Phytopathogenic fungi can weaken the effectiveness of antifungal chemicals from plants and artificial synthesis through a xenobiotic detoxification system.  Nevertheless, the transcription factors responsible for transcriptional activation of xenobiotic detoxification genes in phytopathogenic fungi are rarely reported.  Here, we show that a GATA transcription factor, SsGATA1, regulates the transcription of drug efflux pump genes, thus contributing to tolerance to various types of chemical fungicides, including propiconazole, caspofungin, and azoxystrobin in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.  Similarly, SsGATA1 also confers tolerance to isothiocyanate and flavonols, two compounds reported as broad-spectrum antifungal chemicals, by mediating the transcription of the isothiocyanate hydrolase SsSaxA.  Importantly, SsGATA1 positively regulates pathogenicity, which is attributed to the upregulation of hydrolases and SsSaxA during infection.  Furthermore, SsGATA1 is responsible for tolerance to several stresses.  Our findings demonstrate that SsGATA1 plays roles in multidrug resistance and pathogenicity by activating the transcription of hydrolases and xenobiotic detoxification genes.

Nicosulfuron (NSR), a sulfonylurea herbicide, readily infiltrates water bodies, potentially compromising aquatic ecosystems and human health.  In this study, bacteria consortium YM2 was isolated and cultivated from pesticide plant active sludge for NSR wastewater bioremediation.  Response surface methodology analysis demonstrated that under optimal cultivation conditions (9.41 g L^–1 maltodextrin, 21.37 g L^–1 yeast extract, and 12.45 g L^–1 NaCl), the YM2 bacteria consortium achieved 97.49% NSR degradation within 4 d.  Optimal degradation parameters were established at 30°C, pH 6.0, 1% inoculum, and 20 mg L^–1 initial NSR concentration.  The degradation system demonstrated resistance to heavy metal ions including Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Zn²⁺, with degradation primarily occurring through bacterial extracellular enzymes (92.17%).  During the degradation process, reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, cell membrane permeability, cell surface hydrophobicity, and apoptosis rate exhibited initial increases followed by decreases.  Additionally, biofilm formation-related genes luxS, waaE, spo0A, and wza showed temporal and concentration-dependent expression patterns.  NSR concentrations in wastewater and soil were reduced to 1.92 and 2.72 mg L^–1, respectively.  In a simulated wastewater treatment unit with a 12-h hydraulic retention time, YM2 achieved 84.55% NSR degradation after 10 d.  These findings provide a theoretical foundation for microbial remediation of NSR contamination.