Functional analysis of the signal mucin MaMsb2 in Metarhizium acridum

In summary, the deletion of MaMsb2 delayed the conidial germination, increased the conidial yield, changed the conidiation pattern, and reduced tolerance to adversity in M. acridum. Moreover, inactivation of MaMsb2 led to the decreased virulence of M.acridum due to the decrease of conidial hydrophobicity and adhesion, the impairment of appressorium formation, and the decrease of M. acridum growth in the hemolymph of locusts. These results will provide a theoretical foundation for further revealing the mechanism of MaMsb2 regulating conidiation pattern and pathogenesis in M. acridum.