A novel rubber tree PR-10 protein involved in host-defense response against the white root rot fungus Rigidoporus microporus.

White root rot disease in rubber trees, caused by the pathogenic fungi Rigidoporus microporus, is currently considered a major problem in rubber tree plantations worldwide. Only a few reports have mentioned the response of rubber trees occurring at the non-infection sites, which is crucial for the disease understanding and protecting the yield losses. Through a comparative proteomic study using the two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) technique, the present study reveals some distal-responsive proteins in rubber tree leaves during the plant-fungal pathogen interaction. From a total of 12 selected differentially expressed protein spots, several defense-related proteins such as molecular chaperones and ROS-detoxifying enzymes were identified. The expression of 6 candidate proteins was investigated at the transcript level by Reverse Transcription Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). In silico, a highly-expressed uncharacterized protein LOC110648447 found in rubber trees was predicted to be a protein in the pathogenesis-related protein 10 (PR-10) class. In silico promoter analysis and structural-related characterization of this novel PR-10 protein suggest that it plays a potential role in defending rubber trees against R. microporus infection. The promoter contains WRKY-, MYB-, and other defense-related cis-acting elements. The structural model of the novel PR-10 protein predicted by I-TASSER showed a topology of the Bet v 1 protein family, including a conserved active site and a ligand-binding hydrophobic cavity. A novel protein in the PR-10 group increased sharply in rubber tree leaves during interaction with the white root rot pathogen, potentially contributing to host defense. The results of this study provide information useful for white root rot disease management of rubber trees in the future.

Longsaward R ，Pengnoo A ，Kongsawadworakul P ，Viboonjun U ... -  《BMC PLANT BIOLOGY》

Cloning and Expression Analysis of HbPR-1b and HbPR-3 in Hevea brasiliensis During Inoculation with Rigidoporus microporus.

Woraathasin N ，Nakkanong K ，Nualsri C 《-》

Molecular phylogeny of Rigidoporus microporus isolates associated with white rot disease of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis).

Rigidoporus microporus (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) syn. Rigidoporus lignosus is the most destructive root pathogen of rubber plantations distributed in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Our primary objective was to characterize Nigerian isolates from rubber tree and compare them with other West African, Southeast Asian and American isolates. To characterize the 20 isolates from Nigeria, we used sequence data of the nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS and LSU, β-tubulin and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1) gene sequences. Altogether, 40 isolates of R. microporus were included in the analyses. Isolates from Africa, Asia and South/Central America formed three distinctive clades corresponding to at least three species. No phylogeographic pattern was detected among R. microporus collected from West and Central African rubber plantations suggesting continuous gene flow among these populations. Our molecular phylogenetic analysis suggests the presence of two distinctive species associated with the white rot disease. Phylogenetic analyses placed R. microporus in the Hymenochaetales in the vicinity of Oxyporus. This is the first study to characterize R. microporus isolates from Nigeria through molecular phylogenetic techniques, and also the first to compare isolates from rubber plantations in Africa and Asia.

Oghenekaro AO ，Miettinen O ，Omorusi VI ，Evueh GA ，Farid MA ，Gazis R ，Asiegbu FO ... -  《Fungal Biology》

Differential Analysis of Mycelial Proteins and Metabolites From Rigidoporus Microporus During In Vitro Interaction With Hevea Brasiliensis.

Rigidoporus microporus is the fungus accountable for the white root rot disease that is detrimental to the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. The pathogenicity mechanism of R. microporus and the identity of the fungal proteins and metabolites involved during the infection process remain unclear. In this study, the protein and metabolite profiles of two R. microporus isolates, Segamat (SEG) and Ayer Molek (AM), were investigated during an in vitro interaction with H. brasiliensis. The isolates were used to inoculate H. brasiliensis clone RRIM 2025, and mycelia adhering to the roots of the plant were collected for analysis. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images acquired confirms the hyphae attachment and colonization of the mycelia on the root of the H. brasiliensis clones after 4 days of inoculation. The protein samples were subjected to 2-DE analysis and analyzed using MALDI-ToF MS/MS, while the metabolites were extracted using methanol and analyzed using LC/MS-QTOF. Based on the differential analyses, upregulation of proteins that are essential for fungal evolution such as malate dehydrogenase, fructose 1,6-biphosphate aldolase, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase hints an indirect role in fungal pathogenicity, while metabolomic analysis suggests an increase in acidic compounds which may lead to increased cell wall degrading enzyme activity. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that the carbohydrate and amino acid metabolisms were prominently affected in response to the fungal pathogenicity. In addition to that, other pathways that were significantly affected include "Protein Ubiquitination Pathway," Unfolded Protein Response," "HIFα Signaling," and "Sirtuin Signaling Pathway." The identification of responsive proteins and metabolites from this study promotes a better understanding of mechanisms underlying R. microporus pathogenesis and provides a list of potential biological markers for early recognition of the white root rot disease.

Fisol AFBC ，Saidi NB ，Al-Obaidi JR ，Lamasudin DU ，Atan S ，Razali N ，Sajari R ，Rahmad N ，Hussin SNIS ，Mr NH ... -  《-》

Exploring the Biocontrol Efficacy of Trichoderma spp. against Rigidoporus microporus, the Causal Agent of White Root Rot Disease in Rubber Trees (Hevea brasiliensis).

Go WZ ，Chin KL ，H'ng PS ，Wong MY ，Lee CL ，Khoo PS ... -  《Plants-Basel》