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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2026, Vol. 25 Issue (1): 166-179    DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2025.02.014
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SsBMR1 as a putative ABC transporter is required for pathogenesis by promoting antioxidant export and antifungal resistance in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Yijuan Ding1, 2, 3*, Yaru Chai4, 5*, Sen Li1, 2, 3, Zhaohui Wu1, 2, 3, Minghong Zou1, 2, 3, Ling Zhang1, 2, 3, Rana Kusum1, 2, 3, Wei Qian1, 2, 3#

1 Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China

2 Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China

3 Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China

4 Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Innovation Academy for Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China

5 College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

 Highlights 
Silencing the SsBMR1 gene in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum significantly reduces fungal growth, infection, sclerotia formation, and virulence.
Host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) of SsBMR1 enhances plant resistance, providing a potential target for managing Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) disease in dicotyledons.
SsBMR1 is involved in antioxidant and toxin transport, influencing fungal defense mechanisms and resistance to plant antifungal substances and fungicides.

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摘要  

核盘菌(Sclerotinia sclerotiorum是一种具有广泛寄主范围的植物病原真菌,能够侵染包括十字花科、茄科和豆科在内的多种双子叶植物,引起菌核病(Sclerotinia Stem Rot, SSR在全球范围内对农业生产造成巨大经济损失ABC转运蛋白(ATP-binding cassette, ABC)是一类膜结合蛋白超家族,广泛参与药物外排或物质运输,在核盘菌的生长发育和致病性中可能发挥关键作用。然而,核盘菌中ABC转运蛋白基因的表达模式和功能尚未得到充分研究。利用保守结构域序列信息,我们从核盘菌中鉴定到了33个编码ABC转运蛋白的基因,随后通过转录组数据,本研究鉴定到一个核盘菌在侵染寄主植物过程中高表达的ABC转运蛋白基因SsBMR1通过基因沉默技术,发现沉默SsBMR1基因显著降低了核盘菌菌丝生长、侵染垫形成、菌核形成以及致病性。此外,SsBMR1的寄主诱导基因沉默(Host-Induced Gene Silencing, HIGS)显著增强了植物的菌核病抗性。转录组和代谢组学分析表明,SsBMR1可能参与抗氧化剂和毒素的运输,从而调节核盘菌的防御机制和细胞应激反应实验结果显示,与野生型菌株相比,SsBMR1基因沉默转化子对外源氧化应激的响应能力减弱,抗氧化剂谷胱甘肽的外排能力降低。此外,耐受性实验进一步证实了SsBMR1在赋予核盘菌对植物植保素(camalexin 和 brassinin)以及部分杀菌剂耐受性中的关键作用。在叶片上体外喷施植保素SsBMR1基因沉默转化子表现出更强的致病性抑制。综上所述SsBMR1可能通过促进抗氧化剂的外排和对抗真菌剂的抗性,显著增强核盘菌的致病性。本研究为开发新的菌核病防控技术提供了重要的理论依据,特别是在生物防治和绿色防控策略方面具有重要意义。



Abstract  

The plant pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is the causative agent of Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) disease in most dicotyledons.  Among the various proteins involved in drug efflux or substance transport, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters constitute a superfamily of membrane-bound proteins that may play a crucial role in the survival of Ssclerotiorum.  However, the expression patterns and functions of ABC transporter genes in Ssclerotiorum remain largely uncharacterized.  This study characterized a highly expressed Ssclerotiorum ABC transporter gene during inoculation on host plants, SsBMR1.  Silencing SsBMR1 resulted in a significant reduction in hyphal growth, infection cushion development, sclerotia formation, and virulence.  Moreover, host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) of SsBMR1 significantly enhanced plant resistance.  Transcriptome and metabolomics analyses suggested that SsBMR1 is involved in antioxidant and toxin transport, thereby influencing fungal defense and cell rescue mechanisms.  In comparison to the wild-type strain, SsBMR1 gene-silenced transformants exhibited a diminished response to extracellar oxidative stress and a decreased exporting of antioxidant glutathione.  Tolerance assays further demonstrated the crucial role of SsBMR1 in conferring resistance to the plant antifungal substances, camalexin and brassinin, as well as certain fungicides.  Furthermore, SsBMR1 gene-silenced transformants showed enhanced repression on virulence when sprayed with camalexin and brassinin on the leaves.  Thus, SsBMR1 likely contributes to virulence by facilitating the export of antioxidant and providing resistance against antifungal agents.  The findings of this study provide valuable insights that could contribute to the development of novel management techniques for SSR.

Keywords:  ABC transporter       antifungal resistance        glutathione        pathogenesis        Sclerotinia sclerotiorum  
Received: 06 January 2024   Accepted: 08 January 2025 Online: 17 February 2025  
Fund: 

This study received financial support from the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing, China (CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0355), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China (SWU120075), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32372077).

About author:  Yijuan Ding, E-mail: dding1989@163.com; Yaru Chai, E-mail: cyr2310326815@163.com; #Correspondence Wei Qian, Tel: +86-23-68250701, Fax: +86-23-68250701, E-mail: qianwei666@hotmail.com * These authors contributed equally to this study.

Cite this article: 

Yijuan Ding, Yaru Chai, Sen Li, Zhaohui Wu, Minghong Zou, Ling Zhang, Rana Kusum, Wei Qian. 2026. SsBMR1 as a putative ABC transporter is required for pathogenesis by promoting antioxidant export and antifungal resistance in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 25(1): 166-179.

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