Functional Characterization of the Transcription Factor Gene <i>CgHox7</i> in <i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i>, Which Is Responsible for Poplar Anthracnose
2024
Qiuyi Huang | Fuhan Li | Fanli Meng
<i>Colletotrichum gloeosporioides</i> is the main pathogen that causes poplar anthracnose. This hemibiotrophic fungus, which can severely decrease the economic benefits and ecological functions of poplar trees, infects the host by forming an appressorium. Hox7 is an important regulatory factor that functions downstream of the Pmk1 MAPK signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated the effect of deleting <i>CgHox7</i> on <i>C. gloeosporioides</i>. The conidia of the Δ<i>CgHox7</i> deletion mutant germinated on a GelBond membrane to form non-melanized hyphal structures, but were unable to form appressoria. The deletion of <i>CgHox7</i> weakened the ability of hyphae to penetrate a cellophane membrane and resulted in decreased virulence on poplar leaves. Furthermore, deleting <i>CgHox7</i> affected the oxidative stress response. In the initial stage of appressorium formation, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species differed between the Δ<i>CgHox7</i> deletion mutant and the wild-type control. Moreover, <i>CgHox7</i> expression was necessary for maintaining cell wall integrity. Considered together, these results indicate that CgHox7 is a transcription factor with crucial regulatory effects on appressorium formation and the pathogenicity of <i>C. gloeosporioides</i>.
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