The histidine kinases regulate allyl‐isothiocyanate sensitivity in Cochliobolus heterostrophus.

BACKGROUD: Two‐component histidine kinase (HK) phosphorelay signaling systems play important roles in differentiation, virulence, secondary metabolite production and response to environmental signals. Allyl isothiocyanate (A‐ITC) is a hydrolysis product of glucosinolates with excellent antifungal activity. Our previous study indicated that the mycelial growth of Cochliobolus heterostrophus was significantly hindered by A‐ITC. However, the function of HK in regulating A‐ITC sensitivity was not clear in C. heterostrophus, the causal agent of Southern corn leaf blight. RESULTS: In this study, the role of HKs was investigated in C. heterostrophus. Deletion of the HK coding gene ChNIK1 resulted in dramatically increased sensitivity of C. heterostrophus to A‐ITC. In addition, ΔChnik1 mutant exhibited significantly decreased conidiation and increased sensitivity to NaCl, KCl, tebuconazole and azoxystrobin, but deletion of the other five HK genes did not affect the A‐ITC sensitivity of C. heterostrophus. ChSLN1, ChNIK4, ChNIK8 and ChMAK2 are essential for conidiation and response to H2O2 and sodium dodecyl sulfate. However, deletion of NIKs had on effect on significant virulence. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that the HKs play different roles in A‐ITC sensitivity in C. heterostrophus. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]