Innovation Team: Sugarcane pest and disease management and cultivation
Main research areas: (1) pathogen-host interactions in sugarcane; (2) green control of sugarcane pests and diseases; (3) highly efficient cultivation of sugarcane.
Chief scientist: Baoshan Chen, professor, PhD
Team members: Ronghui Wen, professor, PhD; Ru Li, professor, PhD; Haiyan Wu Professor, PhD; Jiaorong Meng, associate professor, PhD; Dehong Zheng associate professor, PhD; Xiping Yang associate professor, PhD; Yang Zhao associate professor, PhD; Chengwu Zhou, associate professor, PhD; Xiongbiao Xu, assistant professor, PhD; Shan Lu, assistant professor, PhD.
Team group photo
Achievements
Development of smut-resistant sugarcane varieties. Three new varieties, ZZ1, ZZ6 and ZZ9 with extremely high resistance to smut and preferred agronomic traits were successfully bred. Smut rate for 3rd ratoon year was kept under 0.5% in the field in large-scale production.
Characterization of mechanism of smut resistance in ZZ1. The smut resistance in ZZ1 was identified to be primarily external resistance (Guo et al. 2024) and alkanol abundance was implicated to be associated with the smut resistance (Liu et al., 2022). Smut resistance was mapped to a YZ-Rec-Chr06A chromosome spanning approximately 33.35 Mb and containing 1902 genes. There is a significant presence of resistance-related genes, such as flagellin sensing 2 (FLS2), wall-associated kinase (WAK), and genes related to cell wall formation, such as glucuronic acid xylan and hemicellulose synthesis in this region (Bao et al, 2024).
Identification of pathogenicity/virulence genes in the smut fungus. With the development of efficient methods for gene knockout in the smut fungus Sporisourium scitamineum (Lu at el., 2017) and efficient inoculation method for assay the virulence of the fungal strains or mutants (Guo et al., 2024), essential virulence-related genes of S. scitamineum were identified (Zhu et al., 2019; Lu et al., 2021; Lu et al., 2022; Zhang et al. 2023). It was also found that filamentous growth could be uncoupled with the virulence in S. scitamineum (Lu et al., 2021).
Sugarcane disease surveillance. Identification of Fusariun sacchari as the dominant pathogen for sugarcane Pokkah boeng in China (Meng et al., 2019); first report that Dickeya zeae caused stalk bacterial soft rot of sugarcane (Yang et al., 2021); biological and phylogenetic characterization of Stagonospora tainanensis, the pathogen causing sugarcane leaf blight in China (Wang et al., 2023); survey of sugarcane striate virus in Saccharum species in China (Lin et al., 2021); rapid viral disease diagnosis (Chen et al., 2019; Han et al. 2022a; Han et al. 2022b; Yao et al; 2020).
Selected publications
Zhou, Q.; Yao, Z.; Cao, X.; Chen, Y.; Zou, C.; Chen, B. Fusarium sacchari hypovirus 1, a Member of Hypoviridae with Virulence Attenuation Capacity in Phytopathogenic Fusarium Species. Viruses, 2024, 16, 608. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/v16040608
Bao, Y., Zhang, Q., Huang, J., Zhang, S., Yao, W., Yu, Z., Deng, Z., Yu, J., Kong, W., Yu, X., Lu, S., Wang, Y., Li, R., Song, Y., Zou, C., Xu, Y., Liu, Z., Yu, F., Song, J., Huang, Y., Zhang, J., Wang, W. Chen, B, Zhang, X & Zhang, M. A chromosomal-scale genome assembly of modern cultivated hybrid sugarcane provides insights into origination and evolution. Nat Commun., 2024, 15, 3041 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47390-6.
Guo F., Meng J., Huang J., Yang Y., Lu S. and Chen B. An efficient inoculation method to evaluate virulence differentiation of field strains of sugarcane smut fungus. Front. Microbiol., 2024, 15:1355486. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1355486
Li, X., Liu, Z., Wu, H., Yu Z, Meng J., Zhao H., Deng X., Su Y., Chen B., and Li R. Four sugarcane ScDIR genes contribute to lignin biosynthesis and disease resistance to Sporisorium scitamineum. Phytopathol Res 2024, 6: 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42483-024-00237-w
Chen, Y.; Yao, Z.; Zhao, L.; Yu, M.; Chen, B.; Zou, C. Redundant and Distinct Roles of Two 14-3-3 Proteins in Fusarium sacchari, Pathogen of Sugarcane Pokkah Boeng Disease. J. Fungi 2024, 10: 257. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10040257
Liang, H.; Li, F.; Huang, Y.; Yu, Q.; Huang, Z.; Zeng, Q.; Chen, B.; Meng, J. FsCGBP, a Cutinase G-Box Binding Protein, Regulates the Growth, Development, and Virulence of Fusarium sacchari, the Pathogen of Sugarcane Pokkah Boeng Disease. J. Fungi 2024, 10: 246. https:// doi.org/10.3390/jof10040246
Xu X, Lou Y, Liang K, Liu J, Wang Z, Chen B, Li W. The P2 nucleic acid binding protein of Sugarcane bacilliform virus is a viral pathogenic factor. Peer J. 2024; 12: e16982, DOI 10.7717/peerj.16982
Zhao J, Li S, Xu Y, Ahmad N, Kuang B, Feng M, Wei N, Yang X (2023). The subgenome Saccharum spontaneum contributes to sugar accumulation in sugarcane as revealed by full-length transcriptomic analysis. J Adv Res 54: 1-13.
Wang M, Qi X, Shi Y, Zhao J, Ahmad S, Akhtar K, Chen B, Lian T, He B, Wen R. Sugarcane straw returning is an approaching technique for the improvement of rhizosphere soil functionality, microbial community, and yield of different sugarcane cultivars. Front Microbiol. 2023, 14:1133973.
Zhang H., Yang Y., Guo F., Shen X., Lu S., Chen B. (2023) SsRSS1 mediates salicylic acid tolerance and contributes to virulence in sugarcane smut fungus. Journal of Integrative Agriculture. 22(7): 2126–2137, doi.org/10.1016/j.jia.2022.10.006
Huang, Z.; Shi, Q.; Zeng, Q.; Liang, H.; Yu, Q.; Meng, J.; Chen, B. Isolation, Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Stagonospora tainanensis, the Pathogen Causing Sugarcane Leaf Blight in China. Agronomy 2023, 13, 1136. https:// doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13041136
Wang M, Qi X, Shi Y, Zhao J, Ahmad S, Akhtar K, Chen B, Lian T, He B and Wen R. Sugarcane straw returning is an approaching technique for the improvement of rhizosphere soil functionality, microbial community, and yield of different sugarcane cultivars. Front. Microbiol. 2023, 14:1133973. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1133973
Wang, Y.; Li, R.; Chen, B.S. Cytogenetic Characterization and Metabolomic Differences of Full‐Sib Progenies of Saccharum spp. Plants, 2023, 12, 810. https://doi.org/10.3390/ plants12040810
Liang KL, Liu JY, Bao YY, Wang ZY, Xu XB. Screening and Identification of Host Factors Interacting with the Virulence Factor P0 Encoded by Sugarcane Yellow Leaf Virus by Yeast Two-Hybrid Assay. Genes (Basel). 2023, 14(7):1397.
Xue Y., Shi Y., Qi Y., Yu H., Zou C., Cao X., Sun C., Chen B., Wang H. Epigenetic and genetic contribution for expression bias of homologous alleles in polyploid sugarcane. Agronomy, 2022; 12, 2852; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112852
Li S, Duan W, Zhao J, Jing Y, Feng M, Kuang B, Wei N, Chen B, Yang X (2022). Comparative Analysis of Chloroplast Genome in Saccharum spp. and Related Members of ‘Saccharum Complex’. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 23, 7661
Han, Z.; Yang, C.; Xiao, D.; Lin, Y.; Wen, R.; Chen, B.; He, X. A Rapid, Fluorescence Switch-On Biosensor for Early Diagnosis of Sorghum Mosaic Virus. Biosensors, 2022, 12, 1034. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/bios12111034
Han, Z.; Du, P.; Wen, R.; Chen, B.; He, X. Signal “Off-On” Biosensor Based on Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) for Detection of Sorghum Mosaic Virus. Analytica, 2022, 3, 385–393. https://doi.org/10.3390/ analytica3040026
Xue Y, Zou C, Zhang C, Yu H, Chen B. and Wang H. Dynamic DNA methylation changes reveal tissue-specific gene expression in sugarcane. Front. Plant Sci. 2022, 13:1036764. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1036764
Lu S., Zhang H., Guo F., Yang Y., Shen X. and Chen B. SsUbc2, a determinant of pathogenicity, functions as a key coordinator controlling global transcriptomic reprogramming during mating in sugarcane smut fungus. Front. Microbiol. 2022, 13:954767. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.954767
Liu, Z.; Li, X.; Li, J.; Zhao, H.; Deng, X.; Su, Y.; Li, R.; Chen, B. Identification of Gene Modules and Hub Genes Associated with Sporisorium scitamineum Infection Using Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis. J. Fungi, 2022, 8, 852. https://doi.org/10.3390/ jof8080852
Li, S.; Duan, W.; Zhao, J.; Jing, Y.; Feng, M.; Kuang, B.; Wei, N.; Chen, B.; Yang, X. Comparative Analysis of Chloroplast Genome in Saccharum spp. and Related Members of ‘Saccharum Complex’. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 7661. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/ijms23147661
Li, X.; Liu, Z.; Zhao, H.; Deng, X.; Su, Y.; Li, R.; Chen, B. Overexpression of Sugarcane ScDIR Genes Enhances Drought Tolerance in Nicotiana benthamiana. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 5340. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23105340
Liu, Z.; Lan, X.; Li, X.; Zhao, H.; Gan, J.; Li, R.; Chen, B. A Plant-Derived Alkanol Induces Teliospore Germination in Sporisorium scitamineum. J. Fungi 2022, 8, 209. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/jof8020209
Lu, S.; Wang, Y.; Shen, X.; Guo, F.; Zhou, C.; Li, R.; Chen, B. SsPEP1, an Effector with Essential Cellular Functions in Sugarcane Smut Fungus. J. Fungi 2021, 7, 954. https:// doi.org/10.3390/jof7110954
Lin Y., Ali N., Hajimorad M. R., Zhang L., Qi X., Zhou L., Wen R and Chen B. Incidence, geographical distribution and genetic diversity of sugarcane striate virus in Saccharum species in China. Plant Disease, 2021, 105:3531-3537, doi:10.1094/PDIS-10-20-2307-RE
Lu S, Guo F, Wang Z, Shen X, Deng Y, Meng J, Jiang Z, Chen B. Genetic Dissection of T-DNA Insertional Mutants Reveals Uncoupling of Dikaryotic Filamentation and Virulence in Sugarcane Smut Fungus. Phytopathology, 2021, 111:2303-2308, doi: 10.1094/PHYTO-03-21-0114-R
Yang Y., Yao Z., Zhang M., Zou C., Chen B. First report of stalk bacterial soft rot of sugarcane caused by Dickeya zeae in China. Plant Dis. 2021, 105(4). doi: 10.1094/PDIS-10-20-2234-PDN.
Liu Y, Liu Q, Zhao X, Xie S, Wang Z, Wen R, Zhang M. and Chen B. Effect of two different sugarcane cultivars on rhizosphere bacterial communities of sugarcane and soybean upon intercropping. Front. Microbiol. 2021, 11:596472. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.596472
Yao Z., Zou C., Peng N., Zhu Y., Bao Y., Zhou Q., Wu Q., Chen B. and Zhang M. (2020) Virome Identification and Characterization of Fusarium sacchari and F. andiyazi: Causative Agents of Pokkah Boeng Disease in Sugarcane. Front. Microbiol. 11:240. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00240
Chen H., Ali N., Lv W., Shen Y., Qing Z., Lin Y., Chen B., Wen R. Comparison of IC-RT-PCR, Dot-ELISA and Indirect-ELISA for the Detection of Sorghum Mosaic Virus in Field-Grown Sugarcane Plants. Sugar Tech. 2020, 22(1):122-129. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-019-00738-5
Meng J. R., Huang H. J., Li Y. X., Li Y. J., Li J. Q., and Chen B.S. First Report of Fusarium sacchari Causing Sugarcane Pokkah Boeng in China. Plant Dis. 2019, 104(5), https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-05-19-0906-PDN.
Zhu G., Deng Y., E., Meixin Yan, Cui G., Wang Z., Zou C., Zhang B., Xi P., Chang C., Chen B, Jiang Z. Identification and Functional Analysis of the Pheromone Response Factor Gene of Sporisorium scitamineum. Front. Microbiol. 2019, 10:2115. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02115
Chang C, Cai E, Deng Y, Dan M, Qiu S, Chen B, Zhang L, Jiang Z. (2019) cAMP/PKA Signaling Pathway Regulates Redox homeostasis essential for Sporisorium scitamineum Mating/Filamentation and Virulence. Environmental Microbiology. Environ Microbiol, 21(3): 959-971. Doi:10.1111/1462-2920.14496
Lu S., Shen X., Chen B. Development of an efficient vector system for gene knock-out and near in-cis gene complementation in the sugarcane smut fungus. Scientific Reports, 2017, 7: 3113; DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-03233-7
