AUTHOR=Xiong Dianguang , Wang Yonglin , Tian Longyan , Tian Chengming 

TITLE=MADS-Box Transcription Factor VdMcm1 Regulates Conidiation, Microsclerotia Formation, Pathogenicity, and Secondary Metabolism of Verticillium dahliae

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2016

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01192

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2016.01192

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Verticillium dahliae</italic>, a notorious phytopathogenic fungus, causes vascular wilt diseases in many plant species resulting in devastating yield losses worldwide. Due to its ability to colonize plant xylem and form microsclerotia, <italic>V. dahliae</italic> is highly persistent and difficult to control. In this study, we show that the MADS-box transcription factor <italic>VdMcm1</italic> is a key regulator of conidiation, microsclerotia formation, virulence, and secondary metabolism of <italic>V. dahliae</italic>. In addition, our findings suggest that <italic>VdMcm1</italic> is involved in cell wall integrity. Finally, comparative RNA-Seq analysis reveals 823 significantly downregulated genes in the <italic>VdMcm1</italic> deletion mutant, with diverse biological functions in transcriptional regulation, plant infection, cell adhesion, secondary metabolism, transmembrane transport activity, and cell secretion. When taken together, these data suggest that <italic>VdMcm1</italic> performs pleiotropic functions in <italic>V. dahliae</italic>.</p>