TY - JOUR
T1 - Loss of zmlipoxygenase4 decreases fusarium verticillioides resistance in maize seedlings
AU - Lanubile, Alessandra
AU - Borrelli, Virginia Maria Grazia
AU - Soccio, M.
AU - Giorni, Paola
AU - Stagnati, Lorenzo
AU - Busconi, Matteo
AU - Marocco, Adriano
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Fusarium verticillioides is one of the most relevant fungal species in maize responsible for ear, stalk and seedling rot, as well as the fumonisin contamination of kernels. Plant lipoxygenases (LOX) synthesize oxylipins that play a crucial role in the regulation of defense mechanisms against pathogens and influence the outcome of pathogenesis. To better uncover the role of these signaling molecules in maize resistance against F. verticillioides, the functional characterization of the 9‐LOX gene, ZmLOX4, was carried out in this study by employing mutants carrying Mu insertions in this gene (named as UFMulox4). In this regard, the genotyping of five UFMulox4 identified the mutant UFMu10924 as the only one having an insertion in the coding region of the gene. The impact of ZmLOX4 mutagenesis on kernel defense against F. verticillioides and fumonisin accumulation were investigated, resulting in an increased fungal susceptibility compared to the inbred lines W22 and Tzi18. Moreover, the expression of most of the genes involved in the LOX, jasmonic acid (JA) and green leaf volatiles (GLV) pathways, as well as LOX enzymatic activity, decreased or were unaffected by fungal inoculation in the mutant UFMu10924. These results confirm the strategic role of ZmLOX4 in controlling defense against F. verticillioides and its influence on the expression of several LOX, JA and GLV genes.
AB - Fusarium verticillioides is one of the most relevant fungal species in maize responsible for ear, stalk and seedling rot, as well as the fumonisin contamination of kernels. Plant lipoxygenases (LOX) synthesize oxylipins that play a crucial role in the regulation of defense mechanisms against pathogens and influence the outcome of pathogenesis. To better uncover the role of these signaling molecules in maize resistance against F. verticillioides, the functional characterization of the 9‐LOX gene, ZmLOX4, was carried out in this study by employing mutants carrying Mu insertions in this gene (named as UFMulox4). In this regard, the genotyping of five UFMulox4 identified the mutant UFMu10924 as the only one having an insertion in the coding region of the gene. The impact of ZmLOX4 mutagenesis on kernel defense against F. verticillioides and fumonisin accumulation were investigated, resulting in an increased fungal susceptibility compared to the inbred lines W22 and Tzi18. Moreover, the expression of most of the genes involved in the LOX, jasmonic acid (JA) and green leaf volatiles (GLV) pathways, as well as LOX enzymatic activity, decreased or were unaffected by fungal inoculation in the mutant UFMu10924. These results confirm the strategic role of ZmLOX4 in controlling defense against F. verticillioides and its influence on the expression of several LOX, JA and GLV genes.
KW - Fusarium verticillioides
KW - Gene expression
KW - Lipoxygenase
KW - Pathogen resistance
KW - Zea mays
KW - Fusarium verticillioides
KW - Gene expression
KW - Lipoxygenase
KW - Pathogen resistance
KW - Zea mays
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/177263
U2 - 10.3390/genes12030335
DO - 10.3390/genes12030335
M3 - Article
SN - 2073-4425
VL - 12
SP - 1
EP - 15
JO - Genes
JF - Genes
ER -