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Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head Blight Fusarium Head Blight Michael Lawton Michael Lawton Biotech Center, Rutgers University, NJ 2009 National Fusarium Head Blighy Forum Dec 7 th -9 th , 2009, Orlando, FL

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Page 1: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head BlightFusarium Head Blight

Michael LawtonMichael LawtonBiotech Center, Rutgers University, NJ

2009 National Fusarium Head Blighy ForumDec 7th-9th, 2009, Orlando, FL

2009 National Fusarium Head Blighy ForumDec 7th-9th, 2009, Orlando, FL

Page 2: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Fusarium Head Blight

• Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasm• Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasm conferring resistant to FHB in wheat or barley. This makes crop improvement difficult.

• Transgenics are an alternative but gene assays in transgenic wheat or barley is slow and expensive and has only a moderate capacity. OK for testing single genes, but not efficient enough for de novo gene discovery.

• Approach: Use higher capacity model plants to assay genes for their ability to confer resistance to Fusarium.

Page 3: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

A pipeline for gene discovery and deployment

Select Select potentialpotentialantifungalantifungal

Isolate Isolate selected selected genesgenes

PhyscomitrellaPhyscomitrella::Create gene Create gene knockouts andknockouts and

PhyscomitrellaPhyscomitrella::Assay plants for Assay plants for FHB resistanceFHB resistance

WheatWheat: assay : assay selected genes forselected genes forFHB resistanceFHB resistance

WheatWheat: Stable: StableTransgenicsTransgenicsgg

genesgenes genesgenes oc outs a doc outs a doverexpressorsoverexpressors

FHB resistanceFHB resistance FHB resistanceFHB resistance gg

d

Transient assay in

TransformedFHB ResistantBased on genetic,

molecular data from wheat and other species

Clone and sequence genes

Mutate or express genes in

PhyscomitrellaExpose mutant

plants to FHB, DON

assay in wheat using

VIGS(Scofield Lab)

FHB-ResistantWheat, Barley (Dahleen Lab)

Page 4: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Physcomitrella patens

Grows like yeast but is a multicellular plantGrows like yeast but is a multicellular plant

Haploid gametophyte dominates life cycleHaploid gametophyte dominates life cycle

Genome size: 511Mbp; 27 chromosomesGenome size: 511Mbp; 27 chromosomesGenome size: 511Mbp; 27 chromosomesGenome size: 511Mbp; 27 chromosomes

Genome sequence completed in 2007Genome sequence completed in 2007

Functional conservation with higher plants Functional conservation with higher plants ggand yeastand yeast

Undergoes high efficiency homologous Undergoes high efficiency homologous recombinationrecombination

Allows targeted gene replacement for gene Allows targeted gene replacement for gene knockout or siteknockout or site--specific mutation etc.specific mutation etc.

Model system for functional Model system for functional genomicsgenomicsOur Targets: Our Targets:

Disease, Cell Death, Toxin Action, Induced Disease, Cell Death, Toxin Action, Induced Immunity Cell WallImmunity Cell WallImmunity, Cell WallImmunity, Cell Wall

Page 5: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Gene knockout by homologous recombination

ATGATG TAATAA

AA BB CCGenomic DNA DD

NeoNeoBB CCBBBB wild type sequence

mutant sequence

NeoNeo Selectable marker

Double homologous recombination

lox loxLox site

NeoNeo Selectable marker

AA

ATGATG////////

TAATAA

DDNeoNeoBB CC Result: gene disruption by allele replacement

ATGATG TAATAA 3-10% reversion to Neos

AA DDBB CC

P ibl i f t t d

following transient expression of CRE recombinase

Possible reversion of targeted gene following site-specific recombination

Page 6: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Recombination rates in Physcomitrella

Efficiency (GT/GT+IR): Efficiency (GT/GT+IR): 4% (.5kb) up to 100% (24% (.5kb) up to 100% (2--4 kb) in 4 kb) in PhyscoPhysco

0.0050.005--0.1% in angiosperms0.1% in angiosperms

95% in95% in S cerevisaeS cerevisae95% in 95% in S. cerevisaeS. cerevisae

11--30% in 30% in N. crassaN. crassa

0.10.1--1% in mouse ES cells1% in mouse ES cells0.10.1 1% in mouse ES cells1% in mouse ES cells

•• Essentially any gene or genomic sequence in the Essentially any gene or genomic sequence in the Physcomitrella Physcomitrella genome genome b d l t db d l t d i kli kl dd i li lcan be deleted can be deleted quickly quickly and and preciselyprecisely..

•• Can complement knockout mutants with genes from other plants.Can complement knockout mutants with genes from other plants.

•• Foreign genes can be introduced into a specific locus and expressed in aForeign genes can be introduced into a specific locus and expressed in a•• Foreign genes can be introduced into a specific locus and expressed in a Foreign genes can be introduced into a specific locus and expressed in a predictable manner (no position effects).predictable manner (no position effects).

Page 7: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Can Fusarium infect Physcomitrella patens?

Is it aCan it be Infected?

Is it a relevant model for diseases of

www.wheatlifemagazine.com

diseases of crop plants?

Page 8: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Infection of Physcomitrella by Fusarium graminearum

24h

SymptomsFusarium::GFP

24h

48h

72h72h

96h

Page 9: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Physcomitrella is sensitive to multiple FHB mycotoxins

0h 24h 48h 72h

DONDON

DAS

toxi

n

T-2

Myc

o

T 2

ZON

Page 10: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

(A)Tricothecenes contribute to F. graminearum virulence

(A) SymptomsFusarium-GFP Cell DeathFusarium-WT

WT

∆tri5

72h 48h48h 48h

(B)75

100

ATH WT

25

50

% C

ELL

DE

∆tri5The ∆tri5 strain of F. graminearum does not produce DON or DAS

00 24 48 72 96

hours post inoculation

produce DON or DAS

Page 11: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Programmed Cell Death (PCD)

Page 12: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Is Programmed Cell Death a target for Fusarium toxins?

• Fusarium mycotoxins contribute to virulence on Physcomitrella and wheat• Both Fusarium and mycotoxins cause cell death on host plants• Programmed Cell Death (PCD) is a genetically controlled process• Programmed Cell Death (PCD) is a genetically controlled process• Mutating genes that control host cell death may suppress symptoms and

attenuate virulence

0h 24h 48h 72h

Fusarium graminearumMycotoxins

DON

DAS

T-2

ZON

Page 13: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

PCD is required for host cell death and sensitivity to DON

Plant Cell Death

80

100

ATH

40

60

CEL

L D

EA

0

20

% C

0WT L3∆ ERG1KO AtBI-1OE PPBI-1KO VPEгKO

0 24 48 72

Deoxynivalenol (DON)

Page 14: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

PCD mutant plants are resistant to multiple mycotoxins

Plant Cell Symptoms

Page 15: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Some PCD mutant plants are resistant to FHB

Fusarium-GFP

KO = Gene Knockout Plant

OE = Overexpressing Transgenic Plant

100

50

75

100

ath % 0 24 48 72 96

0

25

WT VPEγKO ERG1 KO MC2Pa KO SOX KO

Cell de

a

WT VPEγ-KO ERG1-KO MC2Pa-KO SOX-KO

Page 16: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Medium Throughput Assay for Gene Function

Page 17: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Assay Gene Knockout Plants for Reduction of Symptoms

100 100100 100WT HS-230HS-25HS-108%

0

25

50

75

0

25

50

75

0

25

50

75

0

25

50

75

Cel

l dea

th

50

75

100

50

75

100

50

75

100

50

75

100

HS-26 HS-55 HS-36HS-28

eath

%

0

25

50

0

25

50

0

25

50

0

25

Cel

l de

50

75

100

50

75

100

HS-51

50

75

100

HS-16 HS-6

50

75

100

HS-215

ll de

ath%

0

25

0

25

0

25

0

25

Ce

Plant Cell Death kinetics

Lots of ‘failures’ –you need a high capacity system in order to select those rare genes that do confer resistance Fusarium.

Page 18: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Fusarium graminearum infection in TP-KO plantsTP

-KO

24h 48h 72h 96h48h 72h 96h

0 24 48 72 96

0 24 48 72 96ath

%

75

100

Cel

l de

25

50

0WT TP-KO

Page 19: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Fusarium graminearum infection in PC-KO plantsO

PC-K

24h 48h 72h 96h

0 24 48 72 96

ath

%

75

100

Cel

l dea

25

50

0WT PC-KO

Page 20: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Fusarium graminearum infection in HP-OE plantsH

P-O

E

24h 48h 72h 96h

100

0 24 48 72 96

deat

h %

50

75

100

Cel

l d

0

25

50

0WT HP-OE

Page 21: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Fusarium graminearum infection of WT, tb1-KO and tb1-OE plants

tb1‐KO tb1‐OEWT

72h 72h 72h

Physcomitrella patens infected with Fusarium graminearum:GFP

Mutation of tb1 affects the ability of Fusarium to enter into cells.

Effect are manifested at or near the plant cell surface and vacuole.

Mechanism is not understood, but may be revealing something importantMechanism is not understood, but may be revealing something important about how Fusarium colonizes its host. Interactions at the cell surface may be important.

Page 22: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Pipeline for discovery and deployment of genes effective against FHB

Select Select potentialpotentialantifungalantifungal

Isolate Isolate selected selected genesgenes

PhyscomitrellaPhyscomitrella::Create gene Create gene knockouts andknockouts and

PhyscomitrellaPhyscomitrella::Assay plants for Assay plants for FHB resistanceFHB resistance

WheatWheat: assay : assay selected genes forselected genes forFHB resistanceFHB resistance

WheatWheat: Stable: StableTransgenicsTransgenicsgg

genesgenes genesgenes oc outs a doc outs a doverexpressorsoverexpressors

FHB resistanceFHB resistance FHB resistanceFHB resistance gg

d

Transient assay in

TransformedFHB ResistantBased on genetic,

molecular data from wheat and other species

Clone and sequence genes

Mutate or express genes in

PhyscomitrellaExpose mutant

plants to FHB, DON

assay in wheat using

VIGS(Scofield Lab)

FHB-ResistantWheat, Barley (Dahleen Lab)

Page 23: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Induced Immunityy

Page 24: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Chitosan induces immunity in Physcomitrella and wheat

al % 100

ell s

urvi

va

25

50

75

Ce

U F. g F. g + C0

100

n %

25

50

75

erm

inat

ion

0Ge

U F. g F. g +C

Chitosan pre-treatment induces immunity against Fusarium graminearum in both Physcomitrella and wheat. However, the response is more pronounced in Physcomitrella.

Page 25: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

C OS

Induced Immunity in PhyscomitrellaCHITOSAN (12h )

APAF1MDAR

D

- CHITOSAN + CHITOSAN (12h pre)+ FHB + FHB

APAF1VPEγBI-1SHSP

PCD

s SHSPATG8Derlin1

ER s

tres

sSec61Calnexin

CA4HIPRbLAPef

ense

Sec61

RNS1LSDEIN1Hin2

De

unity

Hin2EDS5

0 12 24 0 12 24

Actin1Imm

u

WT plants inoculated

with F. graminearum

WT plants pre-treated with

chitosan for 12h and then

inoculated with F. graminearum

RT-PCR

Page 26: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Role of nucleases in infection of F. graminearum

56 kDa

RNase activity gel assay Gene Expression -Northern blot

RNS1

BEN1

35 kDa

32 kDa 0 6 12 24h

BEN1

rRNA

Gene Expression RT PCR

32KDa

DNase activity gel assay

0 6 12 24h

Actin1

RNS1BEN1

Gene Expression -RT-PCR

32KDa

24h0 6 12 -0 12 24 0 12 24

Page 27: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Role of nucleases in infection of F. graminearum

100

% 100TH

Sensitivity to DONSensitivity to FHB

25

50

75

Cel

l dea

th %

50

75

100

0 24 48 72

CEL

L D

EAT

WT0

100

th %

0

25

WT AtBI1-OE SCL3∆-OE

VPEγ-KO WD40-KO MC2Pa-KO

RNS1-OE

%

Plant Cell Death

0

25

50

75

Cel

l dea

t

Note that plants overexpressing RNS1 are i ifi tl i t t t FHB th WT b t

Plant Cell Death

RNS1-OE

0

100

h %

significantly more resistant to FHB than WT but are still sensitive to DON (as is the WT).

This is consistent with RNS1 having a direct tif l ff t F i

0

25

50

75

Cel

l dea

t antifungal effect on F. graminearum.

N.B. Exogenous RNase is lethal to F. graminearum

BEN1-OE0

0 24 48 72 96

Fusarium-GFP Plant Cell Death

Page 28: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Induced Immunity

Chitosan Induced Immunity

PAMP Signaling Genes

‐CHITOSAN + CHITOSAN (12h pre‐treatment)

+ FHB

RLK1

Chitosan

PAMPs0 h  12h  24h0 h  12h  24hRLK1

RLK2

C OS C OS ( p e t eat e t)

CEBP

RLK2RLK4/5

MAPK3

RLK4/5

CEBP

RLK4/5

MAPKinaseCascade

WRKY22

RT‐PCR*

0 h  12h  24h0 h  12h  24h

WRKY

RNA Transcription of

Chitosan pre-treatment induces many of the components invoved in chitosan and other PAMPRNA

Pol Innate ImmunityTarget Genes

in chitosan and other PAMP (elicitor) signaling.

PAMP = Pathogen Associated Molecular PatternMolecular Pattern

* “Non-quantitative” RT-PCR

Page 29: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Chitosan-Induced Immunity Against FHB

Chitosan-induction immunity in WT, CEBiP OE and CEBiP KO Physcomitrella plants

WT P. patens CEBiP-OE CEBiP-KO

F.g 75

100

ival

%

F g +0

25

50

F.g. F.g. + F.g. F.g.+ F.g. F.g. +

Surv

F.g. +Chitosan

g gChit

g gChit

g gChit

WT CEBiP-KOCEBiP-OE

Physcomitrella

Page 30: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Yeast Gene Knockout Library Screeny

Nilgun Tumer’s LabRutgers University

Page 31: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Screens for new cellular targets of trichothecene toxins

Screen for Screen for t it inew toxin new toxin

targets in targets in yeastyeast

T2 ToxinT2 Toxin

Yeast Gene Yeast Gene Knockout Knockout LibraryLibrary

••Arabidopsis TArabidopsis T--DNA KnockoutsDNA Knockouts••RNAi in wheat, barleyRNAi in wheat, barley

Page 32: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Selection of resistant strains on plates usingdifferent concentrations of T-cin

4 μM T‐cin 8 μM T‐cin

different concentrations of T-cin

4 μM T cin 8 μM T cin

Double printed omniplates identified mutants that were resistantDouble printed omniplates identified mutants that were resistant only at 4μM (circled white) or at 8 μM (circled black) T‐cin 

McLaughlin, Tumer et al., 2009 PNAS in press.

Page 33: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

A genome-wide high throughput screen of yeast gene deletion library to identify novel tricothecene targets

Controls (No toxin)

deletion library to identify novel tricothecene targets

Working GlycerolPlate

Rep1 Rep2 Rep3Rep1 Rep2 Rep3

Toxin TreatmentsPCR

Original GlycerolPlate

Rep1 Rep2 Rep3

PCRVerification“Barcode”

Backup GlycerolPlate

Phenotype Comparions(OD 600)

Inhibited Growth(Susceptibility)Increased Growth(Resistance)

4720 strains on 72 plates350 slow growing strains on 4 platesScreened twice at 4, 8, 12 and 24 µM

False Positive(Resistance)

McLaughlin, Tumer et al., 2009 PNAS in press.

Page 34: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Mitochondria play a critical role in Tricothecin toxicity

These NUCLEAR-encoded genes, targeted to the mitochondrion, represent novel tricothecene targets. Their contribution to the susceptibility of plants to Fusarium can now be tested in Physcomitrella, Arabidopsis and wheat.

Page 35: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Gene Knockouts Help Define Cellular Mechanisms

PCDPCD

Reactive Oxygen Species

Induced Immunity

yg p

y

Cell Wall

Can we simulate the effects of these mutants by chemical treatment?

Page 36: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Chemical suppression of PCD controls Fusarium

100 Fusarium only

(A) Prevention of plant cell death in Physcomitella

25

50

75

Cel

l Dea

thFusarium + CC1

00 24 48 72 96/h

Fusarium + CC2

CCCCCCCC

(C) Reduced Fusarium growth in planta(B) Suppression of Fusarium growth in planta

WTWT WT + CC2WT + CC2WT+ CC1WT+ CC1F.g. F.g. + CC2 F.g. + CC1

P.p. Actin1

F.g. Actin1

0h 12h 24h 0h 12h 24h 0h 12h 24h

RT-PCR

F.g. Fusarium graminearumP.p. Physcomitrella patens

0h 12h 24h 0h 12h 24h 0h 12h 24h

Physcomitrella plants infected with GFP-labeled Fusarium graminearum

CC1 and CC2 PCD suppressors are NOT toxic to Fusarium

Page 37: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Chemical suppression of PCD and Fusarium

Physcomitrella Wheat

Uninoc Uninoc

Fg Fg

Fg CC1

Fg CC2

Fg CC2

Fg CC1

PCD suppressors protect plants from Fusarium infectionPCD suppressors protect plants from Fusarium infection

Page 38: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Chemically Inducted Defense Against FHB (non-PCD)

GFP Autofluorescence Merge GFP Autofluorescence MergeWheatPhyscomitrella patens

FHB FHB

FHB +G17-1

FHB +G17-1

FHB + FHB + B49 B49

50

6040

% C

ell d

eath

10

20

30

40

50

10

20

30

% C

ell d

eath

C F.g. C F.g.0

10

Control Fg Fg+G17-1Fg+B490

Control Fg Fg+G17-1 Fg+B49

Page 39: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

An end-run around the gene discovery and deployment pipeline?

SelectSelect PhyscomitrellaPhyscomitrella:: Wh tWh t VIGSVIGSSelect Select potentialpotentialantifungalantifungalgenesgenes

Isolate Isolate selected selected genesgenes

PhyscomitrellaPhyscomitrella::Create gene Create gene knockouts andknockouts andoverexpressorsoverexpressors

PhyscomitrellaPhyscomitrella::Assay plants for Assay plants for FHB resistanceFHB resistance

WheatWheat: VIGS : VIGS assay of selected assay of selected genesgenes

Wheat, BarleyWheat, BarleyTransgenicsTransgenics

Design chemical interventions Design chemical interventions based on mechanisms revealed by based on mechanisms revealed by mutant studiesmutant studiesmutant studiesmutant studies

Test efficacy in Physcomitrella, Test efficacy in Physcomitrella, h t th t twheat, etc.wheat, etc.

Chemical studies can help us Chemical studies can help us understand mechanisms of FHB understand mechanisms of FHB susceptibility and resistancesusceptibility and resistance

May provide novel approaches for May provide novel approaches for chemical control of FHBchemical control of FHB

Page 40: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Conclusions

• Physcomitrella is a rapid and sensitive assay for genes that control sensitivity to DON and susceptibility to Fusarium.

• We have identified a number of genes whose mutation alters sensitivity to Fusarium.

• There are multiple ways to enhance resistance to Fusarium.– Suppress PCD pathway– Enhance innate immunity/defense responsesy p– Alter the plant cell wall/cell surface

• It is important to test the efficacy of these genes in crop plantsIt is important to test the efficacy of these genes in crop plants – Test by VIGS assay in wheat (Scofield, Purdue University)– Test by in transgenic crop plants (Dahleen, BioEn-USP)

• Chemical approaches to controlling FHB– Physcomitrella gene mutants can suggest novel approaches for the

chemical control of FHB (non-toxic, non-fungicidal chemicals)– This may have some practical applications

Page 41: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Support

US Wh t d B lUS Wheat and BarleyScab Initiative (USDA)

Acknowledgements

Hemalatha SaidasanMark Diamond

Eric LamNilgun Tumer

Steve ScofieldLynn Dahleen

Page 42: Genetic Manipulation of Susceptibility to Fusarium Head ... USWBSI... · Fusarium Head Blight • Few sources of effective wheat or barley germplasmFew sources of effective wheat

Overexpression of the Ribosomal Protein L3 confers resistance to FHB

Fusarium-GFP Plant Cell DeathFusarium-GFP Plant Cell Death

deat

h 75

100WTTaL3∆-OEScL3∆-OE

WT

TaL3∆

% c

ell d

0

25

50TaL3∆ScL3∆

00 24 48 72 96

96h TaL3∆: Wheat L3∆ geneScL3∆: Yeast L3∆ gene