Membrane protein Bcsdr2 mediates biofilm integrity, hyphal growth and virulence of Botrytis cinerea

TL;DR

This study identifies a membrane protein in a plant pathogen fungus that is crucial for its growth, biofilm formation, and ability to cause disease.

Contribution

The study reveals that Bcsdr2 is a key regulator of virulence and development in Botrytis cinerea.

Findings

Deletion of Bcsdr2 leads to loss of biofilm integrity and reduced virulence in Botrytis cinerea.

Bcsdr2 deletion causes downregulation of genes involved in lipid and chitin synthesis during infection.

Phenotypic defects caused by Bcsdr2 deletion are restored through gene complementation.

Abstract

Grey mould caused by Botrytis cinerea is a devastating disease responsible for large losses to agricultural production, and B. cinerea is a necrotrophic model fungal plant pathogen. Membrane proteins are important targets of fungicides and hotspots in the research and development of fungicide products. Wuyiencin affects the permeability and pathogenicity of B. cinerea, parallel reaction monitoring revealed the association of membrane protein Bcsdr2, and the bacteriostatic mechanism of wuyiencin was elucidated. In the present work, we generated and characterised ΔBcsdr2 deletion and complemented mutant B. cinerea strains. The ΔBcsdr2 deletion mutants exhibited biofilm loss and dissolution, and their functional activity was illustrated by reduced necrotic colonisation on strawberry and grape fruits. Targeted deletion of Bcsdr2 also blocked several phenotypic defects in aspects of mycelial growth, conidiation and virulence. All phenotypic defects were restored by targeted gene complementation. The roles of Bcsdr2 in biofilms and pathogenicity were also supported by quantitative real-time RT-PCR results showing that phosphatidylserine decarboxylase synthesis gene Bcpsd and chitin synthase gene BcCHSV
II were downregulated in the early stages of infection for the ΔBcsdr2 strain. The results suggest that Bcsdr2 plays important roles in regulating various cellular processes in B. cinerea.

• The mechanism of wuyiencin inhibits B. cinerea is closely associated with membrane proteins.

• Wuyiencin can downregulate the expression of the membrane protein Bcsdr2 in B. cinerea.

• Bcsdr2 is involved in regulating B. cinerea virulence, growth and development.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00253-024-13238-8.

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