Diversity of theFusariumpathogens associated with crown rot in the Huanghuai wheat‐growing region of China

Abstract

Summary To investigate the distribution and diversity of the pathogens associated with Fusarium crown rot in the Huanghuai wheat‐growing region (HHWGR) of China, we collected wheat samples with symptomatic stem bases from seven provinces in the HHWGR between 2013 and 2016. A total of 1196 isolates obtained from 222 locations were identified as 9 Fusarium species based on morphological and molecular identification. Of these pathogen species, F. pseudograminearum was the dominant species. Furthermore, F. sinensis was isolated from the disease specimens and tested for virulence to wheat. The result of the pathogenicity revealed that an intraspecific differentiation existed in F. pseudograminearum; sequence analysis of the EF‐1α gene showed that 194 F. pseudograminearum isolates were differentiated into two distinct clades which closed to the strains from Australia and China respectively, but neither pathogenicity nor EF‐1α sequence was related to the geographic origins of these isolates. However, universal rice primers‐polymerase chain reaction showed a correlation with the geographical origins of the 194 isolates, which were divided into eight subclusters, the level of genetic diversity was higher within a geographical population than among the different populations. The results of these analyses can be directly used to facilitate disease monitoring and development of control strategies.

The bZIP transcription factor FpAda1 is essential for fungal growth and conidiation in Fusarium pseudograminearum

“…The plant pathogen Fusarium pseudograminearum is the causative agent of Fusarium crown rot (FCR) in wheat and barley, resulting in substantial yield losses worldwide (Kazan and Gardiner 2018). Particularly, in the Huanghuai wheat-growing region of China, it has been reported that F. pseudograminearum was the dominant pathogen of FCR (Li et al 2012;Zhou et al 2019). F. pseudograminearum was initially recognized as a population within the Fusarium graminearum species group (group 1).…”

FpCzf14 is a putative C2H2 transcription factor regulating conidiation in Fusarium pseudograminearum

“…Wheat FCR caused by F. pseudograminearum has been spreading rapidly and has resulted in huge economic losses in the Huanghuai wheat-growing area of China since 2012 (Li et al 2012;Zhou et al 2019). However, only a few studies have evaluated the pathogenic mechanism of F. pseudograminearum.…”

“…The WT strain of F. pseudograminearum used for transformation and phenotypic analyses was Wz2-8A, which was isolated in Wuzhi, Henan Province of China (Zhou et al 2019). Both WT and genetically engineered strains in this study were cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium, containing 200 g/L potato, 20 g/L glucose and 20 g/L agar.…”

“…Fusarium pseudograminearum, commonly found in soil and various decaying plant materials, is an important pathogen causing Fusarium crown rot (FCR) and Fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat and barley (Kazan and Gardiner 2018;Zhou et al 2019). Infection with F. pseudograminearum compromises grain yield and quality, and more importantly, F. pseudograminearum is a mycotoxinproducing species like some other Fusarium spp.…”

TMT-based Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals Defense Mechanism of Wheat Against the Crown Rot Pathogen Fusarium Pseudograminearum

“…Previously studies constructed a genetic map of F. pseudograminearum and completed a genomic sequence [9,10]. Zhou et al investigated the distribution and diversity of the pathogens associated with Fusarium crown rot in the Huanghuai wheat-growing region of China and found that F. pseudograminearum was the dominant species [11]. Several studies have con rmed that ER Lumenal Hsp70 protein FpLhs1, transcription factor FpAda1, and FpNPS9 are important for F. pseudograminearum infection [12][13][14].…”