Background
The necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr) causes tan (syn. yellow) spot of wheat and accounts for significant yield losses worldwide. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of this economically important crop disease is crucial to counteract the yield and quality losses of wheat globally. Substantial progress has been made to comprehend the race structure of this phytopathogen based on its production of necrotrophic effectors and genomic resources of Ptr. However, one limitation for studying Ptr in a laboratory environment is the difficulty to isolate high spore numbers from vegetative growth with mycelial contamination common. These limitations reduce the experimental tractability of Ptr.
Results
Here, we optimized a multitude of parameters and report a sporulation method for Ptr that yields robust, high quality and pure spores. Our methodology encompasses simple and reproducible plugging and harvesting techniques, resulting in spore yields up to 1,500 fold more than the current sporulation methods and was tested on multiple isolates and races of Ptr as well as an additional seven modern Australian Ptr isolates. Moreover, this method also increased purity and spore harvest numbers for two closely related fungal pathogens (Pyrenophora teres f. maculata and f. teres) that cause net blotch diseases in barley (Hordeum vulgare), highlighting the usability of this optimized sporulation protocol for the wider research community.
Conclusions
Large-scale spore infection and virulence assays are essential for the screening of wheat and barley cultivars and combined with the genetic mapping of these populations allows pinpointing and exploiting sources of host genetic resistance. We anticipate that improvements in spore numbers and purity will further advance research to increase our understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms of these important fungal pathogens.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
Loading...
Posted 09 Mar, 2021
On 04 Apr, 2021
Received 03 Apr, 2021
Received 23 Mar, 2021
On 18 Mar, 2021
Received 02 Mar, 2021
On 02 Mar, 2021
Invitations sent on 01 Mar, 2021
On 17 Feb, 2021
On 17 Feb, 2021
On 17 Feb, 2021
On 17 Feb, 2021
Posted 09 Mar, 2021
On 04 Apr, 2021
Received 03 Apr, 2021
Received 23 Mar, 2021
On 18 Mar, 2021
Received 02 Mar, 2021
On 02 Mar, 2021
Invitations sent on 01 Mar, 2021
On 17 Feb, 2021
On 17 Feb, 2021
On 17 Feb, 2021
On 17 Feb, 2021
Background
The necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr) causes tan (syn. yellow) spot of wheat and accounts for significant yield losses worldwide. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of this economically important crop disease is crucial to counteract the yield and quality losses of wheat globally. Substantial progress has been made to comprehend the race structure of this phytopathogen based on its production of necrotrophic effectors and genomic resources of Ptr. However, one limitation for studying Ptr in a laboratory environment is the difficulty to isolate high spore numbers from vegetative growth with mycelial contamination common. These limitations reduce the experimental tractability of Ptr.
Results
Here, we optimized a multitude of parameters and report a sporulation method for Ptr that yields robust, high quality and pure spores. Our methodology encompasses simple and reproducible plugging and harvesting techniques, resulting in spore yields up to 1,500 fold more than the current sporulation methods and was tested on multiple isolates and races of Ptr as well as an additional seven modern Australian Ptr isolates. Moreover, this method also increased purity and spore harvest numbers for two closely related fungal pathogens (Pyrenophora teres f. maculata and f. teres) that cause net blotch diseases in barley (Hordeum vulgare), highlighting the usability of this optimized sporulation protocol for the wider research community.
Conclusions
Large-scale spore infection and virulence assays are essential for the screening of wheat and barley cultivars and combined with the genetic mapping of these populations allows pinpointing and exploiting sources of host genetic resistance. We anticipate that improvements in spore numbers and purity will further advance research to increase our understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms of these important fungal pathogens.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Loading...