Systemic studies on the effects of mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signal transduction pathway on the growth and development of Setosphaeria turcica is helpful not only in understanding the molecular mechanism of pathogenhost interaction but also in the effective control of the diseases caused by S. turcica. U0126, the specific MEK inhibitor, is used to treat S. turcica before the observation of the conidial germination, appressorium production, and pathogenicity of the pathogen. There is no significant effect of U0126 on the colony morphology and mycelium growth of the pathogen. After treatment with U0126, the growth of mycelium and conidia are normal, but the conidial germination, appressorium production, and pathogenicity of S. turcica on susceptible corn leaves are significantly inhibited. Under the definite concentration scope, an increase in U0126 concentration increases the inhibition degree of conidial germination and appressorium production, but the inhibition degree decreases with elongation of treatment time. The conidial germination, appressorium production, and pathogenicity of S. turcica on susceptible corn leaves are regulated by the MAPK pathway inhibited by U0126.
FAN Yong-shanGU Shou-qinDONG Jin-gaoDONG Bing-fang
Setosphaeria turcica,an essential phytopathogenic fungus,is the primary cause of serious yield losses in corn; however,its pathogenic mechanism is poorly understood.We cloned STK2,a newly discovered mitogen-activated protein kinase gene with a deduced amino acid sequence that is 96% identical to MAK2 from Phaeosphaeria nodorum,56% identical to KSS1 and 57% identical to FUS3 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.To deduce Stk2 function in S.turcica and to identify the genetic relationship between STK2 and KSS1/FUS3 from S.cerevisiae,a restructured vector containing the open reading frame of STK2 was transformed into a fus3/kss1 double deletion mutant of S.cerevisiae.The results show that the STK2 complementary strain clearly formed pseudohyphae and ascospores,and the strain grew on the surface of the medium after rinsing with sterile water and the characteristics of the complementary strain was the same as the wild-type strain.Moreover,STK2 complemented the function of KSS1 in filamentation and invasive growth,as well as the mating behavior of FUS3 in S.cerevisiae,however,its exact functions in S.turcica will be studied in the future research.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation(ATMT) is a useful method in genetic transformation of a wide range from plant species,yeasts,fungi to human cells.In this paper,the Setosphaeria turcica had been successfully transformed by using the ATMT system with an efficiency at 40-60 transfor-mants per 105 spores.PCR and Southern blot analysis of the transformants showed that the T-DNA had been integrated into genome of the fungus by single copy at random sites.ATMT of S.turcica provides an opportunity for advancing studies of the molecular genetics of the fungus and the molecular mechanism of its pathogenicity to maize.
