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MAT Loci Play Crucial Roles in Sexual Development but Are Dispensable for Asexual Reproduction and Pathogenicity in

Jiao-Yu Wang1, Shi-Zhen Wang1, Zhen Zhang1

  • 1State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China.

Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 23, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Magnaporthe oryzae sexual reproduction requires both MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 loci for development. Specific MAT genes are crucial for perithecium and ascospore formation, but not pathogenicity.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Plant Pathology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Magnaporthe oryzae causes rice blast, a major global threat to rice production.
  • The fungus exhibits both asexual and sexual reproduction, with mating type (MAT) loci governing sexual compatibility.
  • The molecular mechanisms underlying M. oryzae sexual reproduction remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the roles of two MAT loci and five individual MAT genes in M. oryzae sex determination, sexual development, and pathogenicity.
  • To understand the specific functions of key MAT genes in the formation of sexual structures.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of two MAT loci and five individual MAT genes in M. oryzae.
  • Gene knockout/deletion studies to assess function.
  • GFP fusion experiments to determine protein localization.

Main Results:

  • Both MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 loci are essential for sex determination and sexual structure development.
  • MAT1-1-1, MAT1-1-3, and MAT1-2-1 are critical for perithecium formation.
  • MAT1-1-2 influences ascospore generation, while MAT1-2-2 is dispensable for sexual development.
  • MAT genes are not required for vegetative growth, asexual reproduction, or pathogenicity.

Conclusions:

  • Sexual reproduction in M. oryzae is regulated independently of vegetative and pathogenic development.
  • Understanding MAT gene function provides insights into the life cycle and variation of this important fungal pathogen.
Keywords:
MAT genesMAT lociMagnaporthe oryzaepathogenicitysexual reproduction

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