Expression analysis of the R2R3-MYB gene family in upland cotton and functional study of GhMYB3D5 in regulating Verticillium wilt resistance

Improving plant resistance to Verticillium wilt(VW),which causes massive losses in Gossypium hirsutum,is a global challenge.Crop plants need to efficiently allocate their limited energy resources to maintain a balance between growth and defense.However,few transcriptional regulators specifically respond to Verticillium dahliae and the underlying mechanism has not been identified in cotton.In this study,we found that the that expression of most R2R3-MYB members in cotton is significantly changed by V.dahliae infection relative to the other MYB types.One novel R2R3-MYB transcription factor(TF)that specifically responds to V.dahliae,GhMYB3D5,was identified.GhMYB3D5 was not expressed in 15 cotton tissues under normal conditions,but it was dramatically induced by V.dahliae stress.We functionally characterized its positive role and underlying mechanism in VW resistance.Upon V.dahliae infection,the up-regulated GhMYB3D5 bound to the GhADH1 promoter and activated GhADH1expression.In addition,GhMYB3D5 physically interacted with GhADH1 and further enhanced the transcriptional activation of GhADH1.Consequently,the transcriptional regulatory module GhMYB3D5-GhADH1 then promoted lignin accumulation by improving the transcriptional levels of genes related to lignin biosynthesis(GhPAL,GhC4H,Gh4CL,and GhPOD/GhLAC)in cotton,thereby enhancing cotton VW resistance.Our results demonstrated that the GhMYB3D5 promotes defense-induced lignin accumulation,which can be regarded as an effective way to orchestrate plant immunity and growth.

Cotton ethylene response factor Gh ERF91 is involved in the defense against Verticillium dahliae

Verticillium dahliae causes significant losses in cotton production.To reveal the mechanism of the defense response to V.dahliae in cotton,transcriptomic analyses were performed using cotton cultivars M138(V.dahliae-resistant)and P2(V.dahliae-susceptible).The results revealed 11,076 and 6,640 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in response to V.dahliae,respectively.The weighted gene co-expression network analysis of 4,633 transcription factors(TFs)indicated a“MEblue”module containing 654 TFs that strongly correlate with resistance to V.dahliae.Among these TFs,the ethylene response factor Ghi_A05G10166(GhERF91)was identified as a putative hub gene with a defense response against V.dahliae.A virus-induced gene silencing assay and exogenous application of ethephon showed that GhERF91 is activated by ethylene and positively regulates the response to V.dahliae exposure in cotton.This study provides fundamental transcriptome data and a putative causal gene(GhERF91)associated with resistance to V.dahliae,as well as genetic resources for breeding V.dahliae-resistant cotton.

GhWRKY75 positively regulates GhPR6-5b via binding to a W-box TTGAC(C/T)to orchestrate cotton resistance to Verticillium dahliae

Verticillium dahliae is an important fungal pathogen affecting cotton yield and quality.Therefore,the mining of V.dahlia-resistance genes is urgently needed.Proteases and protease inhibitors play crucial roles in plant defense responses.However,the functions and regulatory mechanisms of the protease inhibitor PR6 gene family remain largely unknown.This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the PR6 gene family in the cotton genome.We performed genome-wide identification and functional characterization of the cotton GhPR6 gene family,which belongs to the potato protease inhibitor I family of inhibitors.Thirty-nine PR6s were identified in Gossypium arboreum,G.raimondii,G.barbadense,and G.hirsutum,and they were clustered into four groups.Based on the analysis of pathogen-induced and Ghlmm transcriptome data,Gh PR6-5b was identified as the key gene for V.dahliae resistance.Virus-induced gene silencing experiments revealed that cotton was more sensitive to V.dahliae V991after PR6-5b silencing.The present study established that GhWRKY75 plays an important role in resistance to Verticillium wilt in cotton by positively regulating GhPR6-5b expression by directly binding to the W-box TTGAC(T/C).Our findings established that GhWRKY75 is a potential candidate for improving cotton resistance to V.dahliae,and provide primary information for further investigations and the development of specific strategies to bolster the defense mechanisms of cotton against V.dahliae.

Assessing the severity of cotton Verticillium wilt disease from in situ canopy images and spectra using convolutional neural networks

Verticillium wilt(VW)is a common soilborne disease of cotton.It occurs mainly in the seedling and bollopening stages and severely impairs the yield and quality of the fiber.Rapid and accurate identification and evaluation of VW severity(VWS)forms the basis of field cotton VW control,which has great significance to cotton production.Cotton VWS values are conventionally measured using in-field observations and laboratory test diagnoses,which require abundant time and professional expertise.Remote and proximal sensing using imagery and spectrometry have great potential for this purpose.In this study,we performed in situ investigations at three experimental sites in 2019 and 2021 and collected VWS values,in situ images,and spectra of 361 cotton canopies.To estimate cotton VWS values at the canopy scale,we developed two deep learning approaches that use in situ images and spectra,respectively.For the imagery-based method,given the high complexity of the in situ environment,we first transformed the task of healthy and diseased leaf recognition to the task of cotton field scene classification and then built a cotton field scenes(CFS)dataset with over 1000 images for each scene-unit type.We performed pretrained convolutional neural networks(CNNs)training and validation using the CFS dataset and then used the networks after training to classify scene units for each canopy.The results showed that the Dark Net-19 model achieved satisfactory performance in CFS classification and VWS values estimation(R^(2)=0.91,root-mean-square error(RMSE)=6.35%).For the spectroscopy-based method,we first designed a one-dimensional regression network(1D CNN)with four convolutional layers.After dimensionality reduction by sensitive-band selection and principal component analysis,we fitted the 1D CNN with varying numbers of principal components(PCs).The 1D CNN model with the top 20 PCs performed best(R^(2)=0.93,RMSE=5.77%).These deep learning-driven approaches offer the potential of assessing crop disease severity from spatial and spectral perspectives.

Resistance Evaluation of Eggplant Resources to Verticillium wilt in Sichuan Province

[Objective] Aimed to lay a scientific foundation for eggplant resistant breeding, the resistant field identification of eggplant resources to Verticillium wilt was carried out. [Method] Test materials were 35 eggplant resources, which were collected from various places in Sichuan province since 2001. These eggplant resources were made resistance evaluation to Verticillium wilt by watering injured roots with Verticillium dahliae spore suspension. [Result] The eggplant resources had good resistance to Verticillium wilt. Among 35 evaluated resources, 10 resources like 242-9OP, 41-1,35-R5, etc. were resistant, while 23 resources like 68 ×47, Zizaoqie, 32-1, etc. were tolerant. Some resistant resources like 41-1,35-R5, 47-R1, etc. had been transferred into new resistant varieties like EF9910, etc. by breeding institutes. [Conclusion] The resistant level and future resistance breeding direction of eggplant resources in Sichuan were clarified by the resistance evaluation of eggplant resources so as to provide a technical guidance for eggplant resistance breeding.

Bioinformatics Analysis of Antifungal Peptide 25a2 of Cotton Verticillium Wilt

Protein 25a2 is the antifungal peptide of cotton Verticillium wilt which was isolated from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The amino acid sequence of antifungal peptide 25a2 was analyzed using bioinformatics tools, and the characters of signal peptides, transmembrane topological structura, physicochemical signatures, protein domain, secondary and tertiary structure of protein were predicted. The results showed that 25a2 was a secreted protein, the sequence of which included a signal peptide in N end and a transmembrane domain in C end. The predicted secondary structure showed that the antibacterial peptide was mainly free random coils, belonging to mixed protein, three-dimensional model of 25a2 was a compact ball. These results showed that the most possible action mechanism of antifungal peptide 25a2 might be ＂carpet＂ model.

Advances in Cotton Breeding for Resistance to Fusarium and Verticillium Wilt in the Last Fifty Years in China

This review summarizes the main advances in cotton breeding for resistance to fusarium and verticillium wilt in the last fifty years in China. The topics discussed include main achievements, experiences, problems and countermeasures for solving.

Spectrum Characteristics of Cotton Canopy Infected with Verticillium Wilt and Applications

Hyper spectrum remote sensing with fine spectrum information is an efficient method to estimate the verticillium wilt of cotton. The research was conducted in Xinjiang, the largest cotton plant region of China, by using the data which were collected both by canopy spectrum infected with verticillium wilt and severity level （SL） in the year 2005-2006. The quantitative correlation was analyzed between SL and canopy of reflectance spectrum or derivative spectrum reflectance. The results indicated that spectrum characteristics of cotton canopy infected with verticillium wilt changed regularly with the increase of SL in different periods and varieties, Spectrum reflectance increased in the visible light region （620-700 nm） with the increase of the SL, which inverted in near-infrared region and was extremely significant in the region of （780-1 300 nm）. When SL attained b2 （DI = 25）, cotton canopy infected with verticillium wilt was used as a watershed and diagnosed index in the beginning stages of the disease. The results also indicated that there were marked different characteristics of the first derivative spectrum in these SL, it changed significantly in the red edge ranges （680-760 nm） with different SL, i.e., red edge swing decreased, and red edge position equally moved to the blue. In this study 1 001-1 110 nm and 1 205- 1 320 nm were selected out as sensitive bands for SL of canopy. Inversion models established for estimating cotton canopy infected with verticillium wilt reached the most significant level. Finally, the different spectrum characteristics of cotton canopy infected with verticillium wilt were marked, some inversion models were established, which could estimate SL of canopy infected with verticillium wilt. The best recognized model was the first derivative spectra at （FD 731 nm- FD 1317 nm）, and it might be used to forecast the position of cotton canopy infected with verticillium wilt quantitatively.

Physiological mechanisms involved in resistance to cotton verticillium wilt induced by AM fungi

It was proved that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi played an important role in increasing plant resistance to soilborne pathogens, especially when plants were pre-inoculated with AM fungi. Mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are not yet well understood. On the basis of the former experiment results in our lab, effects of AM fungi on cotton Verticillium wilt and the mechanisms of increasing disease resisitance by the tested fungi were studied in pot culture under greenhouse conditions. Two cotton cutivars Litai 8 and 86-1 which are susceptible to Verticillium dahliae were pre-inoculated with Glomus fasiculatum, and Gigaspora margarita, then inoculated with the strain of Verticillium dahliae, namely “An-Yang” (belong to intermediate virulent type) 30 days after the former inoculation. Results showed that AM fungi could improve the growth and development of cotton plants, increase plants dry mass, decrease incidence and disease index of Verticillium wilt of cotton plants, inhibit the infection and development of V. dahliae to different extent in the rhizosphere of cotton pre-inoculated with AM fungi, while the colonization and spore numbers of AM fungi were not reduced significantly by this pathogen. The defence enzymes, such as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase (PPO) were induced, and their activities and peak increased by AM fungi in roots and leaves, and the increasing speed and peak of the enzyme activity were higher in treatment with AM fungus preinoculation than the inoculation with only V. dahliae, which suggested that defense response was activated by AM fungi, and then made the cotton to react strongly and rapidly to the infection of V. dahliae. In addition, AM fungi decreased the content of malondiadehyde (MDA) in cotton roots and leaves, protected membrane system and alleviated the damage caused by the pathogen. The AM fungus, Glomus fasiculatum showed the superior effects of biological control. It was concluded that AM fungi could provide the biological control to cotton diseases and there were application prospects of this biological agents.

Efficacy evaluation and mechanism of Bacillus subtilis EBS03 against cotton Verticillium wilt

Background:In our previous study,a strain EBS03 with good biocontrol potential was screened out of 48 strains of cotton endophyte Bacillus subtilis by evaluating the controlling effect against cotton Verticillium wilt.However,its mechanism for controlling Verticillium wilt remains unclear.The objective of this study was to further clarify its con-trolling effect and mechanism against cotton Verticillium wilt.Results:The results of confrontation culture test and double buckle culture test showed that the inhibitory effects of EBS03 volatile and nonvolatile metabolite on mycelium growth of Verticillium dahliae were 70.03%and 59.00%,respectively;the inhibitory effects of sporulation and microsclerotia germination were 47.16%and 70.06%,respec-tively.In the greenhouse test,the EBS03 fermentation broth root irrigation had the highest controlling effect at 87.11%on cotton Verticillium wilt,and significantly promoted the growth of cotton seedlings.In the field experi-ment,the controlling effect of EBS03 fermentation broth to cotton Verticillium wilt was 42.54%at 60 days after cotton sowing,and the boll number per plant and boll weight in EBS03 fermentation broth seed soaking,root irrigation,and spraying treatments significantly increased by 19.48%and 7.42%,30.90%and 2.62%,15.99%and 9.20%,respec-tively.Furthermore,EBS03 improved the resistance of cotton leaves against the infection of V.dahliae,and induced the outbreak of reactive oxygen species and accumulation of callose.In addition,the results of real time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)detection showed that EBS03 significantly induced upregulation expression level of defense-related genes PAL,POD,PPO,and PR10 in cotton leaves,enhanced cotton plant resistance to V.dahliae,and inhibited colonization level of this fungal pathogen in cotton.Conclusion:Bacillus subtilis EBS03 has a good biological defense capability,which can inhibit the growth and coloni-zation level of V.dahliae,and activate the resistance of cotton to Verticillium wilt,thus increase cotton yield.

Development and identification of Verticillium wilt-resistant upland cotton accessions by pyramiding QTL related to resistance

Cotton Verticillium wilt is a serious soil-borne disease that leads to significant losses in fiber yield and quality worldwide. Currently, the most effective way to increase Verticillium wilt resistance is to develop new resistant cotton varieties. Lines 5026 and 60182 are two Verticillium wilt-resistant upland cotton accessions. We previously identified a total of 25 quantitative trait loci（QTLs） related to Verticillium wilt resistance from 5026 and 60182 by assembling segregating populations from hybridization with susceptible parents. In the current study, using 13 microsatellite markers flanking QTLs related to Verticillium wilt resistance, we developed 155 cotton inbred lines by pyramiding different QTLs related to Verticillium wilt resistance from a filial generation produced by crossing 5026 and 60182. By examining each allele＇s effect and performing multiple comparison analysis, we detected four elite QTLs/alleles（q-5/NAU905-2, q-6/NAU2754-2, q-8/NAU3053-1 and q-13/NAU6598-1） significant for Verticillium wilt resistance, pyramiding these elite alleles increased the disease resistance of inbred lines. Furthermore, we selected 34 elite inbred lines, including five lines simultaneously performing elite fiber quality, high yield and resistance to V. dahliae, 14 lines with elite fiber quality and disease resistance, three lines with high yield and disease resistance, and 12 lines with resistance to V. dahliae. No correlation between Verticillium wilt resistance and fiber quality traits/yield and its components was detected in the 155 developed inbred lines. Our results provide candidate markers for disease resistance for use in marker-assisted breeding（MAS）, as well as elite germplasms for improving important agronomic traits via modern cotton breeding.

Study on Cotton Verticillium Wilt

The pathogen, characteristics, pathogenic mechanism, infection cycle, occurrence regularity and damage symptom of cotton Verticillium wilt are expounded in the paper. The paper puts forward the strategy of protecting disease-free area first, planting resistant varieties and rational rotation in severe area and strengthening the field management, as well as combining with biological control and chemical control methods to effectively control infection and spread of pathogen, so as to provide certain theoretical basis for reducing the damage of cotton Verticillium wilt and improving yield and quality of cotton.

Advances and prospects of genetic mapping of Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton

Verticillium wilt is one of the most important diseases affecting cotton production in China.The fungus,Verticillium dahliae,has a wide host range and a high degree of genetic variability.No resistance resources have been found in the available planting resources,thus presenting difficulties and challenges for our study.The long-term production practice shows that selection of disease-resistant varieties is the most economical and effective measure to control Verticillium wilt of cotton to reduce the yield loss and quality decline of cotton.In this paper,we summarized the genetic mapping population,the analysis method of genetic localization,the discovery,mining and cloning of disease-resistant quantitative trait loci/markers,and the analysis of their genetic functions,so as to provide information for the molecular breeding approach of disease-resistant cotton.

Isolation and characterization of the GbVIP1 gene and response to Verticillium wilt in cotton and tobacco

Background: Verticillium wilt is a serious soil-borne vascular disease that causes major losses to upland cotton(Gossypium hirutum L.) worldwidely every year. The protein VIP1(VirE2 interaction protein 1), a bZIP transcription factor, is involved in plant response to many stress conditions, especially pathogenic bacteria. However, its roles in cotton response to Verticillium wilt are poorly understood.Results: The GbVIP1 gene was cloned from resistant sea-island cotton(G. barbadense) cv. Hai 7124. Expression of GbVIP1 was up-regulated by inoculation with Verticillium dahliae and exogenous treatment with ethylene. Results of virus-induced gene silencing suggested that silencing of GbVIP1 weakened cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt. The heterologous expression of GbVIP1 in tobacco showed enhanced resistance to Verticillium wilt. The PR1, PR1-like and HSP70 genes were up-regulated in GbVIP1 transgenic tobacco after Verticillium wilt infection.Conclusion: Our results suggested that GbVIP1 increased plant resistance to Verticillium wilt through up-regulating expressions of PR1, PR1-like, and HSP70. These results provide new approaches to improving resistance to Verticillium wilt in upland cotton and also have great potential for disease-resistance breeding of cotton.

Field Application of Non-Pathogenic <i>Verticillium dahliae</i>Genotypes for Regulation of Wilt in Strawberry Plants

Verticillium dahliae induced wilt disease in strawberry can cause severe yield losses and thus lead to inevitable negative economic impacts. Inoculation of plants with non-pathogenic strains of Verticillium was conducted as a biologic control agent (BCA) according to the concept that preoccupation of the ecologic niche rendered strawberry plants immune to infection with soil-borne pathogenic Verticillium. This concept was tested for economic viability in a field trial under commercial conditions. Results were reported for 2 years of field trials under practice conditions in two locations in Brandenburg, Germany. Inoculation was shown to have a positive effect of 20% of plants, while 30% of plants remain unaffected and of equally high vitality. However, 50%-0% of plants were impacted negatively, showing severe wilt symptoms up to total loss. The characteristic progression of wilt symptoms suggested an infestation caused by Phytophtora sp. and other pathogens. Further results showed that the main factor of the side effects was caused by different qualities of plant material in interaction to the inoculation with the BCA and only to a minor extent depended on pre-infestation of soils. We conclude that specific conditions, such as certified plant material or soil analysis for other pathogens besides Verticillium, avoided these side-effects relevant for commercial farming.

QTL Analysis of Fiber Yield and Quality and Resistance to Verticillium Wilt Using Gossypium hirsutum and G.barbadense Advanced Backcross Populations

To introgress elite QTL alleles of Gossypium barbadense L.for fiber yield and quality and resistance to Verticillium wilt into G.hirsutum L.,enlarge the genetic base of G.hirsutum,and

Control of verticillium wilt in Cotinus coggygria

We analyzed the inhibition rates of eight kinds of fungicides to the pathogen of verticillium wilt of smoke tree （Cotinus coggygria） by measuring mycelium growth. Results show that four fungicides （Weijunjing, thiophanate-methyl 70% WP （wettable powder）, carbendazim 50% WP and Junxianwei） have the best antifungal effects. Three fungicides, Weijunjing, carbendazim 50% WP and Junxianwei, were selected to determine the control of verticillium wilt in potted smoke tree seedlings. We found that the relative efficacy of Weijunjing was up to 74%. Based on the results, Weijunjing and carbendazim 50% WP were prepared for field trials. The results indicate that the relative efficacy of Weijunjing （300 times diluted） and carbendazim 50% WP （400 times diluted） were 66.2% and 48.9% in plot 1 and 26.4% and 31.8% in plot 2 after soil disinfection, and were 224% and 61.8% in plot 3 without soil disinfection in 2007. The relative efficacy of Weijunjing and carbendazim 50% WP were 49.6% and 45.4% in plot 2 in 2008.

Field Efficiency Trial of Microbial Fertilizer against Eggplant Verticillium Wilt

The control effect of microbial fertilizer on eggplant verticillium wilt was studied through investigation of disease index and diseased plant rate. The reiults showed that the disease index and diseased plant rate of eggplant verticillium wilt were the lowest in the plots with substrate treatment and root-irrigation treatnent. The control effects in the plots with substrate treatment were higher than those in the plots with only root irrigation treatment. Moreover, higher concentration of microbial fertilizer resulted in better control effect and higher yield. Thus, the microbial fertilizer had a broad application prospect.

Studies on Cotton Breeding Resistant to Fusarium and Verticillium wilt Diseases

Both Fusarium and Verticillium wilts are important soil-borne diseases,which can not be effectively controlled by chemical fungicides.The two diseases,especially Verticillium wilt,have

GbAt11 gene cloned from Gossypium barbadense mediates resistance to Verticillium wilt in Gossypium hirsutum

Background:Gossypium hirsutum is highly susceptible to Verticillium wilt,and once infected Verticillium wilt,its yield is greatly reduced.But G.barbadense is highly resistant to Verticillium wilt.It is possible that transferring some disease-resistant genes from G.barbadense to G.hirsutum may contribute to G.hirsutum resistance to Verticillium wilt.Result:Here,we described a new gene in G.barbadense encoding AXMN Toxin Induced Protein-11,Gb At11,which is specifically induced by Verticillium dahliae in G.barbadense and enhances Verticillium wilt resistance in G.hirsutum.Overexpression in G.hirsutum not only significantly improves resistance to Verticillium wilt,but also increases the boll number per plant.Transcriptome analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that Gb At11 overexpression can simultaneously activate FLS2,BAK1 and other genes,which are involved in ETI and PTI pathways in G.hirsutum.Conclusion:These data suggest that Gb At11 plays a very important role in resistance to Verticillium wilt in cotton.And it is significant for improving resistance to Verticillium wilt and breeding high-yield cotton cultivars.