Validation of an in vitro system to trigger changes in the gene expression of effectors of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Aims Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the causal agent of white mold, can infect several host species, including economically important crops. In this study, we propose and validate a new in vitro system able to mimic the conditions of interaction with the host and promote the induction of S. sclerotiorum effectors. Methods and results For culture media production, we selected three plant species, common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L, cv. Requinte.), maize (Zea mays, cv. BRS1030) and beggarticks (Bidens pilosa). To validate this system as an in vitro inducer of effectors, the qRT-PCR technique was used to investigate the expression profile of some S. sclerotiorum effector genes in each growth medium at different times after inoculation. Conclusion The results obtained in this study provide a validation of a new method to study S. sclerotiorum during mimetic interaction with different hosts. Although leaf extract does not fully represent the plant environment, the presence of plant components in the culture medium seems to induce effector genes, mimicking in planta conditions. The use of MEVM is simpler than in planta growth, bypasses problems such as the amount of mycelium produced, as well as contamination of host cells during transcriptomic and proteomic analyses. Significance and Impact of the Study We have devised MEVM media as a model mimicking the interaction of S. sclerotiorum and its hosts and used it to evaluate in vitro expression of effectors normally expressed only in planta.

Automated summary

This study introduced and validated a new in vitro system to mimic the interaction of S. sclerotiorum with different hosts and induce effector genes. By using plant components in the culture medium, the system was able to mimic in planta conditions and induce the expression of effector genes.