Article

Polyethyleneimine-coated MXene quantum dots improve cotton tolerance to Verticillium dahliae by maintaining ROS homeostasis

Ping QiuHubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaJiayue LiHubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaLin ZhangNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaKun ChenNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaJianmin ShaoHubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaBaoxin ZhengHubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaHang YuanHubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaJie QiHubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaLin YueHubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaQin HuNational Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaYuqing MingHubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaShiming LiuHubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaLu LongState Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Henan Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, People's Republic of ChinaJiangjiang GuMOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, The Center of Crop Nanobiotechnology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaXianlong ZhangHubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of ChinaKeith LindseyDepartment of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UKWei GaoState Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, Henan Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, People's Republic of China. [email protected]Honghong WuHubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China. [email protected]Longfu ZhuHubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China. [email protected]

2023en

ABI

Abstract

Verticillium dahliae is a soil-borne hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen that threatens cotton production worldwide. In this study, we assemble the genomes of two V. dahliae isolates: the more virulence and defoliating isolate V991 and nondefoliating isolate 1cd3-2. Transcriptome and comparative genomics analyses show that genes associated with pathogen virulence are mostly induced at the late stage of infection (Stage II), accompanied by a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS), with upregulation of more genes involved in defense response in cotton. We identify the V991-specific virulence gene SP3 that is highly expressed during the infection Stage II. V. dahliae SP3 knock-out strain shows attenuated virulence and triggers less ROS production in cotton plants. To control the disease, we employ polyethyleneimine-coated MXene quantum dots (PEI-MQDs) that possess the ability to remove ROS. Cotton seedlings treated with PEI-MQDs are capable of maintaining ROS homeostasis with enhanced peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities and exhibit improved tolerance to V. dahliae. These results suggest that V. dahliae trigger ROS production to promote infection and scavenging ROS is an effective way to manage this disease. This study reveals a virulence mechanism of V. dahliae and provides a means for V. dahliae resistance that benefits cotton production.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43192-4

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