To cause disease in maize, the biotrophic fungus Ustilago maydis secretes a large arsenal of effector proteins. Here, we functionally characterize the repetitive effector Rsp3 (repetitive secreted protein 3), which shows length polymorphisms in field isolates and is highly expressed during biotrophic stages. Rsp3 is required for virulence and anthocyanin accumulation. During biotrophic growth, Rsp3 decorates the hyphal surface and interacts with at least two secreted maize DUF26-domain family proteins (designated AFP1 and AFP2). AFP1 binds mannose and displays antifungal activity against the rsp3 mutant but not against a strain constitutively expressing rsp3. Maize plants silenced for AFP1 and AFP2 partially rescue the virulence defect of rsp3 mutants, suggesting that blocking the antifungal activity of AFP1 and AFP2 by the Rsp3 effector is an important virulence function. Rsp3 orthologs are present in all sequenced smut fungi, and the ortholog from Sporisorium reilianum can complement the rsp3 mutant of U. maydis, suggesting a novel widespread fungal protection mechanism.

Agricultural soil harbors a diverse microbiome that can form beneficial relationships with plants, including the inhibition of plant pathogens. Pseudomonas spp. are one of the most abundant bacterial genera in the soil and rhizosphere and play important roles in promoting plant health. However, the genetic determinants of this beneficial activity are only partially understood. Here, we genetically and phenotypically characterize the Pseudomonas fluorescens population in a commercial potato field, where we identify strong correlations between specialized metabolite biosynthesis and antagonism of the potato pathogens Streptomyces scabies and Phytophthora infestans. Genetic and chemical analyses identified hydrogen cyanide and cyclic lipopeptides as key specialized metabolites associated with S. scabies inhibition, which was supported by in planta biocontrol experiments. We show that a single potato field contains a hugely diverse and dynamic population of Pseudomonas bacteria, whose capacity to produce specialized metabolites is shaped both by plant colonization and defined environmental inputs.

23Agricultural soil harbors a diverse microbiome that can form beneficial relationships with plants, 24 including the inhibition of plant pathogens. Pseudomonas are one of the most abundant 25 bacterial genera in the soil and rhizosphere and play important roles in promoting plant growth 26 and preventing disease. However, the genetic determinants of this beneficial activity are only 27 partially understood, especially in relation to specialized metabolite production. Here, we 28 genetically and phenotypically characterize the Pseudomonas fluorescens population in 29 commercial potato field soils and identify strong correlations between specialized metabolite 30 biosynthetic pathways and antagonism of the potato pathogens Streptomyces scabies and 31 Phytophthora infestans. Genetic and chemical analyses identified hydrogen cyanide and cyclic 32 lipopeptides as key specialized metabolites associated with S. scabies inhibition. We show that 33 a single potato field contains a hugely diverse and dynamic population of Pseudomonas 34 bacteria, whose capacity to produce specialized metabolites is shaped both by plant 35 colonization and defined environmental inputs. 36 2 37 CFC agar and incubated overnight at 28 °C before streaking to single colonies on King's B (KB) 595 agar plates (96). Six isolates were selected at random per soil sample and subjected to 596 phenotypic/genomic analysis. 597 598 Amplicon sequencing 599 Genomic DNA was isolated from 3 g of pooled soil samples using the FastDNA™ SPIN Kit for 600 soil (MP Biomedicals, UK) following the manufacturer's instructions. Genomic DNA 601 concentration and purity was determined by NanoDrop spectrophotometry as above. Microbial 602 16S rRNA genes were amplified from soil DNA samples with barcoded universal prokaryotic 603 23 primers (515F/R806) targeting the V4 region, and then subjected to Illumina® MiSeq 604 sequencing (600-cycle, 2x300 bp) at the DNA Sequencing Facility, Department of Biochemistry, 605

No abstract