Knockout of the Lignin Pathway Gene BnF5H Decreases the S/G Lignin Compositional Ratio and Improves Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum Resistance in Brassica Napus

Overview

Journal Plant Cell Environ

Date 2021 Oct 26

PMID 34697825

Citations 21

Authors

Yanru Cao

Xingying Yan

Shuyao Ran

John Ralph

Rebecca A Smith

Xueping Chen

Cunmin Qu

Jiana Li

Liezhao Liu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Ferulate-5-hydroxylase is a key enzyme involved in the conversion of the guaiacyl monolignol to the syringyl monolignol in angiosperms. The monolignol ratio has been proposed to affect biomass recalcitrance and the resistance to plant disease. Stem rot caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Brassica napus causes severe losses in its production. To date, there is no information about the effect of the lignin monomer ratio on the resistance to S. sclerotiorum in B. napus. Four dominantly expressed ferulate-5-hydroxylase genes were concertedly knocked out by CRISPR/Cas9 in B. napus, and three mutant lines were generated. The S/G lignin compositional ratio was decreased compared to that of the wild type based on the results of Mӓule staining and 2D-NMR profiling in KO-7. The resistance to S. sclerotiorum in stems and leaves increased for the three f5h mutant lines compared with WT. Furthermore, we found that the stem strength of f5h mutant lines was significantly increased. Overall, we demonstrate for the first time that decreasing the S/G ratio by knocking out of the F5H gene improves S. sclerotiorum resistance in B. napus and increases stem strength.

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