A Novel Effector FoUpe9 Enhances the Virulence of <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> Tropical Race 4 by Inhibiting Plant Immunity
Fusarium wilt caused by <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> tropical race 4 (Foc TR4) is the most destructive disease of the banana. Effectors play a crucial role in Foc TR4–banana interaction; however, only a few effectors have been functionally characterized. Ou...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Zheng Cong Yini Ma Lisha Zeng Yaoyao Wu Yaojun Chen Ludan Liang Jie Zhu Huaping Li Yanfang Nie Yunfeng Li |
| author_facet | Zheng Cong Yini Ma Lisha Zeng Yaoyao Wu Yaojun Chen Ludan Liang Jie Zhu Huaping Li Yanfang Nie Yunfeng Li |
| author_sort | Zheng Cong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fusarium wilt caused by <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> tropical race 4 (Foc TR4) is the most destructive disease of the banana. Effectors play a crucial role in Foc TR4–banana interaction; however, only a few effectors have been functionally characterized. Our previous secretome studies on Foc TR4 highlighted an uncharacterized protein without any conserved domains (named FoUpe9), which was predicted to be a candidate effector. Herein, bioinformatics analysis showed that FoUpe9 was highly conserved among <i>Fusarium</i> species. <i>FoUpe9</i> was highly induced during the early infection stages in the banana. A yeast signal sequence trap assay showed that FoUpe9 is a secretory protein. FoUpe9 could inhibit cell death and ROS accumulation triggered by BAX through the <i>Agrobacterium</i>-mediated <i>Nicotiana benthamiana</i> expression system. Subcellular location showed that FoUpe9 was located in the nucleus and cytoplasm of <i>N. benthamiana</i> cells. Deletion of the <i>FoUpe9</i> gene did not affect mycelial growth, conidiation, sensitivity to cell-wall integrity, or osmotic and oxidative stress, but significantly attenuated fungal virulence. <i>FoUpe9</i> deletion diminished fungal colonization and induced ROS production and expression of SA-related defense genes in banana plants. These results suggest that FoUpe9 enhances Foc TR4 virulence by inhibiting host immune responses and provide new insights into the functions of the uncharacterized proteins, further enhancing our understanding of effector-mediated Foc TR4 pathogenesis. |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj-art-feaee34a66af4880a52952f8dceb271e2025-08-20T02:18:03ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-04-0111430810.3390/jof11040308A Novel Effector FoUpe9 Enhances the Virulence of <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> Tropical Race 4 by Inhibiting Plant ImmunityZheng Cong0Yini Ma1Lisha Zeng2Yaoyao Wu3Yaojun Chen4Ludan Liang5Jie Zhu6Huaping Li7Yanfang Nie8Yunfeng Li9Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaDongguan Agricultural Research Centre, Dongguan 523106, ChinaGuangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaGuangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, College of Plant Protection, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaFusarium wilt caused by <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> tropical race 4 (Foc TR4) is the most destructive disease of the banana. Effectors play a crucial role in Foc TR4–banana interaction; however, only a few effectors have been functionally characterized. Our previous secretome studies on Foc TR4 highlighted an uncharacterized protein without any conserved domains (named FoUpe9), which was predicted to be a candidate effector. Herein, bioinformatics analysis showed that FoUpe9 was highly conserved among <i>Fusarium</i> species. <i>FoUpe9</i> was highly induced during the early infection stages in the banana. A yeast signal sequence trap assay showed that FoUpe9 is a secretory protein. FoUpe9 could inhibit cell death and ROS accumulation triggered by BAX through the <i>Agrobacterium</i>-mediated <i>Nicotiana benthamiana</i> expression system. Subcellular location showed that FoUpe9 was located in the nucleus and cytoplasm of <i>N. benthamiana</i> cells. Deletion of the <i>FoUpe9</i> gene did not affect mycelial growth, conidiation, sensitivity to cell-wall integrity, or osmotic and oxidative stress, but significantly attenuated fungal virulence. <i>FoUpe9</i> deletion diminished fungal colonization and induced ROS production and expression of SA-related defense genes in banana plants. These results suggest that FoUpe9 enhances Foc TR4 virulence by inhibiting host immune responses and provide new insights into the functions of the uncharacterized proteins, further enhancing our understanding of effector-mediated Foc TR4 pathogenesis.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/4/308banana Fusarium wilt<i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i>effectorvirulenceimmune responses |
| spellingShingle | Zheng Cong Yini Ma Lisha Zeng Yaoyao Wu Yaojun Chen Ludan Liang Jie Zhu Huaping Li Yanfang Nie Yunfeng Li A Novel Effector FoUpe9 Enhances the Virulence of <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> Tropical Race 4 by Inhibiting Plant Immunity Journal of Fungi banana Fusarium wilt <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> effector virulence immune responses |
| title | A Novel Effector FoUpe9 Enhances the Virulence of <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> Tropical Race 4 by Inhibiting Plant Immunity |
| title_full | A Novel Effector FoUpe9 Enhances the Virulence of <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> Tropical Race 4 by Inhibiting Plant Immunity |
| title_fullStr | A Novel Effector FoUpe9 Enhances the Virulence of <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> Tropical Race 4 by Inhibiting Plant Immunity |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Novel Effector FoUpe9 Enhances the Virulence of <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> Tropical Race 4 by Inhibiting Plant Immunity |
| title_short | A Novel Effector FoUpe9 Enhances the Virulence of <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> Tropical Race 4 by Inhibiting Plant Immunity |
| title_sort | novel effector foupe9 enhances the virulence of i fusarium oxysporum i f sp i cubense i tropical race 4 by inhibiting plant immunity |
| topic | banana Fusarium wilt <i>Fusarium oxysporum</i> f. sp. <i>cubense</i> effector virulence immune responses |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/4/308 |
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