A viral gene confers hypovirulence-associated traits to the chestnut blight fungus.

摘要: A viral double-stranded (ds)RNA associated with reduced virulence (hypovirulence) and the accompanying biological control of chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, was shown recently to contain two contiguous coding domains designated ORF B. We report here that transformation an isogenic virulent, dsRNA-free C. parasitica strain a cDNA copy conferred traits similar those exhibited by dsRNA-containing hypovirulent strain: characteristics included pigmentation, laccase accumulation suppressed conidiation. However not reduced, indicating apparent uncoupling from hypovirulence. These results establish direct cause effect relationship between dsRNA genetic element present in specific phenotypic traits. They demonstrate further these are result general reaction fungus presence replicating RNA, but caused domain.