Genetic analysis of Theobroma cacao defense response against Moniliophthora perniciosa, the causal agent of witches broom

• Grant number: 07/07175-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2008
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Vargas de Oliveira Figueira
• Grantee: Antonio Vargas de Oliveira Figueira
• Host Institution: Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Pesquisadores principais: Lázaro Eustaquio Pereira Peres
• Associated researchers: Gildemberg Amorim Leal Junior ; Lázaro Eustaquio Pereira Peres ; Maria Luiza Sant'Anna Tucci
• Associated scholarship(s): 09/12785-7 - Evaluation of the contribution of plant hormones in the interaction Moniliophthora perniciosa - Solanum lycopersicum, BP.MS; 08/10314-4 - Study of the resistance of cacao witches broom disease by Moniliophthora perniciosa-Solanum lycopersicum interaction, BP.PD

Abstract

Witches broom, caused by the basidiomycete Moniliophthora perniciosa, is an important disease of cacao (Theobroma cacao). The characterized sources of resistance contain distinct genomic regions associated with, and display different kinetics of defense gene expression. To dissect the defense response using resistant or susceptible cacao genotypes, inoculated or not with isolates from various biotypes, the expression of genes encoding LRR-kinase receptor-like and components of the subsequent cascade response; enzymes involved in jasmonate, ethylene and salicylate biosynthesis; enzymes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and pathogenesis-related proteins will be evaluated based on sequences available in interaction libraries or by amplification using conserved sequence regions. The pattern of gene expression and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in individuals from a segregating population for resistance would be used to locate these genes associated with defense in relation to known QTLs. The promoter region of genes induced by infection will be characterized and functionally analysed, after optimization of cacao genetic transformation. The tomato Micro-Tom cultivar, a miniature genetic model susceptible to the M. perniciosa biotype-S will be employed to investigate the role of hormones in pathogenesis using available mutants, and also for functional analysis of candidate genes associated with defense by transgenesis. Moniliophthora perniciosa isolates from the Brazilian Amazon will be categorized based on microsatellites and characterized according to aggressiveness to differential cacao genotypes, and their putative virulence and/or pathogenicity genes analysed for polymorphism and in vitro expression under stress condition. Fungal cell wall proteins already identified will be expressed heterologously and their effects on defense response activation will be evalauted. Therefore, the project intends to demonstrate that the defense response of T. cacao to M. perniciosa would be regulated by the jasmonate/ethylene pathway, triggered by LRR-kinase like receptors; with some of the investigated genes would be co-localized with identified resistance QTLs; the defense response would be activated by fungal cell wall components; and that the differential aggressiveness of isolates would associated with genes expressed under stress conditions. (AU)

Scientific publications

(10)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LEAL, GILDEMBERG A.; GOMES, LUIZ H.; ALBUQUERQUE, PAULO S. B.; TAVARES, FLAVIO C. A.; FIGUEIRA, ANTONIO. Searching for Moniliophthora perniciosa pathogenicity genes. FUNGAL BIOLOGY, v. 114, n. 10, p. 842-854, OCT 2010. (07/07175-0)

DEGANELLO, J.; LEAL, JR., G. A.; ROSSI, M. L.; PERES, L. E. P.; FIGUEIRA, A.. Interaction of Moniliophthora perniciosa biotypes with Micro-Tom tomato: a model system to investigate the witches' broom disease of Theobroma cacao. PLANT PATHOLOGY, v. 63, n. 6, p. 1251-1263, DEC 2014. (09/12785-7, 07/07175-0)

LOMBARDI-CRESTANA, SIMONE; AZEVEDO, MARIANA DA SILVA; FERREIRA E SILVA, GERALDO FELIPE; PINO, LILIAN ELLEN; APPEZZATO-DA-GLORIA, BEATRIZ; FIGUEIRA, ANTONIO; SILVEIRA NOGUEIRA, FABIO TEBALDI; PEREIRA PERES, LAZARO EUSTAQUIO. The Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum cv. Micro-Tom) Natural Genetic Variation Rg1 and the DELLA Mutant Procera Control the Competence Necessary to Form Adventitious Roots and Shoots. Journal of Experimental Botany, v. 63, n. 15, p. 5689-5703, SEP 2012. (07/07175-0)

ARIKITA, FERNANDA NAMIE; AZEVEDO, MARIANA SILVA; SCOTTON, DANIELLE CAMARGO; PINTO, MAISA DE SIQUEIRA; FIGUEIRA, ANTONIO; PEREIRA PERES, LAZARO EUSTAQUIO. Novel natural genetic variation controlling the competence to form adventitious roots and shoots from the tomato wild relative Solanum pennellii. Plant Science, v. 199, p. 121-130, FEB 2013. (07/07175-0)

ARTERO, A. S.; SILVA, J. Q.; ALBUQUERQUE, P. S. B.; BRESSAN, E. A.; LEAL, JR., G. A.; SEBBENN, A. M.; GRIFFITH, G. W.; FIGUEIRA, A.. Spatial genetic structure and dispersal of the cacao pathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa in the Brazilian Amazon. PLANT PATHOLOGY, v. 66, n. 6, p. 912-923, AUG 2017. (07/07175-0)

LITHOLDO, JR., CELSO G.; LEAL, JR., GILDEMBERG A.; ALBUQUERQUE, PAULO S. B.; FIGUEIRA, ANTONIO. Differential expression of jasmonate biosynthesis genes in cacao genotypes contrasting for resistance against Moniliophthora perniciosa. Plant Cell Reports, v. 34, n. 10, p. 1747-1759, OCT 2015. (07/07175-0)

SCOTTON, DANIELLE CAMARGO; AZEVEDO, MARIANA DA SILVA; SESTARI, IVAN; DA SILVA, JAMILLE SANTOS; SOUZA, LUCAS ANJOS; PEREIRA PERES, LAZARO EUSTAQUIO; LEAL, JR., GILDEMBERG AMORIM; FIGUEIRA, ANTONIO. Expression of the Theobroma cacao Bax-inhibitor-1 gene in tomato reduces infection by the hemibiotrophic pathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY, v. 18, n. 8, p. 1101-1112, OCT 2017. (07/07175-0)

PINHEIRO, T. T.; LITHOLDO, JR., C. G.; SERENO, M. L.; LEAL, JR., G. A.; ALBUQUERQUE, P. S. B.; FIGUEIRA, A.. Establishing references for gene expression analyses by RT-qPCR in Theobroma cacao tissues. Genetics and Molecular Research, v. 10, n. 4, p. 3291-3305, 2011. (07/07175-0)

ARIKITA, F. N.; AZEVEDO, M. S.; PERES, L. E. P.; SCOTTON, D. C.; FIGUEIRA, A.; GEELEN, D. Solanum pennellii LA716 as a Source of Genes Improving In Vitro Organogenesis in Cultivated Tomato. VII INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON IN VITRO CULTURE AND HORTICULTURAL BREEDING, v. 961, p. 7-pg., 2012-01-01. (07/07175-0)

PINO-NUNES, L. E.; FIGUEIRA, A. V. DE O.; TULMANN NETO, A.; ZSOEGOEN, A.; PIOTTO, F. A.; SILVA, J. A.; BERNARDI, W. F.; PERES, L. E. P.; FISCHER, G; MAGNITSKIY, S; et al. Induced Mutagenesis and Natural Genetic Variation in Tomato 'Micro-Tom'. INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON TOMATO IN THE TROPICS, v. 821, p. 9-pg., 2009-01-01. (07/07175-0)