Cytokinin Production by the Rice Blast Fungus Is a Pivotal Requirement for Full Virulence: e1005457

Plants produce cytokinin (CK) hormones for controlling key developmental processes like source/sink distribution, cell division or programmed cell-death. Some plant pathogens have been shown to produce CKs but the function of this mimicry production by non-tumor inducing pathogens, has yet to be est...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS pathogens 2016-02, Vol.12 (2)
Main Authors: Chanclud, Emilie, Kisiala, Anna, Emery, Neil RJ, Chalvon, Véronique, Ducasse, Aurélie, Romiti-Michel, Corinne, Gravot, Antoine, Kroj, Thomas, Morel, Jean-Benoit
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino acids
Biosynthesis
Cell division
Enzymes
Fungi
Gene expression
Genetic engineering
Homeostasis
Hormones
Infections
Metabolism
Metabolites
Pathogens
Phylogenetics
Proteins
Sugar
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Summary:Plants produce cytokinin (CK) hormones for controlling key developmental processes like source/sink distribution, cell division or programmed cell-death. Some plant pathogens have been shown to produce CKs but the function of this mimicry production by non-tumor inducing pathogens, has yet to be established. Here we identify a gene required for CK biosynthesis, CKS1, in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. The fungal-secreted CKs are likely perceived by the plant during infection since the transcriptional regulation of rice CK-responsive genes is altered in plants infected by the mutants in which CKS1 gene was deleted. Although cks1 mutants showed normal in vitro growth and development, they were severely affected for in planta growth and virulence. Moreover, we showed that the cks1 mutant triggered enhanced induction of plant defenses as manifested by an elevated oxidative burst and expression of defense-related markers. In addition, the contents of sugars and key amino acids for fungal growth were altered in and around the infection site by the cks1 mutant in a different manner than by the control strain. These results suggest that fungal-derived CKs are key effectors required for dampening host defenses and affecting sugar and amino acid distribution in and around the infection site.
ISSN:1553-7366
1553-7374
DOI:10.1371/journal.ppat.1005457