Penicillium digitatum infection mechanisms in citrus: What do we know so far?

Costa, Jonas Henrique; Bazioli, Jaqueline Moraes; Pontes, João Guilherme de Moraes; Fill, Taícia Pacheco

doi:10.1016/j.funbio.2019.05.004

Cited by 95 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 84 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In our case, both MMD-mutants were more sensitive to H 2 O 2 than parental strains. P. digitatum is able to neutralize the ROS response that citrus fruit generate upon infection (Macarisin et al, 2007; Costa et al, 2019). In our previous study, we speculated that the high sensitivity of Δ chsVII mutant to H 2 O 2 was related to its decreased virulence (Gandía et al, 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Penicillium digitatum is the main postharvest pathogen of citrus fruit and causes the green mold disease, being responsible for significant economic losses in citriculture (Marcet-Houben et al, 2012; Palou, 2014; Costa et al, 2019). We have previously identified and analyzed the expression of chitin synthase genes in P. digitatum (Gandía et al, 2012, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Myosin Motor Domain-Containing Chitin Synthases Are Involved in Cell Wall Integrity and Sensitivity to Antifungal Proteins in Penicillium digitatum

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Penicillium digitatum is the main postharvest pathogen of citrus fruit and is responsible for important economic losses in spite of the massive use of fungicides. The fungal cell wall (CW) and its specific component chitin are potential targets for the development of new antifungal molecules. Among these are the antifungal peptides and proteins that specifically interact with fungal CW. Chitin is synthesized by a complex family of chitin synthases (Chs), classified into up to eight classes within three divisions. Previously, we obtained and characterized a mutant of P. digitatum in the class VII gene (ΔchsVII), which contains a short myosin motor-like domain (MMD). In this report, we extend our previous studies to the characterization of mutants in chsII and in the gene coding for the other MMD-Chs (chsV), and study the role of chitin synthases in the sensitivity of P. digitatum to the self-antifungal protein AfpB, and to AfpA obtained from P. expansum. The ΔchsII mutant showed no significant phenotypic and virulence differences with the wild type strain, except in the production and morphology of the conidia. In contrast, mutants in chsV showed a more dramatic phenotype than the previous ΔchsVII, with reduced growth and conidial production, increased chitin content, changes in mycelial morphology and a decrease in virulence to citrus fruit. Mutants in chsVII were specifically more tolerant than the wild type to nikkomycin Z, an antifungal inhibitor of chitin biosynthesis. Treatment of P. digitatum with its own antifungal protein AfpB resulted in an overall reduction in the expression of the chitin synthase genes. The mutants corresponding to MMD chitin synthases exhibited differential sensitivity to the antifungal proteins AfpA and AfpB, ΔchsVII being more susceptible than its parental strain and ΔchsV being slightly more tolerant despite its reduced growth in liquid broth. Taking these results together, we conclude that the MMD-containing chitin synthases affect cell wall integrity and sensitivity to antifungal proteins in P. digitatum.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Myosin Motor Domain-Containing Chitin Synthases Are Involved in Cell Wall Integrity and Sensitivity to Antifungal Proteins in Penicillium digitatum

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Due to oranges acidic pH, around 4-5 in healthy fruits (Costa et al, 2019a), most of the orange rot is caused by fungi and not bacteria (Talibi et al, 2014). Phytopathogenic fungi can produce and proliferate mycotoxins, secondary metabolites of low molecular mass produced by filamentous fungi (Amadi and Adeniyi, 2009;Zain, 2011), which are often toxic to the host and other organisms that cohabit the same microenvironment (Zain, 2011;Dukare et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Penicillium italicum: An Underexplored Postharvest Pathogen

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the agricultural sector, citrus is one of the most important fruit genus in the world. In this scenario, Brazil is the largest producer of oranges; 34% of the global production, and exporter of concentrated orange juice; 76% of the juice consumed in the planet, summing up US$ 6.5 billion to Brazilian GDP. However, the orange production has been considerable decreasing due to unfavorable weather conditions in recent years and the increasing number of pathogen infections. One of the main citrus post-harvest phytopathogen is Penicillium italicum, responsible for the blue mold disease, which is currently controlled by pesticides, such as Imazalil, Pyrimethanil, Fludioxonil, and Tiabendazole, which are toxic chemicals harmful to the environment and also to human health. In addition, P. italicum has developed considerable resistance to these chemicals as a result of widespread applications. To address this growing problem, the search for new control methods of citrus post-harvest phytopathogens is being extensively explored, resulting in promising new approaches such as biocontrol methods as “killer” yeasts, application of essential oils, and antimicrobial volatile substances. The alternative methodologies to control P. italicum are reviewed here, as well as the fungal virulence factors and infection strategies. Therefore, this review will focus on a general overview of recent research carried out regarding the phytopathological interaction of P. italicum and its citrus host.

show abstract

“…The citrus industry in Brazil corresponded to US$6.5 billion in revenues in 2019 (3). Citrus fruits can be affected by different diseases, leading to up to 50% of fruit losses and causing a negative economic impact (4)(5)(6).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Phytotoxic Tryptoquialanines Produced In Vivo by Penicillium digitatum Are Exported in Extracellular Vesicles

Costa

Bazioli

Barbosa

et al. 2021

mBio

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Penicillium digitatum is the most aggressive pathogen of citrus fruits. Tryptoquialanines are major indole alkaloids produced by P. digitatum. It is unknown if tryptoquialanines are involved in the damage of citrus fruits caused by P. digitatum. To investigate the pathogenic roles of tryptoquialanines, we initially asked if tryptoquialanines could affect the germination of Citrus sinensis seeds. Exposure of the citrus seeds to tryptoquialanine A resulted in a complete inhibition of germination and an altered metabolic response. Since this phytotoxic effect requires the extracellular export of tryptoquialanine A, we investigated the mechanisms of extracellular delivery of this alkaloid in P. digitatum. We detected extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by P. digitatum both in culture and during infection of citrus fruits. Compositional analysis of EVs produced during infection revealed the presence of a complex cargo, which included tryptoquialanines and the mycotoxin fungisporin. The EVs also presented phytotoxicity activity in vitro and caused damage to the tissues of citrus seeds. Through molecular networking, it was observed that the metabolites present in the P. digitatum EVs are produced in all of its possible hosts. Our results reveal a novel phytopathogenic role of P. digitatum EVs and tryptoquialanine A, implying that this alkaloid is exported in EVs during plant infection. IMPORTANCE During the postharvest period, citrus fruits can be affected by phytopathogens such as Penicillium digitatum, which causes green mold disease and is responsible for up to 90% of total citrus losses. Chemical fungicides are widely used to prevent green mold disease, leading to concerns about environmental and health risks. To develop safer alternatives to control phytopathogens, it is necessary to understand the molecular basis of infection during the host-pathogen interaction. In the P. digitatum model, the virulence strategies are poorly known. Here, we describe the production of phytotoxic extracellular vesicles (EVs) by P. digitatum during the infection of citrus fruits. We also characterized the secondary metabolites in the cargo of EVs and found in this set of molecules an inhibitor of seed germination. Since EVs and secondary metabolites have been related to virulence mechanisms in other host-pathogen interactions, our data are important for the comprehension of how P. digitatum causes damage to its primary hosts.

show abstract

Penicillium digitatum infection mechanisms in citrus: What do we know so far?

Cited by 95 publications

References 84 publications

The Myosin Motor Domain-Containing Chitin Synthases Are Involved in Cell Wall Integrity and Sensitivity to Antifungal Proteins in Penicillium digitatum

The Myosin Motor Domain-Containing Chitin Synthases Are Involved in Cell Wall Integrity and Sensitivity to Antifungal Proteins in Penicillium digitatum

Penicillium italicum: An Underexplored Postharvest Pathogen

Phytotoxic Tryptoquialanines Produced In Vivo by Penicillium digitatum Are Exported in Extracellular Vesicles

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About