Host induced gene silencing of the Sclerotinia sclerotiorum ABHYDROLASE-3 gene reduces disease severity in Brassica napus

PLoS One. 2022 Aug 26;17(8):e0261102. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261102. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a pathogenic fungus that infects hundreds of crop species, causing extensive yield loss every year. Chemical fungicides are used to control this phytopathogen, but with concerns about increasing resistance and impacts on non-target species, there is a need to develop alternative control measures. In the present study, we engineered Brassica napus to constitutively express a hairpin (hp)RNA molecule to silence ABHYRDOLASE-3 in S. sclerotiorum. We demonstrate the potential for Host Induced Gene Silencing (HIGS) to protect B. napus from S. sclerotiorum using leaf, stem and whole plant infection assays. The interaction between the transgenic host plant and invading pathogen was further characterized at the molecular level using dual-RNA sequencing and at the anatomical level through microscopy to understand the processes and possible mechanisms leading to increased tolerance to this damaging necrotroph. We observed significant shifts in the expression of genes relating to plant defense as well as cellular differences in the form of structural barriers around the site of infection in the HIGS-protected plants. Our results provide proof-of-concept that HIGS is an effective means of limiting damage caused by S. sclerotiorum to the plant and demonstrates the utility of this biotechnology in the development of resistance against fungal pathogens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ascomycota
  • Brassica napus*
  • Disease Resistance
  • Gene Silencing
  • Plant Diseases
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Severity of Illness Index

Supplementary concepts

  • Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Grants and funding

This work was generously supported by grants from Manitoba Agricultural, the Canola Council of Canada, and the Western Grains Research Foundation to SW and MFB. NW was supported by a National Science and Engineering Research Council Graduate Scholarship. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.