Functional analysis of CfSnf1 in the development and pathogenicity of anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum fructicola on tea-oil tree
Shengpei Zhang,
Yuan Guo,
Sizheng Li,
Guoying Zhou,
Junang Liu,
Jianping Xu,
He Li
Affiliations
Shengpei Zhang
College of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology and Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Control of Artificial Forest Diseases and Pests in South China
Yuan Guo
College of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology and Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Control of Artificial Forest Diseases and Pests in South China
Sizheng Li
College of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology and Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Control of Artificial Forest Diseases and Pests in South China
Guoying Zhou
College of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology and Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Control of Artificial Forest Diseases and Pests in South China
Junang Liu
College of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology and Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Control of Artificial Forest Diseases and Pests in South China
Jianping Xu
Department of Biology, McMaster University
He Li
College of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology and Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Control of Artificial Forest Diseases and Pests in South China
Abstract Background Tea-oil tree (Camellia oleifera) is a unique edible-oil tree in China, and anthracnose occurs in wherever it is cultivated, causing great economic losses each year. We have previously identified the Ascomycete fungus Colletotrichum fructicola as the major pathogen of anthracnose in Ca. oleifera. The purpose of this study was to characterize the biological function of Snf1 protein, a key component of the AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) pathway, for the molecular pathogenic-mechanisms of C. fructicola. Results We characterized CfSnf1 as the homolog of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Snf1. Targeted CfSNF1 gene deletion revealed that CfSnf1 is involved in the utilization of specific carbon sources, conidiation, and stress responses. We further found that the ΔCfSnf1 mutant was not pathogenic to Ca. oleifera, resulting from its defect in appressorium formation. In addition, we provided evidence showing crosstalk between the AMPK and the cAMP/PKA pathways for the first time in filamentous fungi. Conclusion This study indicate that CfSnf1 is a critical factor in the development and pathogenicity of C. fructicola and, therefore, a potential fungicide target for anthracnose control.
