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Poster

Session: Session 2 Presenting Authors at Posters (Evens)

P-338 - Fusarium graminearium effector protein ECB1 have a role during biotic stress against bacteria

Thursday, July 17, 2025
13:30 - 15:15  
Location: Confex Hall 3
Plant microbiota functions and intermicrobial interactions

    Presenting Author(s)

  • MD

    Martin Darino, PhD

    Postdoctoral researcher
    Rothamsted Research
    HARPENDEN, England, United Kingdom

    • Author(s)

  • JS

    Jade Smith

    PhD student
    Rothamsted Research
    Harpenden, England, United Kingdom

  • MC

    Melissa Cravero

    Visiting scientist
    University of Neuchâtel
    Neuchâtel, Neuchatel, Switzerland

  • GC

    Guillaume Cailleau

    Senior scientist
    University of Neuchâtel
    Neuchâtel, Neuchatel, Switzerland

  • PJ

    Pilar Junier

    Professor
    University of Neuchâtel
    Neuchâtel, Neuchatel, Switzerland

  • KH

    Kim E. Hammond-Kosack

    Discovery leader
    Rothamsted Research
    Harpenden, England, United Kingdom

The Ascomycete fungus Fusarium graminearum (Fg) is a destructive pathogen of wheat. During wheat spike infection, the pathogen not only has to interact with the host but also with the bacterial community residing in the plant. In case of bacterial-fungal antagonistic interactions, the fungus has to compete with the bacteria for plant-derived nutrients and occupying the same plant niche. Several antagonistic interactions have been described, but the molecular mechanisms controlling these are poorly understood. Heterologous expression of Fg effectors in E. coli has allowed us to identify two proteins that induce bacterial cell death. We named these as effector controlling bacteria (ECB). Both ECBs are homologous genes. Evaluation of expression for the two ECBs during wheat spike infection, saprophytic stage and growth on media condition (YPD) showed that both ECB are upregulated during wheat infection and saprophytic stage. In addition, ECB1 is also expressed on YPD media. A bacterial strain from the Paraburkholderia genus inhibits Fg spore germination and infection of wheat spikes. Mutant strains lacking ECB1 are more sensitive to the inhibitory effects from the Paraburkholderia strain than Fg wild-type strain indicating that ECB1 might be involved in biotic stress against bacteria. Double ECB gene deletion strains will be generated so their roles during plant infection as well as interactions with bacteria in planta can be assessed.