Unveiling microRNA-like small RNAs implicated in the initial infection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense through small RNA sequencing

Bibliographic Details
Title: Unveiling microRNA-like small RNAs implicated in the initial infection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense through small RNA sequencing
Authors: Lifei Xie, Yuntian Bi, Chengcheng He, Junjian Situ, Meng Wang, Guanghui Kong, Pinggen Xi, Zide Jiang, Minhui Li
Source: Mycology, Vol 16, Iss 1, Pp 293-308 (2025)
Publisher Information: Taylor & Francis Group, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Collection: LCC:Biology (General)
LCC:Microbiology
Subject Terms: Small RNAs, banana Fusarium Wilt, infection process, pathogenicity, Biology (General), QH301-705.5, Microbiology, QR1-502
More Details: Banana Fusarium wilt (BFW), caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), poses a major challenge to the worldwide banana industry. Fungal microRNA-like small RNAs (milRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating fungal growth, conidiation, development, and pathogenicity. However, the milRNAs and their functions in the pathogenesis of Foc remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics to profile Foc sRNAs during both pure culture and early infection stages. Our analysis identified six milRNAs exhibiting significantly upregulated expression at the initial Foc infection. Of these, milR106’s biogenesis was found to be Dicer-dependent, whereas milR87, milR133, milR138, and milR148 were associated with Dicer and Argonaute proteins. Genetic manipulation and phenotype analysis confirmed that milR106 is crucial for Foc virulence by regulating conidiation, hydrogen peroxide sensitivity, and infective growth. Gene Ontology analysis of milRNA targets in the banana genome revealed enrichment in defence response to fungus and cellular response to hypoxia, implying the importance of these target genes in response to pathogen infection. In conclusion, our sRNA profiling of Foc identified several infection-induced milRNAs. The corresponding results provide valuable molecular targets for the development of an efficient strategy to control BFW.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 21501203
2150-1211
2150-1203
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/2150-1203; https://doaj.org/toc/2150-1211
DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2024.2345917
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/9d14f2d558f746d79cf04902ddc5900c
Accession Number: edsdoj.9d14f2d558f746d79cf04902ddc5900c
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:21501203
21501211
DOI:10.1080/21501203.2024.2345917
Published in:Mycology
Language:English