MdWRKY71 promotes the susceptibility of apple to Glomerella leaf spot by controlling salicylic acid degradation

Glomerella leaf spot (GLS), a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum fructicola, severely affects apple (Malus domestica) quality and yield. In this study, we found that the transcription factor MdWRKY71 was significantly induced by C. fructicola infection in the GLS‐susceptible apple cultivar Roya...

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Published in:Molecular plant pathology 2024-04, Vol.25 (4), p.n/a
Main Authors: Pei, Tingting, Niu, Dongshan, Ma, Yongxin, Zhan, Minghui, Deng, Jie, Li, Pengmin, Ma, Fengwang, Liu, Changhai
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acids
Airborne microorganisms
apple
Apples
Biodegradation
Biosynthesis
Colletotrichum fructicola
Colletotrichum fruticola
Cultivars
Degradation
Downy mildew
Fruits
Fungal diseases
Fungi
Genes
Glomerella leaf spot
Infections
Leafspot
Leaves
Malus domestica
MdDLO1
MdWRKY71
Original
Pathogens
Phenotypes
Plant resistance
RNA-mediated interference
Salicylic acid
Susceptibility
Transcription factors
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Summary:Glomerella leaf spot (GLS), a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum fructicola, severely affects apple (Malus domestica) quality and yield. In this study, we found that the transcription factor MdWRKY71 was significantly induced by C. fructicola infection in the GLS‐susceptible apple cultivar Royal Gala. The overexpression of MdWRKY71 in apple leaves resulted in increased susceptibility to C. fructicola, whereas RNA interference of MdWRKY71 in leaves showed the opposite phenotypes. These findings suggest that MdWRKY71 functions as a susceptibility factor for the apple—C. fructicola interaction. Furthermore, MdWRKY71 directly bound to the promoter of the salicylic acid (SA) degradation gene Downy Mildew Resistant 6 (DMR6)‐Like Oxygenase 1 (DLO1) and promoted its expression, resulting in a reduced SA level. The sensitivity of 35S:MdWRKY71 leaves to C. fructicola can be effectively alleviated by knocking down MdDLO1 expression, confirming the critical role of MdWRKY71‐mediated SA degradation via regulating MdDLO1 expression in GLS susceptibility. In summary, we identified a GLS susceptibility factor, MdWRKY71, that targets the apple SA degradation pathway to promote fungal infection. MdWRKY71 functions as a susceptibility factor in apple–Colletotrichum fruticola interaction by promoting the expression of salicylic acid degradation gene MdDLO1.
ISSN:1464-6722
1364-3703
DOI:10.1111/mpp.13457