Peach gummosis, caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae, is one of the most prevalent diseases that affects peach production. In this study, we investigated the effect of zinc sulfate on inoculated peach shoots, as well as on the growth, morphology, and pathogenicity of L. theobromae in vitro, in the laboratory. Zinc deficiency was detected in diseased peach shoots by micronutrient analysis (Cu, Mn, and Zn) and confirmed by the measurement of transcript levels of zinc transporters (ZIP4, HAM4, and ZAT). The zinc was transferred from the diseased peach shoots to the peach gum. Applying zinc sulfate to the diseased peach shoots reduced the severity of peach gummosis, showing significantly reduced lesion size and gum weight, as well as downregulation of cell wall degradation-related gene (PG and PME) compared with the control. Zinc sulfate also specifically controlled peach gummosis under L. theobromae phytotoxin stress and induced the expression of defense-related genes (PR4, CHI, PAL, PGIP, and GNS3). In addition, in vitro mycelial growth of L. theobromae was significantly inhibited by zinc sulfate compared with the control. Zinc sulfate caused abnormal hyphae at 25 mM and swelling hyphal tips at 50 mM. Exposure of L. theobromae to zinc sulfate for 20 min inhibited the ability of the pathogen to cause peach gummosis. Our physiological and molecular data demonstrated that zinc sulfate has a dual function by reducing susceptibility in the host and by direct inhibition of the pathogen.
Purpose
The composition of endophytic communities has been shown to depend on grape genotypes and viticultural managements in leaves, stems, and berries of grape, but there have been relatively few reports exploring fungal endophytes associated with wild grape and foliar age.
Methods
The regions of internally transcribed spacer (ITS) were sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq to determine the diversity of fungal endophytes associated with European grape (Vitis vinifera cv. Red Globe) and Chinese wild grape (Vitis amurensis cv. Shuangyou) in young and mature leaves.
Results
A total of 3 phyla, 23 classes, 51 orders, 97 families, and 150 fungal genera were identified. Young leaves have significantly higher diversity and richness than that in mature leaves in both cultivars. Endophytic fungal diversity was greater in wild grapevines (119 genera) than in cultivated grapevines (81 genera) in both young and mature leaves. Endophytic fungal community structure was also significantly different between young leaves and mature leaves as well as in both cultivars based on statistical tests of ANOSIM and MRPP.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that endophytic fungal communities were strongly affected by foliar age and domestication, which are crucial factors in establishing symbiotic associations with a selective enrichment for specific endophytes.
Elsinoë ampelina is an ascomycetous fungus that causes grape anthracnose, a potentially devastating disease worldwide. Here, we report a 28.29 Mb high-quality genome sequence of E. ampelina YL-1 that encodes 8,057 predicted protein-coding genes and represents the first sequenced genome assembly of E. ampelina. This study adds to the current genomic resources for the genus Elsinoë and paves the way for research on comparative genomic studies, E. ampelina–grape interactions, and improvement of management strategies.
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