WFhb1-1 plays an important role in resistance against Fusarium head blight in wheat

Sci Rep. 2020 May 8;10(1):7794. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-64777-9.

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a severe disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Qfhb1 is the most important quantitative trait locus (QTL) for FHB resistance. We previously identified wheat gene WFhb1-1 (aka WFhb1-c1) as a candidate for FHB resistance gene. Here we report that WFhb1-1 has been cloned. The gene (GenBank # KU304333.1) consists of a single exon, encoding a putative membrane protein of 127 amino acids. WFhb1-1 protein produced in Pichia pastoris inhibits growth of both F. graminearum and P. pastoris in culture. Western Blotting with anti- WFhb1-1 antibody revealed a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in WFhb1-1 accumulation, 12 hours post Fusarium inoculation in non-Qfhb1-carrier wheat but not in Qfhb1-carrier wheat. Overexpressing WFhb1-1 in non-Qfhb1-carrier wheat led to a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in Fusarium-damaged rachis rate, Fusarium-diseased kernel rate and DON content in harvested kernels, while silencing WFhb1-1 in Qfhb1-carrier wheat resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.01) in FHB severity. Therefore, WFhb1-1 is an important FHB resistance gene with a potential antifungal function and probably a key functional component of Qfhb1 in wheat. A model regarding how WFhb1-1 functions in FHB resistance/susceptibility is hypothesized and discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Base Sequence
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Disease Resistance / genetics*
  • Fusarium*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant*
  • Mutation
  • Plant Diseases / genetics*
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Quantitative Trait Loci
  • Quantitative Trait, Heritable
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Triticum / genetics*
  • Triticum / microbiology*