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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #213280
Title: Lignin Degradation by Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines

Author
item LOZOVAYA, A - UNIV. OF ILLINOIS
item ZERNOVA, O - UNIV. OF ILLINOIS
item WIDHLM, J - UNIV. OF ILLINOIS
item Hartman, Glen

Submitted to: Plant Disease
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2005
Publication Date: 1/1/2006
Citation: Lozovaya, A.V., Zernova, O.V., Widhlm, J.M., Hartman, G.L. 2006. Lignin Degradation by Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines. Plant Disease. 90(1):77-82.

Interpretive Summary: Lignin degradation may play a role in the infection, colonization, and survival of some fungi that attack plants. Sudden death syndrome (SDS), caused by the soilborne fungal pathogen Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines, is one of the most important diseases of soybean. Lignin degradation by F. solani f. sp. glycines was shown by several biochemical events. In some cases, the lignin degradation by F. solani f. sp. glycines were intermediate or greater than that found with two known lignin-degrading fungi, Polyporus tulipifera and Schizophyllum commune. These results indicate that F. solani f. sp. glycines was capable of degrading lignin which may be important in the infection process, colonization of root tissue, and in the survival of the fungus.

Technical Abstract: Sudden death syndrome (SDS), caused by the soilborne fungal pathogen Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines, is one of the most important diseases of soybean. Lignin degradation may play a role in the infection, colonization, and survival of the fungus in root tissue . Lignin degradation by F. solani f. sp. glycines was shown by the catalyzed release of 14CO2 from purified 14C-labeled Klason lignin, the degradation of polymeric aromatic dyes in culture (a method commonly used to test the ligninolytic capacity of microorganisms), and the production of laccase and lignin peroxidase (the major fungal lignin degrading enzymes). The laccase and lignin peroxidase activities, and the amount of decolorization of aromatic polymeric dyes (Poly R-478 and Remazol Brilliant Blue R) by F. solani f. sp. glycines were intermediate or greater than that found with two known lignin-degrading fungi, Polyporus tulipifera and Schizophyllum commune. Studies of lignin synthesis from [14C]phenylalanine (Phe) with soybean hairy root cultures showed that F. solani f. sp. glycines treatment stimulated lignin synthesis in 2 h, and by 24 h some lignin degradation had occurred. These results indicate that F. solani f. sp. glycines was capable of degrading lignin which may be important in infection, colonization, and survival of the fungus.