1. What is the role of the nitrate reductase (euknr) gene in fungi that live in nitrate-free environments? A targeted gene knock-out study in Ampelomyces mycoparasites.
- Author
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Németh MZ, Li G, Seress D, Pintye A, Molnár O, Kovács GM, Kiss L, and Gorfer M
- Subjects
- Nitrate Reductase genetics, Plant Diseases, Ascomycota genetics, Nitrates
- Abstract
Mycoparasitic fungi can be utilized as biocontrol agents (BCAs) of many plant pathogens. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of mycoparasitism may improve biocontrol efficiency. This work reports the first functional genetic studies in Ampelomyces, widespread mycoparasites and BCAs of powdery mildew fungi, and a molecular genetic toolbox for future works. The nitrate reductase (euknr) gene was targeted to reveal the biological function of nitrate assimilation in Ampelomyces. These mycoparasites live in an apparently nitrate-free environment, i.e. inside the hyphae of powdery mildew fungi that lack any nitrate uptake and assimilation system. Homologous recombination-based gene knock-out (KO) was applied to eliminate the euknr gene using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Efficient KO of euknr was confirmed by PCR, and visible phenotype caused by loss of euknr was detected on media with different nitrogen sources. Mycoparasitic ability was not affected by knocking out euknr as a tested transformant readily parasitized Blumeria graminis and Podosphaera xanthii colonies on barley and cucumber, respectively, and the rate of mycoparasitism did not differ from the wild type. These results indicate that euknr is not involved in mycoparasitism. Dissimilatory processes, involvement in nitric oxide metabolism, or other, yet undiscovered processes may explain why a functional euknr is maintained in Ampelomyces., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2021
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