an ecologically and economically important forest tree. However, the genome lack of F. zanthoxyli has hindered research on its interaction with prickly ash and the development of precise control strategies for stem canker. RESULTS: In this study, we sequenced and annotated a relatively high-quality genome of F. zanthoxyli with a size of 43.39 Mb, encoding 11,316 putative genes. Pathogenicity-related factors are predicted, comprising 495 CAZymes, 217 effectors, 156 CYP450s, and 202 enzymes associated with secondary metabolism. Besides, a comparative genomics analysis revealed Fusarium and Colletotrichum diverged from a shared ancestor approximately 141.1 ~ 88.4 million years ago (MYA). Additionally, a phylogenomic investigation of 12 different phytopathogens within Fusarium indicated that F. zanthoxyli originated approximately 34.6 ~ 26.9 MYA, and events of gene expansion and contraction within them were also unveiled. Finally, utilizing conserved domain prediction, the results revealed that among the 59 unique genes, the most enriched domains were PnbA and ULP1. Among the 783 expanded genes, the most enriched domains were PKc_like kinases and those belonging to the APH_ChoK_Like family. CONCLUSION: This study sheds light on the genetic basis of F. zanthoxyli's pathogenicity and evolution which provides valuable information for future research on its molecular interactions with prickly ash and the development of effective strategies to combat stem canker.

Exogenous priming of chitosan induces resistance in Chinese prickly ash against stem canker caused by Fusarium zanthoxyli.

Stem canker is a highly destructive disease that threatens prickly ash plantations in China. This study demonstrated the effective control of stem canker in prickly ash using chitosan priming, reducing lesion areas by 46.77 % to 75.13 % across all chitosan treatments. The mechanisms underlying chitosan-induced systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in prickly ash were further investigated. Chitosan increased H2O2 levels and enhanced peroxidase and catalase enzyme activities. A well-constructed regulatory network depicting the genes involved in the SAR and their corresponding expression levels in prickly ash plants primed with chitosan was established based on transcriptomic analysis. Additionally, 224 ZbWRKYs were identified based on the whole genome of prickly ash, and their phylogenetic evolution, conserved motifs, domains and expression patterns of ZbWRKYs were comprehensively illustrated. The expression of 12 key genes related to the SAR was significantly increased by chitosan, as determined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the activities of defensive enzymes and the accumulation of lignin and flavonoids in prickly ash were significantly enhanced by chitosan treatment. Taken together, this study provides valuable insights into the chitosan-mediated activation of the immune system in prickly ash, offering a promising eco-friendly approach for forest stem canker control.

Response of rice resistance based on the validation of rice blast to elevated CO2 concentration and temperature.

Rice (Oryza sativa) resistance is its ability to resist various stresses, the changes of which have important impacts on O. sativa yield security. However, the responses of O. sativa stress resistance to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration and temperature are poorly understood. We conducted a field open top-chamber experiment with O. sativa (Nanjing 9108 and Jinxiangyu I) based on the CO2 and temperature automatic control platform. The experimental treatments included ambient CO2 concentration and temperature treatment (CK, control), elevated CO2 concentration treatment (C, CO2 concentration increase of 200 µmol·mol-1 above CK), elevated temperature treatment (T, temperature increase of 2 ℃ above CK) and elevated CO2 concentration and temperature (CT, CO2 concentration increase of 200 µmol·mol-1 and temperature increase of 2 ℃ above CK). At the critical growth stages of O. sativa, we measured superoxide dismutase activity, silica content, total flavanol content, malondialdehyde content, soluble sugar content, proline content, and soluble protein content by cutting the uppermost functional leaves. We obtained the rice stress resistance index (RSRI) by principal component analysis to analyze the differences in the composition of stress resistance indicators under different treatments. Considering the disease resistance of O. sativa, the spike neck blast disease was counted to verify the expression level of RSRI for O. sativa stress resistance at maturity stage. Results showed that at the elongation-booting stage, C and CT treatments significantly reduced the RSRI of Jinxiangyu I by 36.5% and 41.1%, respectively, compared with CK. T treatment significantly decreased the RSRI of the two varieties by 44.9% and 33.8%, respectively. The RSRI explained 71.9%-74.3% of the variation in the spike neck blast disease. Overall, the stress resistance of two O. sativa varieties were adversely affected by elevated temperature at the elongation-booting stage. There was an interactive effect of CO2 concentration and temperature on O. sativa stress resistance. Compared with Nanjing 9108, the stress resistance of Jinxiangyu I was more sensitive to elevated CO2 concentration.