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Activation of three targets by a TAL effector confers susceptibility to bacterial blight of cotton

Author

Listed:
  • Brendan W. Mormile

    (University of Michigan
    Texas A&M University)

  • Yan Yan

    (University of Michigan)

  • Taran Bauer

    (Cornell University
    Harvard Medical School)

  • Li Wang

    (Cornell University)

  • Rachel C. Rivero

    (University of Michigan)

  • Sara C. D. Carpenter

    (Cornell University)

  • Catherine Danmaigona Clement

    (Texas A&M University
    800 N. Lindbergh Blvd.)

  • Kevin L. Cox

    (Texas A&M University
    Washington University)

  • Lin Zhang

    (Texas A&M University)

  • Xiyu Ma

    (Texas A&M University
    Harvard Medical School)

  • Terry A. Wheeler

    (Texas A&M AgriLife Research)

  • Jane K. Dever

    (Texas A&M AgriLife Research
    2200 Pocket Road)

  • Ping He

    (University of Michigan)

  • Adam J. Bogdanove

    (Cornell University)

  • Libo Shan

    (University of Michigan
    Texas A&M University)

Abstract

Bacterial transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) promote pathogenicity by activating host susceptibility (S) genes. To understand the pathogenicity and host adaptation of Xanthomonas citri pv. malvacearum (Xcm), we assemble the genome and the TALE repertoire of three recent Xcm Texas isolates. A newly evolved TALE, Tal7b, activates GhSWEET14a and GhSWEET14b, different from GhSWEET10 targeted by a TALE in an early Xcm isolate. Activation of GhSWEET14a and GhSWEET14b results in water-soaked lesions. Transcriptome profiling coupled with TALE-binding element prediction identify a pectin lyase gene as an additional Tal7b target, quantitatively contributing to Xcm virulence alongside GhSWEET14a/b. CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing supports the function of GhSWEETs in cotton bacterial blight and the promise of disrupting the TALE-binding site in S genes for disease management. Collectively, our findings elucidate the rapid evolution of TALEs in Xanthomonas field isolates and highlight the virulence mechanism wherein TALEs induce multiple S genes to promote pathogenicity.

Suggested Citation

  • Brendan W. Mormile & Yan Yan & Taran Bauer & Li Wang & Rachel C. Rivero & Sara C. D. Carpenter & Catherine Danmaigona Clement & Kevin L. Cox & Lin Zhang & Xiyu Ma & Terry A. Wheeler & Jane K. Dever & , 2025. "Activation of three targets by a TAL effector confers susceptibility to bacterial blight of cotton," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-55926-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-55926-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kevin L. Cox & Fanhong Meng & Katherine E. Wilkins & Fangjun Li & Ping Wang & Nicholas J. Booher & Sara C. D. Carpenter & Li-Qing Chen & Hui Zheng & Xiquan Gao & Yi Zheng & Zhangjun Fei & John Z. Yu &, 2017. "TAL effector driven induction of a SWEET gene confers susceptibility to bacterial blight of cotton," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Xiu-Fang Xin & Kinya Nomura & Kyaw Aung & André C. Velásquez & Jian Yao & Freddy Boutrot & Jeff H. Chang & Cyril Zipfel & Sheng Yang He, 2016. "Bacteria establish an aqueous living space in plants crucial for virulence," Nature, Nature, vol. 539(7630), pages 524-529, November.
    3. Zunyong Liu & Shuguo Hou & Olivier Rodrigues & Ping Wang & Dexian Luo & Shintaro Munemasa & Jiaxin Lei & Jun Liu & Fausto Andres Ortiz-Morea & Xin Wang & Kinya Nomura & Chuanchun Yin & Hongbo Wang & W, 2022. "Phytocytokine signalling reopens stomata in plant immunity and water loss," Nature, Nature, vol. 605(7909), pages 332-339, May.
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