Identification and Functional Characterization of an Effector Secreted by Cronartium ribicola

Cri-9402 was identified as a protein effector from Cronartium ribicola, based on the effect of its expression on growth of Pseudomonas syringae Psm ES4326 introduced into transiently transformed tobacco leaves and stably transformed Arabidopsis seedlings. In tobacco leaves transiently expressing its coding sequence, growth of P. syringae Psm ES4326 was inhibited. Expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) protein 2 (PR2), PR4a, endochitinase B, hypersensitive-related 201 (HSR201), HSR203J, and proteinase inhibitor 1 was upregulated but expression of PR1, coronatine insensitive 1, and abscisic acid 1 was significantly suppressed. In transformed Arabidopsis seedlings, the effector stimulated growth of P. syringae Psm ES4326; significantly suppressed expression of PR1, PR2, nonexpresser of pathogenesis-related genes 1 (NPR1), NPR3, NPR4, phytoalexin deficient 4, and salicylic acid induction deficient 2; and enhanced expression of plant defensin 1.2 (PDF1.2). The above results showed that the majority of responses to this effector in tobacco leaves were converse to those in transformed Arabidopsis. We could conclude that Cri-9402 promoted disease resistance in tobacco leaves and disease susceptibility in Arabidopsis seedlings. Its transcript was mainly expressed in aeciospores of C. ribicola and was probably involved in production or germination of aeciospores, and it was an effector potentially functioning in white pine-blister rust interactions.