Find in Library

<i>Ceratocystis fimbriata</i> (<i>C. fimbriata</i>) is a notorious pathogenic fungus that causes sweet potato black rot disease. The APSES transcription factor Swi6 in fungi is located downstream of the cell wall integrity (CWI)-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and has been identified to be involved in cell wall integrity and virulence in several filamentous pathogenic fungi. However, the specific mechanisms by which Swi6 regulates the growth and pathogenicity of plant pathogenic fungi remain elusive. In this study, the <i>SWI6</i> deletion mutants and complemented strains of <i>C. fimbriata</i> were generated. Deletion of Swi6 in <i>C. fimbriata</i> resulted in aberrant growth patterns. Pathogenicity assays on sweet potato storage roots revealed a significant decrease in virulence in the mutant. Non-targeted metabolomic analysis using LC-MS identified a total of 692 potential differentially accumulated metabolites (PDAMs) in the ∆<i>Cfswi6</i> mutant compared to the wild type, and the results of KEGG enrichment analysis demonstrated significant enrichment of PDAMs within various metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, GPI-anchored protein synthesis, and ABC transporter metabolism. These metabolic pathways were believed to play a crucial role in mediating the growth and pathogenicity of <i>C. fimbriata</i> through the regulation of CWI. Firstly, the deletion of the <i>SWI6</i> gene led to abnormal amino acid and lipid metabolism, potentially exacerbating energy storage imbalance. Secondly, significant enrichment of metabolites related to GPI-anchored protein biosynthesis implied compromised cell wall integrity. Lastly, disruption of ABC transport protein metabolism may hinder intracellular transmembrane transport. Importantly, this study represents the first investigation into the potential regulatory mechanisms of <i>SWI6</i> in plant filamentous pathogenic fungi from a metabolic perspective. The findings provide novel insights into the role of <i>SWI6</i> in the growth and virulence of <i>C. fimbriata</i>, highlighting its potential as a target for controlling this pathogen.