Thaumatin-Like Protein-1 Gene ( Bx-tlp-1 ) Is Associated with the Pathogenicity of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

作者：Fanli Meng, Yongxia Li, Xuan Wang, Yuqian Feng, Zhenkai Liu, Wei Zhang, Xingyao Zhang · 发表于：Phytopathology · 年份：2019 · DOI：10.1094/phyto-03-19-0082-r · 被引用次数：19 · 研究领域：Nematode management and characterization studies、Parasite Biology and Host Interactions、Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control

The pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus is a destructive species affecting pine trees worldwide; however, the underlying mechanism leading to pathogenesis remains unclear. In this study, a B. xylophilus gene encoding thaumatin-like protein-1 (Bx-tlp-1) was silenced by RNA interference to clarify the relationship between the Bx-tlp-1 gene and pathogenicity. The in vitro knockdown of Bx-tlp-1 with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) decreased B. xylophilus reproduction and pathogenicity. Treatments with dsRNA targeting Bx-tlp-1 decreased expression by 90%, with the silencing effect maintained even in the F3 offspring. Pine trees inoculated with B. xylophilus treated with Bx-tlp-1 dsRNA decreased the symptom of wilting, and the disease severity index was 56.7 at 30 days after inoculation. Additionally, analyses of the cavitation of intact pine stem samples by X-ray microtomography revealed that the xylem cavitation area of pine trees inoculated with B. xylophilus treated with Bx-tlp-1 dsRNA was 0.46 mm 2 at 30 days after inoculation. Results from this study indicated that the silencing of Bx-tlp-1 has effects on B. xylophilus fitness. The data presented here provide the foundation for future analyses of Bx-tlp-1 functions related to B. xylophilus pathogenicity.