VdTps2 modulates plant colonization and symptom development in Verticillium dahliae

Authors: XIAO, LUYAO - Beijing Forestry University; TANG, CHEN - Beijing Forestry University; Klosterman, Steven; WANG, YONGLIN - Beijing Forestry University

Submitted to: Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2023
Publication Date: 4/5/2023
Citation: Xiao, L., Tang, C., Klosterman, S.J., Wang, Y. 2023. VdTps2 modulates plant colonization and symptom development in Verticillium dahliae. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-03-23-0024-R.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/MPMI-03-23-0024-R

Interpretive Summary: The fungus Verticillium dahliae causes vascular wilt disease on hundreds of plant species. Homologs of trehalose 6-phosphate phosphatase (Tps) are required for full virulence in some pathogenic fungi examined, but the function of trehalose biosynthesis in the vascular plant pathogenic fungus V. dahliae unknown. We performed targeted gene deletion, expression analysis, and pathogenicity assays to demonstrate that the V. dahliae Tps subunit Tps2 governs pathogenesis via the regulation of its ability to penetrate the plant, disseminate within the plant and produce long term survival structures. The trehalose biosynthesis pathway is recognized as a potential target for antifungal drug development, and thus targeting components such Tps2 may reduce Verticillium wilt in plants.

Technical Abstract: The trehalose biosynthesis pathway is a potential target for antifungal drugs development. Trehalose phosphate synthase/phosphatase (TPS/TPP) are widely conserved components of trehalose biosynthesis in fungi. However, the role of trehalose biosynthesis in the vascular plant pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae remains unclear. Here, we investigated the functions of the TPS complex, including VdTps1, VdTps2, and VdTps3 in V. dahliae. Unlike VdTps2, deletion of VdTps1 or VdTps3 did not alter any phenotypes compared with the wild-type strain. In contrast, the 'VdTps2 strain showed severely depressed radial growth due to the abnormal swelling of the hyphal tips. Further, deletion of VdTps2 increased microsclerotia formation, melanin biosynthesis, and resistance to cell wall perturbation and high-temperature stress. Virulence assays and quantification of fungal biomass revealed that deletion of VdTps2 delayed disease symptom development as evident by the reduced virulence and decreased biomass of the 'VdTps2 strain in plant stem tissue following inoculation. Additionally, increases in penetration peg formation observed in the 'VdTps2 strain in the present of H2O2 suggested that VdTps2 suppresses initial colonization. Our results also revealed the role of VdTps2 as a regulator of autophagy. Together, these results indicate that VdTps2 contributes to plant colonization and disease development.