Taxonomically Restricted Wheat Genes Interact With Small Secreted Fungal Proteins and Enhance Resistance to Septoria Tritici Blotch Disease

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00433
• Publication Date: 2020-05-12T10:41:39Z
• Authors: Ciarán J. Brennan; Binbin Zhou; Harriet R. Benbow; Sobia Ajaz; Sujit J. Karki; James Gerard Hehir; Aoife O’Driscoll; Angela Feechan; Ewen Mullins; Fiona M. Doohan
• Keywords: Mycosphaerella graminicola; Common wheat; Blumeria graminis; Bimolecular fluorescence complementation

Understanding the nuances of host/pathogen interactions are paramount if we wish to effectively control cereal diseases. In case wheat/Zymoseptoria tritici interaction that leads Septoria blotch (STB) disease, a 10,000-year-old conflict has led considerable armaments being developed on both sides which not reflected in conventional model systems. Taxonomically restricted genes (TRGs) have evolved wheat better allow it cope with stress caused by fungal pathogens, and Z. specialised effectors manipulate its host. A microarray focused latent phase response resistant cultivar (cv. Stigg) susceptible Gallant) infection was mined for TRGs within Poaceae. From this analysis, identified two were significantly upregulated infection, Septoria-responsive TRG6 7 (TaSRTRG6 TaSRTRG7). Virus induced silencing these resulted an increased susceptibility STB disease cvs. Gallant Stigg, so latter (2.5-fold increase disease). silico localisation studies categorised TaSRTRG6 as secreted protein TaSRTRG7 intercellular protein. Yeast hybrid analysis biofluorescent complementation demonstrated can interact small proteins (potential effector candidates). Thus, conclude important part wheat-Z.tritici co-evolution story potential candidates modulating resistance.