Deciphering the role of secondary metabolites in the chemical interaction between phytopathogens and the citrus host

• Grant number: 22/02992-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Initial Project Research Grant
• Duration: April 01, 2023 - March 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Convênio/Acordo: Serrapilheira Institute
• Principal Investigator: Taicia Pacheco Fill
• Grantee: Taicia Pacheco Fill
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Luis Gonzales Candelas ; Vito Valiante
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/06874-4 - Deciphering the role of secondary metabolites in the chemical interaction between phytopathogens and the citrus host, BP.DR

Abstract

Phytopathogens have developed numerous specialized virulence strategies to facilitate colonization of plant tissues, as well as infect and modulate host plant physiology, including the production of secondary metabolites (natural products) that could act as virulence factors. Brazil is the largest producer of oranges and the largest exporter of orange juice in the world, and these citrus fruits are susceptible to numerous fungal diseases that cause significant losses to the Brazilian economy. The diseases that cause the greatest economic losses are the green and blue molds caused by the fungi Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum, respectively, although other phytopathogens have also been reported. Research on these phytopathogens mainly focuses on treatments against the symptoms of infection. However, the molecular basis of infection and host specificity remain largely unknown. In this sense, our objective is to structurally characterize peptides produced by these phytopathogens and study them in relation to their functionality in the pathogen-host interaction, through molecular and genetic biology studies. The idea is to perform the deletion of key genes involved in the biosynthesis of these metabolites (NRPSs), allowing the production of mutant organisms deficient in the respective metabolites, which will be studied in relation to virulence towards the host. These studies could provide more information about the strategies used by these Penicillium species and other fungal phytopathogens to infect citrus. Understanding phytotoxin production in its biological context represents an important step towards developing ways to protect citrus from fungal infections. (AU)