A novel TF associated with fungicide insensitivity: transcriptomic insights into QoI response in Fusarium fujikuroi

Bakanae disease, caused by Fusarium fujikuroi, is a significant threat to rice production. The emergence of resistance to quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides highlights the need to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the basis of QoI resistance in F. fujikuroi. Deletion of FFUJ_00276 demonstrated that its deletion conferred hypersensitivity to multiple fungicides. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed that FFUJ_00276 regulates broad cellular processes; its absence led to the downregulation of genes. Our findings identify FFUJ_00276 as a key regulator of a pleiotropic drug resistance network in F. fujikuroi, providing crucial insights into NTSR mechanisms against mitochondrial-targeting fungicides. This knowledge offers a potential target for developing sustainable disease control strategies.

由藤仓镰孢菌（Fusarium fujikuroi）引发的水稻恶苗病（Bakanae disease），是严重威胁水稻生产的病害之一。针对胞外喹诺酮类抑制剂（quinone outside inhibitor, QoI）杀菌剂的抗药性出现，凸显了解析其潜在分子机制的必要性。本研究围绕藤仓镰孢菌的QoI抗药性机制展开探究。对FFUJ_00276基因进行敲除实验后发现，该基因的缺失会使菌株对多种杀菌剂产生超敏反应。比较转录组学分析结果显示，FFUJ_00276可调控广泛的细胞生物学过程；该基因的缺失会导致大量基因表达下调。本研究结果证实，FFUJ_00276是藤仓镰孢菌多药耐药性网络的关键调控因子，为解析靶向线粒体杀菌剂的非靶标抗药性（non-target-site resistance, NTSR）机制提供了重要理论依据。该研究成果可为开发可持续的病害防控策略提供潜在作用靶点。