A fungal RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a novel player in plant infection and cross-kingdom RNA interference

• DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.02.543307
• Publication Date: 2023-06-06T04:35:45Z
• Authors: An-Po Cheng; Bernhard Lederer; Lorenz Oberkofler; Lihong Huang; Fabian Platten; Florian Dunker; Constance Tisserant; Arne Weiberg
• Keywords: RNA Silencing

Abstract Small RNAs act as fungal pathogen effectors that silence host target genes to promote infection, a virulence mechanism termed cross-kingdom RNA interference (RNAi). The essential factors of small production are largely unknown. We here characterized the RNA-dependent polymerase (RDR)1 in plant Botrytis cinerea is required for pathogenicity and RNAi. B. bcrdr1 knockout (ko) mutants exhibited reduced loss RNAs. developed novel “switch-on” GFP reporter study RNAi real-time within living tissue which highlighted ko were compromised Moreover, blocking seven by expressing short-tandem mimic transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana led infection levels oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis . These results demonstrate significant making an effective crop protection.