Biology subjects

Oliver, R. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Oliver, R. P..

10 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Transposon-associated genetic structure of a fungal phytopathogen population of wheat

Septoria nodorum blotch (SNB) is an economically important fungal disease of wheat caused by Parastagonospora nodorum. It is primarily controlled by the breeding of resistant wheat cultivars, but experience over the last 50 years shows that new pathogen populations soon evolve that are more virulent on the current popular cultivars. In this study, we assembled a panel of 360 P. nodorum isolates. The collection resolved into eight subpopulations. One core and seven transient populations were found possessing contrasting characters in term of spatial and temporal distribution, mating-type, effector haplotypes and patterns of intact and degraded copies of a Tc-1 mariner transposon, called Molly. Molly can proliferate and randomly insert throughout the fungal genome. Its multiplication in sexual population likely triggered RIP which partially explains the extensive genetic diversity and explains the ability to form new adapted lineages and the observed population structure of this important pathogen of wheat. When tested on wheat, the recently emerged groups exhibited greater pathogenicity on modern elite cultivars consistent with the low-amplitude boom-and-bust cycle observed previously. It is possible that active copies of Molly transpose and contribute to both the birth and death of the transient groups. This study identified and characterised a fungal specific transposable element (TE) which plays a vital role in shaping Australian P. nodorum population structure and creating extensive genetic diversity which potentially leads to the pathogens better adaptation. The study suggests practical measures to improve the efficiency and longevity of resistance breeding for SNB.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2025

Dissecting allele-specific fungicide resistance mechanisms by heterologous expression of the demethylase inhibitor target gene Cyp51 in a phytopathogen model

BACKGROUNDFungicide resistance is a major concern both in agriculture and clinical disease control. Whilst several mechanisms of resistance have been elucidated, assigning phenotype to genotype is often difficult and reliant on correlations. Resistance to demethylase inhibitor (DMI) fungicides was recently reported in the economically important filamentous fungal barley (Hordeum vulgare) pathogen Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt) in Australia. The target of DMI fungicides is encoded by the Cyp51 gene family; single allele of Cyp51B and two copies of the Cyp51A gene1. Five Cyp51A alleles (W1-A1, 9193-A1, KO103-A1, W1-A2 and 9193-A2) were identified in Ptt with KO103-A1 containing the mutation F489L (F495L) which correlates with resistance to various DMIs.1 RESULTSWe replaced the coding region of the native Cyp51B gene of the filamentous fungal Dothideomycete wheat pathogen Parastagonospora nodorum with each of the five Ptt Cyp51A alleles to compare the phenotypic effects of each allele in isolation. The native Cyp51B of P. nodorum could be functionally replaced by Cyp51-A1 but not Cyp51-A2. Transformants carrying KO103-A1 exhibited significantly higher gene expression than 9193-A1 and W1-A1, suggesting the mechanism of gene regulation lies within the coding sequence and is conserved between Ptt and P. nodorum. The EC50 values of the KO103-A1 transformants were significantly higher than any other transformants or wild type isolates for metconazole, prochloraz and tebuconazole but lower for epoxiconazole. CONCLUSIONThis system permits the functional characterisation of fungicide target genes in an isogenic background that mimics the physiological environment of plant pathogens. We suggest the system will prove useful in dissecting the impact of genetic mutations on a spectrum of fungicides and permit the design of fungal strains for screening active ingredients that may control strains resistant to existing fungicides.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

Emergence of resistance to succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicides in Pyrenophora teres f. teres and P. teres f. maculata in Australia

The net blotches are among the most economically significant diseases of barley worldwide. There are two forms of the disease: net-form net-blotch (NFNB, causal agent Pyrenophora teres f. sp. teres [Ptt]) and spot-form net blotch (SFNB, causal agent Pyrenophora teres f. sp. maculata [Ptm]). Alongside varietal choice and cultural practices, fungicides form an important part of the regime for net blotch control. The succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) are a key class of fungicides used in net blotch management. However, resistance to this group of compounds has emerged in the net blotches in recent years. Here, we describe the first cases of resistance to SDHIs in Australian populations of net blotches. This study was prompted by reports of field failures of SDHI fungicides in controlling NFNB in South Australia and SFNB in Western Australia. Target site mutations in the Sdh complex genes, previously associated with reduced sensitivity in European net blotch populations, were found in Australian isolates, and two mutations which have not been previously observed in P. teres, are also described. The mutations found in Ptt included H134R and S135R in SdhC; and H134Y and D145G in SdhD; the SdhC-H134R mutation was the most frequently observed. In Ptm, the mutations found included H277L in SdhB; S73P, N75S, H134R and S135R in SdhC; and D145G in SdhD; the SdhC-N75S mutation was the most common. These mutations were correlated with reduced in vitro SDHI fungicide sensitivity by microtiter assay. The highest resistance factors to fluxapyroxad and bixafen, the most important SDHI fungicides for net blotch control in Australia, were associated with the SdhC-H134R and SdhC-S135R mutations in Ptt, and with the SdhB-H277L, SdhC-H134R, and SdhC-S135R mutations in Ptm. Modelling of the P. teres Sdh complex showed that the two novel mutations, H277L in SdhB and H134Y in SdhD, result in a highly altered binding mode and lower binding affinity of the SDHI compound compared to the wild-type.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Chromatin-immunoprecipitation reveals the PnPf2 transcriptional network controlling effector-mediated virulence in a fungal pathogen of wheat

The regulation of virulence in plant-pathogenic fungi has emerged as a key area of importance underlying host infections. Recent work has highlighted the role of transcription factors (TFs) that mediate the expression of virulence-associated genes. A prominent example is Pf2, a member of the Zn2Cys6 family of fungal TFs, where orthologues regulate the expression of genes linked to parasitism in several plant-pathogen lineages. These include PnPf2 which controls effector-gene expression in Parastagonospora nodorum, thereby determining the outcome of effector-triggered susceptibility on its host, wheat. PnPf2 is a promising target for disease suppression but the genomic targets, or whether other are regulators involved, remain unknown. This study used chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-seq) and a mutagenesis analysis to investigate these components. Two distinct binding motifs connected to positive gene-regulation were characterised and genes directly targeted by PnPf2 were identified. These included genes encoding major effectors and other components associated with the P. nodorum pathogenic lifestyle, such as carbohydrate-active enzymes and nutrient assimilators. This supports a direct involvement of PnPf2 in coordinating virulence on wheat. Other TFs were also prominent PnPf2 targets, suggesting it also operates within a transcriptional network. Several TFs were therefore functionally investigated in connection to fungal virulence. Distinct metabolic and developmental roles were evident for the newly characterised PnPro1, PnAda1, PnEbr1 and the carbon-catabolite repressor PnCreA. Overall, the results uphold PnPf2 as the central transcriptional regulator orchestrating genes that contribute to virulence on wheat and provide mechanistic insight into how this occurs. ImportanceFungal pathogens cause large crop losses worldwide and consequently much attention has focused on improving host genetic resistance to diseases. These pathogens use effectors, which require coordinated expression at specific stages of the pathogenic lifecycle, to manipulate the host plant metabolism in favour of infection. However, our understanding of the underlying regulatory network in coordination with other genes involved in fungal pathogenicity is lacking. The Pf2 TF orthologues are key players underpinning virulence and effector gene expression in several fungal phytopathogens, including P. nodorum. This study provided significant insight into the DNA-binding regulatory mechanisms of P. nodorum PnPf2, as well as further evidence that it is central to the coordination of virulence. In the context of crop protection, the Pf2 taxonomic orthologues present opportune targets in major fungal pathogens that can be perturbed to reduce the impact of effector triggered-susceptibility and improve disease resistance.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2021

Transcription factor lineages in plant-pathogenic fungi, connecting diversity with fungal virulence

Plant-pathogenic fungi span diverse taxonomic lineages. Their host-infection strategies are often specialised and require the coordinated regulation of molecular virulence factors. Transcription factors (TFs) are fundamental regulators of gene expression, controlling development and virulence in plant pathogenic fungi. Recent research has established regulatory roles for several taxonomically conserved fungal TFs, but the evolution of specific virulence regulators is not well understood. This study sought to explore the representation of TFs across a taxonomically-diverse range of fungi, with a focus on plant pathogens. A significant trend was observed among the obligate, host-associated pathogens, which possess a reduced overall TF repertoire, alluding to a lack of pressure for maintaining diversity. A novel orthology-based analysis is then presented that refined TF classifications, traditionally based on the nature of the DNA-binding domains. Using this analysis, cases of TF over/underrepresentation across fungal pathogen lineages are systematically highlighted. Specific examples are then explored and discussed that included the TF orthologues of Ste12, Pf2 and EBR1, plus phytotoxic secondary-metabolite cluster regulators, which all presented novel and distinct evolutionary insights. Ultimately, as the examples presented demonstrate, this resource can be interrogated to guide functional studies that seek to characterise virulence-specific regulators and shed light on the factors underpinning plant pathogenicity.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Variability in an effector gene promoter of a necrotrophic fungal pathogen dictates epistasis and effector-triggered susceptibility in wheat

The fungus Parastagonospora nodorum uses proteinaceous necrotrophic effectors (NEs) to induce tissue necrosis on wheat leaves during infection, leading to the symptoms of septoria nodorum blotch (SNB). The NEs Tox1 and Tox3 induce necrosis on wheat possessing the dominant susceptibility genes Snn1 and Snn3B1/Snn3D1, respectively. We previously observed that Tox1 is epistatic to the expression of Tox3 and a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 2A that contributes to SNB resistance/susceptibility. The expression of Tox1 is significantly higher in the Australian strain SN15 compared to the American strain SN4. Inspection of the Tox1 promoter region revealed a 401 bp promoter genetic element in SN4 positioned 267 bp upstream of the start codon that is absent in SN15, called PE401. Analysis of the world-wide P. nodorum population revealed that a high proportion of Northern Hemisphere isolates possess PE401 whereas the opposite was observed in the Southern Hemisphere. The presence of PE401 ablates the epistatic effect of Tox1 on the contribution of the SNB 2A QTL but not Tox3. PE401 was introduced into the Tox1 promoter regulatory region in SN15 to test for direct regulatory roles. Tox1 expression was markedly reduced in the presence of PE401. This suggests a repressor molecule(s) binds PE401 and inhibits Tox1 transcription. Infection assays also demonstrated that P. nodorum which lacks PE401 is more pathogenic on Snn1 wheat varieties than P. nodorum carrying PE401. An infection competition assay between P. nodorum isogenic strains with and without PE401 indicated that the higher Tox1-expressing strain rescued the reduced virulence of the lower Tox1-expressing strain on Snn1 wheat. Our study demonstrated that Tox1 exhibits both selfish and altruistic characteristics. This offers an insight into a NE arms race that is occurring within the P. nodorum population. The importance of PE401 in breeding for SNB resistance in wheat is discussed. Author summaryBreeding for durable resistance to fungal diseases in crops is a continual challenge for crop breeders. Fungal pathogens evolve ways to overcome host resistance by masking themselves through effector evolution and evasion of broad-spectrum defense responses. Association studies on mapping populations infected by isolate mixtures are often used by researchers to seek out novel sources of genetic resistance. Disease resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) are often minor or inconsistent across environments. This is a particular problem with septoria diseases of cereals such as septoria nodorum blotch (SNB) of wheat caused by Parastagonospora nodorum. The fungus uses a suite of necrotrophic effectors (NEs) to cause SNB. We characterised a genetic element, called PE401, in the promoter of the major NE gene Tox1, which is present in some P. nodorum isolates. PE401 functions as a transcriptional repressor of Tox1 and exerts epistatic control on another major SNB resistance QTL in the host. In the context of crop protection, constant surveillance of the pathogen population for the frequency of PE401 in conjunction with NE diversity will enable agronomists to provide the best advice to growers on which wheat varieties can be tailored to provide optimal SNB resistance to regional pathogen population genotypes.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Fungicide resistance characterised across seven chemical classes in a Botrytis cinerea population isolated from Australian vineyards

BACKGROUNDBotrytis bunch rot, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is an economically important disease of grapes in Australia and across grape growing regions worldwide. Control of this disease relies on canopy management and the application of fungicides. Fungicide application can lead to the selection of resistant B. cinerea populations, which has an adverse effect on management of the disease. Characterising the distribution and severity of resistant B. cinerea populations is needed to inform resistance management strategies. RESULTSIn this study, 725 isolates were sampled from 75 Australian vineyards during 2013 - 2016 and were screened against seven fungicides with different modes of action (MOAs). The resistance frequencies for azoxystrobin, boscalid, fenhexamid, fludioxonil, iprodione, pyrimethanil and tebuconazole were 5, 2.8, 2.1, 6.2, 11.6, 7.7 and 2.9% respectively. Nearly half of the resistant isolates (43.8%) were resistant to more than one of the fungicides tested. The frequency of vineyards with at least one isolate simultaneously resistant to 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 fungicides was 19.5, 7.8, 6.5, 10.4 and 2.6%. Resistance was associated with previously published genotypes in CytB (G143A), SdhB (H272R/Y), Erg27 (F412S), Mrr1 (D354Y), Bos1 (I365S, N373S + Q369P, I365S + D757N) and Pos5 (V273I, P319A, L412F/V). Novel genotypes were also described in Mrr1 (S611N, D616G) Pos5 (V273L) and Cyp51 (P347S). Expression analysis was used to characterise fludioxonil resistant isolates exhibiting overexpression (6.3-9.6-fold) of the ABC transporter gene AtrB (MDR1 phenotype). CONCLUSIONResistance frequencies were lower when compared to most previously published surveys of B. cinerea resistance in grape and other crops. Nevertheless, continued monitoring of critical MOAs used in Australian vineyards is recommended.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2020

When time really is money: in situ quantification of the strobilurin resistance mutation G143A in the wheat pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici

BackgroundThere has been an inexorable increase in the incidence of fungicide resistance in plant pathogens in recent years. Control of diseases and the management of resistance would be greatly aided by rapid diagnostic methods. Quantitative allele specific PCR (ASqPCR) is an ideal technique for the analysis of fungicide resistance in the field as it can both detect and quantify the frequency of mutations associated with fungicide resistance. We have applied this technique to the fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), an obligate biotrophic fungus that causes wheat powdery mildew and is responsible for up to 25% yield loss annually. In Australia, strobilurin resistant Bgt was first discovered in samples from Tasmania and Victoria in 2016. Molecular analysis revealed a nucleotide transversion in the cytochrome bc1 enzyme (cytb) complex, resulting in a substitution of alanine for glycine at position 143 (G143A) in Cytb. ResultsWe have developed an in-field ASqPCR assay that can quantify both the resistant (A143) and sensitive (G143) cytb alleles down to 1.67% in host and Bgt DNA mixtures within 90 min of sample collection. The in situ analysis of field samples collected during a survey in Tasmania revealed A143 frequencies ranging between 9-100%. We validated the analysis with a newly developed laboratory based digital PCR assay and found no significant differences between the two methods. ConclusionWe have successfully developed an in-field quantification method, for a QoI resistant allele, by pairing an ASqPCR assay on a lightweight qPCR instrument with a quick DNA extraction method. The deployment of this type of methodologies in the field can contribute to the effective in-season management of fungicide resistance.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Parallel evolution of multiple mechanisms for demethylase inhibitor fungicide resistance in the barley pathogen Pyrenophora teres f. sp. maculata

The demethylase inhibitor (DMI) or group 3 fungicides are the most important class of compounds for the control both of plant and human fungal pathogens. The necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora teres f. sp. maculata (Ptm), responsible for spot form of net blotch (SFNB), is currently the most significant disease of barley in Australia, and a disease of increasing concern worldwide. The main basis for management of SFNB is by fungicide application, and in Australia the DMIs predominate. Although reduced sensitivity to DMI fungicides has recently been described in the closely related pathogen P. teres f. sp. teres (Ptt), the mechanisms of DMI resistance have not thus far been described for Ptm. In this study, several different levels of sensitivity to DMI fungicides were identified in Western Australian strains of Ptm from 2016 onwards, and reduced sensitivity phenotypes were correlated with a number of distinct mutations in both the promoter region and coding sequence of the DMI target gene encoding cytochrome P450 sterol 14-demethylase (Cyp51A). Five insertions elements of 134-base pairs in length were found at different positions within the upstream regulatory region of Cyp51A in both highly DMI-resistant (HR) and select moderately DMI-resistant (MR1) Ptm isolates. The five insertion elements had at least 95% sequence identity and were determined to be Solo-LTR (Long Terminal Repeat) elements, all deriving from Ty1/Copia-family LTR Retrotransposons. The 134-bp elements contained a predicted promoter sequence and several predicted transcription factor binding sites, and the presence of an insertion element was correlated with constitutive overexpression of Cyp51A. The substitution of phenylalanine by leucine at position 489 of the predicted amino acid sequence of CYP51A was found in both HR and select moderately DMI-resistant (MR2) Ptm isolates. The same F489L amino acid substitution has been previously reported in Western Australian strains of Ptt, where it has also been associated with reduced sensitivity to DMI fungicides. In Ptm, the F489L amino acid change was associated with either of three different single nucleotide polymorphisms in codon 489. This suggests that, in contrast to Ptt, in Ptm the F489L mutation has emerged as a result of three distinct mutational events. Moderately DMI-resistant isolates had one or the other of the F489L substitution or a promoter insertion mutation, whereas highly DMI-resistant isolates were found to have combinations of both mechanisms together. Therefore, multiple mechanisms acting both alone and in concert were found to contribute to the observed phenomena of DMI fungicide resistance in Ptm. Moreover, these mutations have apparently emerged repeatedly and independently in Western Australian Ptm populations, by a process of convergent or parallel evolution.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Analysis of mutations in West Australian populations of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei CYP51 conferring resistance to DMI fungicides

Powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (Bgh) is a constant threat to barley production but is generally well controlled through combinations of host genetics and fungicides. An epidemic of barley powdery mildew was observed from 2007 to 2013 in the West Australian wheatbelt (WA). We collected isolates, examined their sensitivity to demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides and sequenced the Cyp51B target gene. Five amino acid substitutions were found of which four were novel. A clear association was established between combinations of mutations and altered levels of resistance to DMIs. The most resistant genotypes increased in prevalence from 0 in 2009 to 16% in 2010 and 90% in 2011. Yeast strains expressing the Bgh Cyp51 genotypes replicated the altered sensitivity to various DMIs and these results were confirmed by in silico protein docking studies.

plant biology↗