Gene disruption and characterization of a class V chitin synthase in Botrytis cinerea

Cell-wall chitin biosynthesis in the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea involves 7 classes of chitin synthases. In this study, we disrupted a gene encoding a chitin synthase with a myosin-like motor domain (BcchsV) through Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation. The resulting mutant was not significantly affected in either growth characteristics or pathogenicity on tomato leaves. Surprisingly, the BcchsV mutant exhibited a 31% (m/m) increase in its chitin content compared with the wild-type strain. In addition, the BcchsV mutant showed increased sensitivity to Calcofluor White and slightly enhanced tolerance to cell-wall disturbing substances and osmosis regulators, including SDS, sorbitol, and NaCl. These results suggest that Bcchs does not play an essential role in the synthesis of cell-wall chitin in B. cinerea. However, disruption of this gene provoked a compensatory mechanism regulating the cellular response to cell-wall damage.