Camellia oleifera is a woody, edible-oil plant native to China. Anthracnose is the major disease of
Ca. oleifera, and
Colletotrichum fructicola is the main epidemic pathogen. Our previous research indicated that CfHac1 (homologous to ATF/CREB1) and CfGcn5 (general control nonderepressible 5, Gcn5)
[...] Read more.
Camellia oleifera is a woody, edible-oil plant native to China. Anthracnose is the major disease of
Ca. oleifera, and
Colletotrichum fructicola is the main epidemic pathogen. Our previous research indicated that CfHac1 (homologous to ATF/CREB1) and CfGcn5 (general control nonderepressible 5, Gcn5) are integral to key cellular processes that govern fungal development and pathogenesis. Further transcriptomic analyses of the CfHac1 and CfGcn5 mutants, particularly under conditions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, hold the potential to unveil additional genes implicated in this critical cellular response. We identified all
OST/PMT (oligosaccharyltransferase/Protein
O-Mannosyltransferases) genes in
C. fructicola and analyzed their expression levels. To elucidate novel glycosylation-related genes that may be important for the virulence of
C. fructicola, we took an unbiased transcriptomic approach comparing wild-type and the ∆
Cfhac1 mutant. Notably, all
OST/PMT genes were induced by dithiothreitol and down-regulated in the Δ
Cfhac1 mutant, yet only the
CfPMT4 (Protein
O-Mannosyltransferases 4) gene (A04626) was unaffected in the Δ
Cfgcn5. The results of targeted gene deletion experiments indicate that
CfPMT4 plays a crucial role in both vegetative growth and conidiation. Additionally, our investigation revealed that the Δ
Cfpmt4 exhibits deficiencies in appressorium formation, as well as in its response to cell wall integrity and endoplasmic reticulum stresses. Furthermore, the mutant displayed impaired glycogen metabolism, which may contribute to reduced penetration ability. Overall, CfPmt4, an
O-mannosyltransferase, controls the growth, development, and pathogenicity of
Colletotrichum fructicola. Understanding the function of the
CfPMT4 homolog could provide a potential molecular target for controlling
Ca. oleifera anthracnose.
Full article