Hyphal polarized growth in filamentous fungi requires tip-directed secretion of growth-related substances, and previous studies have shown that exocyst complex plays an important role in the processes of fungal secretion and polar growth. However, there are few researches on the hyphal polarized growth and pathogenic mechanism of obligate biotrophic fungi at present. Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is the most important source of natural rubber. Powdery mildew is one of the most serious diseases of H. brasiliensis, and its pathogen Erysiphe quercicola belongs to obligate parasitic fungi. In this study, EqExo70, a subunit of the exocyst complex, was identified in E. quercicola. The GFP labeled EqExo70 was expressed in the E. quercicola by electrotransformation method, and it was found that the protein showed fluorescence aggregation at the hyphal tip, suggesting that EqExo70 may be related to hyphal polarized growth. In addition, we silenced the EqExo70 by electroporating the reverse complementary sequence of EqExo70 into the E. quercicola, it was found that the pathogenic ability of E. quercicola decreased and the growth of hypha slowed down, suggesting that EqExo70 affects the pathogenicity of E. quercicola. The level of callose deposition and reactive oxygen species burst in H. brasiliensis significantly increased upon infection with the EqExo70-silenced strain, indicating that EqExo70 contributes to suppressing host immune response. The results indicated that EqExo70 is a key factor affecting pathogenicity of E. quercicola, and may be involved in the interaction with H. brasiliensis, as well as the hyphal polarized growth.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |