Metabolomics approach to understand molecular mechanisms involved in fungal pathogen-citrus pathosystems

Author(s)

Silva, Evandro ; Dantas, Rodolfo ; Barbosa, Julio Cesar ; Berlinck, Roberto G. S. ; Fill, Taicia

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MOLECULAR OMICS; v. 20, n. 3, p. 15-pg., 2024-01-26.

Abstract

Citrus is a crucial crop with a significant economic impact globally. However, postharvest decay caused by fungal pathogens poses a considerable threat, leading to substantial financial losses. Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, Geotrichum citri-aurantii and Phyllosticta citricarpa are the main fungal pathogens, causing green mold, blue mold, sour rot and citrus black spot diseases, respectively. The use of chemical fungicides as a control strategy in citrus raises concerns about food and environmental safety. Therefore, understanding the molecular basis of host-pathogen interactions is essential to find safer alternatives. This review highlights the potential of the metabolomics approach in the search for bioactive compounds involved in the pathogen-citrus interaction, and how the integration of metabolomics and genomics contributes to the understanding of secondary metabolites associated with fungal virulence and the fungal infection mechanisms. Our goal is to provide a pipeline combining metabolomics and genomics that can effectively guide researchers to perform studies aiming to contribute to the understanding of the fundamental chemical and biochemical aspects of pathogen-host interactions, in order to effectively develop new alternatives for fungal diseases in citrus cultivation. We intend to inspire the scientific community to question unexplored biological systems, and to employ diverse analytical approaches and metabolomics techniques to address outstanding questions about the non-studied pathosystems from a chemical biology perspective. This review article communicates the integration of metabolomics and genomics approaches to unravel the citrus host-pathogen interaction. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 23/03831-2 - Deciphering the role of secondary metabolites in the chemical interaction between phytopathogens and the citrus host
• Grantee: Evandro Aparecido da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 23/06874-4 - Deciphering the role of secondary metabolites in the chemical interaction between phytopathogens and the citrus host
• Grantee: Júlio César Jerônimo Barbosa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 19/17721-9 - The role of Chemistry in holobiont adaptation
• Grantee: Roberto Gomes de Souza Berlinck
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 22/02992-0 - Deciphering the role of secondary metabolites in the chemical interaction between phytopathogens and the citrus host
• Grantee: Taicia Pacheco Fill
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Initial Project
• FAPESP's process: 22/03594-8 - Understanding the chemical warfare and the virulence strategies of Penicillium digitatum involved in the pathogen- host interaction
• Grantee: Evandro Aparecido da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral