Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Microbial Symbioses
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1487022

Endophytic strategies decoded by genome and transcriptome analysis of Fusarium nematophilum strain NQ8GII4

Provisionally accepted
Siyuan Yan Siyuan Yan 1Qingchen Zhang Qingchen Zhang 2*Shuxin Jia Shuxin Jia 1*Miaomiao Guo Miaomiao Guo 1*Qiangqiang Zhang Qiangqiang Zhang 1Peiwen Gu Peiwen Gu 1*
  • 1 Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
  • 2 University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Fusarium nematophilum strain NQ8GII4 is an endophytic fungus with significant potential for improving growth and disease resistance of alfalfa. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the symbiotic relationship between NQ8GII4 and alfalfa roots remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we conducted (1) a comparative genomic analysis of selected saprophytic, pathogenic, and endophytic fungi, including molecular phylogeny analysis, whole-genome alignment, and divergence date estimation positioning, and (2) transcriptomic profiling of alfalfa roots infected with NQ8GII4. Our findings reveal that NQ8GII4 is genetically closely related to F. solani, suggesting it diverged from Fusarium phytopathogens. During the early stages of symbiosis establishment, genes encoding glycosyltransferases (GTs), fungal cell wall-degrading enzymes (FCWDEs), and steroid-14α-demethylase (CYP51) were significantly downregulated, potentially suppressing hyphal growth of the fungus. Once symbiosis was established, NQ8GII4 secreted effectors that activated plant immunity, which in turn could slow growth of the fungus. Moreover, genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, such as type I polyketide synthases (T1PKS) and nonribosomal peptide synthases (NRPSs), were significantly downregulated. Homologs of autophagy-related genes, including ATG1, ATG2, ATG11, and others, were also downregulated, suggesting that reduced phytotoxin production and autophagy inhibition is a consequence of NQ8GII4's symbiosis. In conclusion, this study investigated the comprehensive molecular and genetic mechanisms governing the interaction between NQ8GII4 and alfalfa roots. Beyond the NQ8GII4-alfalfa system, these findings also provide a valuable molecular framework for understanding the mechanism of interactions between endophytic fungi and their host plants.

    Keywords: Fusarium nematophilum strain NQ8GII4, Fungal-plant mutualistic associations, Comparative genomics, Transcriptome, endophytic strategy

    Received: 27 Aug 2024; Accepted: 31 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Yan, Zhang, Jia, Guo, Zhang and Gu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Qingchen Zhang, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32609, Florida, United States
    Shuxin Jia, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
    Miaomiao Guo, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
    Peiwen Gu, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.