A cytoplasmic protein MoJMJD3 can reduce early appressorium formation and fungal virulence in Magnaporthe oryzae

Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae) is a devastating pathogenic fungal disease that has a serious threat to the global rice security. Recently, an in-depth study of the pathogenic mechanism and developmental process of M. oryzae became a primary model in the study of host-fungal pathogen interactions. Here, we have identified a gene MoJMJD3 (MGG_02032, accession XM_003708733) encoding the JumonjiC (JmjC) domain through bioinformatics analysis in M. oryzae. The ?Mojmjd3 deletion mutants showed defects in early appressorium formation and fungal virulence during pathogenesis. At 4 h after inoculation, the early appressorium formation of ?Mojmjd3 was decreased when compared with that of the wild-type P131. Analysis of intracellular localization of MoJMJD3 with RFP fluorescence observation showed that MoJMJD3 was mainly localized in the cytoplasm of the conidia, appressoria, hyphae, and infective hyphae. Furthermore, by spray inoculation analysis, the ?Mojmjd3deletion mutants reduced virulence on the leaves of rice. These data suggest that MoJMJD3 plays important roles in fungal virulence during pathogenesis in M. oryzae.

Automated summary

A gene called MoJMJD3 encoding the JumonjiC (JmjC) domain has been identified in M. oryzae, a fungal pathogen causing devastating damage to rice crops worldwide. Deletion of the MoJMJD3 gene resulted in defects in early appressorium formation and fungal virulence during pathogenesis, indicating the crucial role of MoJMJD3 in fungal virulence.