{"title":"Engineered Pine Endophytic Fungus Expressing dsRNA Targeting Lethal Genes to Control the Plant Parasitic Nematode <i>Bursaphelenchus xylophilus</i>.","authors":"Wei Zhang, Ruijiong Wang, Yongxia Li, Dongzhen Li, Xuan Wang, Xiaojian Wen, Yuqian Feng, Zhenkai Liu, Shuai Ma, Xingyao Zhang","doi":"10.1094/PHYTO-07-24-0203-R","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The pine wood nematode (PWN), <i>Bursaphelenchus xylophilus</i>, is one of the most serious invasive forest pests, responsible for pine wilt disease (PWD). Currently, there are no effective, environmentally friendly control methods available. RNA interference (RNAi) technology has been extensively utilized to screen functional genes in eukaryotes and to explore sustainable pest management approaches through genetic engineering. In this study, we identified 353 predicted lethal genes in PWN by comparing its genome with those of lethal genes from <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i>. We selected five predicted lethal genes (<i>Bxy1177</i>, <i>Bxy1239</i>, <i>Bxy1104</i>, <i>Bxy667</i>, and <i>BxyAK1</i>) with identification values exceeding 60% to evaluate their nematicidal effects on PWN. We tested the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of these genes using two methods: firstly, soaking in a synthesized dsRNA solution in vitro, or secondly, feeding on a dsRNA-engineered endophytic fungus, <i>Fusarium babinda</i>. Following dsRNA ingestion, either through soaking or fungal feeding, the expression of genes <i>Bxy1177</i>, <i>Bxy667</i>, <i>Bxy1104</i>, and <i>BxyAK1</i> was significantly suppressed. Notably, nematode populations that consumed fungi expressing dsL1177 and dsAK1 showed substantial declines over time. These findings provide novel insights and a practical foundation for employing endophytic fungi-expressed dsRNA in sustainable pest management strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":20410,"journal":{"name":"Phytopathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Phytopathology","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTO-07-24-0203-R","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PLANT SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is one of the most serious invasive forest pests, responsible for pine wilt disease (PWD). Currently, there are no effective, environmentally friendly control methods available. RNA interference (RNAi) technology has been extensively utilized to screen functional genes in eukaryotes and to explore sustainable pest management approaches through genetic engineering. In this study, we identified 353 predicted lethal genes in PWN by comparing its genome with those of lethal genes from Caenorhabditis elegans. We selected five predicted lethal genes (Bxy1177, Bxy1239, Bxy1104, Bxy667, and BxyAK1) with identification values exceeding 60% to evaluate their nematicidal effects on PWN. We tested the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of these genes using two methods: firstly, soaking in a synthesized dsRNA solution in vitro, or secondly, feeding on a dsRNA-engineered endophytic fungus, Fusarium babinda. Following dsRNA ingestion, either through soaking or fungal feeding, the expression of genes Bxy1177, Bxy667, Bxy1104, and BxyAK1 was significantly suppressed. Notably, nematode populations that consumed fungi expressing dsL1177 and dsAK1 showed substantial declines over time. These findings provide novel insights and a practical foundation for employing endophytic fungi-expressed dsRNA in sustainable pest management strategies.
期刊介绍:
Phytopathology publishes articles on fundamental research that advances understanding of the nature of plant diseases, the agents that cause them, their spread, the losses they cause, and measures that can be used to control them. Phytopathology considers manuscripts covering all aspects of plant diseases including bacteriology, host-parasite biochemistry and cell biology, biological control, disease control and pest management, description of new pathogen species description of new pathogen species, ecology and population biology, epidemiology, disease etiology, host genetics and resistance, mycology, nematology, plant stress and abiotic disorders, postharvest pathology and mycotoxins, and virology. Papers dealing mainly with taxonomy, such as descriptions of new plant pathogen taxa are acceptable if they include plant disease research results such as pathogenicity, host range, etc. Taxonomic papers that focus on classification, identification, and nomenclature below the subspecies level may also be submitted to Phytopathology.