Genomic and functional studies of the interaction Sporisorium scitamineum-cana and other smut fungi: advances and challenges

• Grant number: 17/13268-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: October 01, 2017 - December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Barros Monteiro Vitorello
• Grantee: Claudia Barros Monteiro Vitorello
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Andressa Peres Bini ; Silvana Aparecida Creste Dias de Souza ; Sintia Silva de Almeida

Abstract

Sporisorium scitamineum is the causal agent of the disease known as sugarcane smut, identified in all regions of sugarcane cultivation in the world. The disease is characterized by producing stalks unsuitable for industrialization, reducing biomass and sugar and ethanol production. The characteristics of the interaction with sugarcane are unique, as they culminate in the formation of a whip-like structure from the apical meristem of the cane, composed of plant cells and the fungus (smut whip). Methods to contain the disease depend on resistant varieties and management techniques. Several research groups have studied the major cane defense mechanisms activated during interaction. However, even varieties considered highly resistant are colonized by the fungus and may eventually develop the whip, which shows the complexity of this pathosystem and the signaling involved in the development of symptoms. This project aims to continue studies on the cane-Sporisorium interaction with five main focuses: 1) to identify the cell wall proteins, apoplast and membrane of the plant cells responsive to the presence of the pathogen (Schaker et al., 2016; Schaker et al., 2017); 2) the functional analysis of candidate resistance analogue genes (RGAs) identified in previous project (Schaker et al., 2016); and 3) the functional analysis of the ROS metabolism in smut-resistant genotypes, in order to identify responses common to those verified in previous work (Peters et al., 2016); 4) functional studies of previously selected candidate effectors (Taniguti et al., 2015; Benevenuto et al., in preparation); and 5) studies of comparative genomics on the contribution of the transposable elements in the evolution of the smut species. Subprojects aim to deepen the understanding of the interaction biology so that well defined candidates related to sugarcane resistance to diseases may be indicated to be used in the management or breeding programs. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(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)

CRESTANA, GUSTAVO SCHIAVONE; TANIGUTI, LUCAS MITSUO; DOS SANTOS, CLESIVAN PEREIRA; BENEVENUTO, JULIANA; CERESINI, PAULO CEZAR; CARVALHO, GISELLE; KITAJIMA, JOAO PAULO; MONTEIRO-VITORELLO, CLAUDIA BARROS. Complete Chromosome-Scale Genome Sequence Resource for Sporisorium panici-leucophaei, the Causal Agent of Sourgrass Smut Disease. MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS, v. 34, n. 4, p. 448-452, APR 2021. (18/24028-5, 17/13268-2, 16/17545-8)

BENEVENUTO, JULIANA; TEIXEIRA-SILVA, NATALIA S.; KURAMAE, EIKO E.; CROLL, DANIEL; MONTEIRO-VITORELLO, CLAUDIA B.. Comparative Genomics of Smut Pathogens: Insights From Orphans and Positively Selected Genes Into Host Specialization. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 9, APR 6 2018. (17/13268-2, 16/03768-5, 16/16376-8, 16/17545-8, 14/21802-0)

TEIXEIRA-SILVA, NATALIA SOUSA; CARVALHO SCHAKER, PATRICIA DAYANE; SILVA RODY, HUGO VIANNA; MAIA, THIAGO; GARNER, CHRISTOPHER M.; GASSMANN, WALTER; MONTEIRO-VITORELLO, CLAUDIA BARROS. Leaping into the Unknown World of Sporisorium scitamineum Candidate Effectors. JOURNAL OF FUNGI, v. 6, n. 4, DEC 2020. (17/13268-2, 18/04555-0, 16/04429-0, 16/16376-8, 17/25477-5, 16/17545-8, 13/25599-2)

PETERS, L. P.; TEIXEIRA-SILVA, N. S.; BINI, A. P.; SILVA, M. M. L.; MORAES, N.; CRESTANA, G. S.; CRESTE, S.; AZEVEDO, R. A.; CARVALHO, G.; MONTEIRO-VITORELLO, C. B.. Differential responses of genes and enzymes associated with ROS protective responses in the sugarcane smut fungus. FUNGAL BIOLOGY, v. 124, n. 12, p. 1039-1051, DEC 2020. (17/13268-2, 18/07615-4, 16/16376-8, 13/15014-7, 16/17545-8)

BEDRE, RENESH; IRIGOYEN, SONIA; SCHAKER, PATRICIA D. C.; MONTEIRO-VITORELLO, CLAUDIA B.; DA SILVA, JORGE A.; MANDADI, KRANTHI K.. Genome-wide alternative splicing landscapes modulated by biotrophic sugarcane smut pathogen. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 9, JUN 20 2019. (17/02434-9, 17/13268-2)