Cell Wall Biogenesis Protein Phosphatase CrSsd1 Is Required for Conidiation, Cell Wall Integrity, and Mycoparasitism inClonostachys rosea

Cell wall biogenesis protein phosphatases play important roles in various cellular processes in fungi. However, their functions in the widely distributed mycoparasitic fungusClonostachys rosearemain unclear, as do their potential for controlling plant fungal diseases. Herein, the function of cell wall biogenesis protein phosphatase CrSsd1 inC. rosea67-1 was investigated using gene disruption and complementation approaches. The gene-deficient mutant Delta CrSsd1 exhibited much lower conidiation, hyphal growth, mycoparasitic ability, and biocontrol efficacy than the wild-type (WT) strain, and it was more sensitive to sorbitol and Congo red. The results indicate thatCrSsd1is involved in fungal conidiation, osmotic stress adaptation, cell wall integrity, and mycoparasitism inC. rosea.