Phospholipase C (PLC) is an important phospholipid hydrolase that plays critical roles in various biological processes in eukaryotic cells. To elucidate the functions of PLC in morphogenesis and pathogenesis in Fusarium graminearum, deletion mutants were constructed of all six FgPLC genes identified in this study. Deletion of FgPLC1, but not the other five FgPLC genes, affected hyphal growth and conidiation. The FgPLC1 deletion mutant (Δplc1) also was defective in conidium germination and germ tube growth. It was sterile in selfing crosses and had increased sensitivities to hyperosmotic and cell wall stresses. The Δplc1 mutant showed reduced DON production and virulence during infection in flowering wheat heads. Deletion of FgPLC1 decreased the phosphorylation levels of both Gpmk1 and Mgv1 MAP kinases. qRT-PCR analysis showed that several genes related to defective phenotypes were down-regulated in the Δplc1 mutant. Taken together, these results indicated that FgPLC1 is important for hyphal growth, plant infection, and sexual or asexual reproduction, and it may be functionally related to MAP kinases in F. graminearum.
Keywords: DON; FgPLC1; Fusarium graminearum; PLC; Pathogenicity.
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