Published November 11, 2021
| Version v1
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Chitosan inhibits septin-mediated plant infection by the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae in a protein kinase C and Nox1 NADPH oxidase-dependent manner
Creators
- 1. University of Alicante
- 2. University of Exeter
- 3. Oxford University
- 4. University of Plymouth
- 5. The Sainsbury Laboratories
Description
- Chitosan is a partially deacetylated linear polysaccharide composed of β-1,4-linked units of d-glucosamine and N-acetyl glucosamine. As well as a structural component of fungal cell walls, chitosan is a potent antifungal agent. However, the mode of action of chitosan is poorly understood.
- Here, we report that chitosan is effective for control of rice blast disease. Chitosan application impairs growth of the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae and has a pronounced effect on appressorium-mediated plant infection. Chitosan inhibits septin-mediated F-actin remodelling at the appressorium pore, thereby preventing repolarization of the infection cell.
- Chitosan causes plasma membrane permeabilization of M. oryzae and affects NADPH oxidase-dependent synthesis of reactive oxygen species, essential for septin ring formation and fungal pathogenicity. We further show that toxicity of chitosan to M. oryzae requires the protein kinase C-dependent cell wall integrity pathway, the Mps1 mitogen-activated protein kinase and the Nox1 NADPH oxidase. A conditionally lethal, analogue (PP1)-sensitive mutant of Pkc1 is partially remediated for growth in the presence of chitosan, while ∆nox1 mutants increase their glucan : chitin cell wall ratio, rendering them resistant to chitosan.
- Taken together, our data show that chitosan is a potent fungicide which requires the cell integrity pathway, disrupts plasma membrane function and inhibits septin-mediated plant infection.
Files
New Phytologist - 2021 - Lopez‐Moya - Chitosan inhibits septin‐mediated plant infection by the rice blast fungus.pdf
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