Suha Jabaji | McGill University (original) (raw)

Papers by Suha Jabaji

Canadian journal of …, 2002

Abstract: The mycoparasite Stachybotrys elegans produces two exo-and one endo-acting chitinases w... more Abstract: The mycoparasite Stachybotrys elegans produces two exo-and one endo-acting chitinases when grown on chitin. We purified to homogeneity one of the exo-acting chitinases, beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase and partially characterized its physical and ...

BMC Plant Biology

Background: Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA is a devastating phytopathogen causing Rhizoctonia foliar b... more Background: Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA is a devastating phytopathogen causing Rhizoctonia foliar blight (RFB) of soybean worldwide with yield losses reaching 60%. Plant defense mechanisms are complex and information from different metabolic pathways is required to thoroughly understand plant defense regulation and function. Combining information from different "omics" levels such as transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics is required to gain insights into plant metabolism and its regulation. As such, we studied fluctuations in soybean metabolism in response to R. solani infection at early and late disease stages using an integrated transcriptomics-metabolomics approach, focusing on the regulation of soybean primary metabolism and oxidative stress tolerance. Results: Transcriptomics (RNAseq) and metabolomics (1 H NMR) data were analyzed individually and by integration using bidirectional orthogonal projections to latent structures (O2PLS) to reveal possible links between the metabolome and transcriptome during early and late infection stages. O2PLS analysis detected 516 significant transcripts, double that reported in the univariate analysis, and more significant metabolites than detected in partial least squares discriminant analysis. Strong separation of treatments based on integration of the metabolomes and transcriptomes of the analyzed soybean leaves was revealed, similar trends as those seen in analyses done on individual datasets, validating the integration method being applied. Strong fluctuations of soybean primary metabolism occurred in glycolysis, the TCA cycle, photosynthesis and photosynthates in response to R. solani infection. Data were validated using quantitative realtime PCR on a set of specific markers as well as randomly selected genes. Significant increases in transcript and metabolite levels involved in redox reactions and ROS signaling, such as peroxidases, thiamine, tocopherol, proline, L-alanine and GABA were also recorded. Levels of ethanol increased 24 h post-infection in soybean leaves, and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) loss-of-function mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana had higher necrosis than wild type plants. Conclusions: As a proof-of-concept, this study offers novel insights into the biological correlations and identification of candidate genes and metabolites that can be used in soybean breeding for resistance to R. solani AG1-IA infection. Additionally, these findings imply that alcohol and its associated gene product ADH may have important roles in plant resistance to R. solani AG1-IA causing foliar blight.

PloS one, 2018

Biotic stress, as a result of plant-pathogen interactions, induces the accumulation of reactive o... more Biotic stress, as a result of plant-pathogen interactions, induces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the cells, causing severe oxidative damage to plants and pathogens. To overcome this damage, both the host and pathogen have developed antioxidant systems to quench excess ROS and keep ROS production and scavenging systems under control. Data on ROS-scavenging systems in the necrotrophic plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani are just emerging. We formerly identified vitamin B6 biosynthetic machinery of R. solani AG3 as a powerful antioxidant exhibiting a high ability to quench ROS, similar to CATALASE (CAT) and GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE (GST). Here, we provide evidence on the involvement of R. solani vitamin B6 biosynthetic pathway genes; RsolPDX1 (KF620111.1), RsolPDX2 (KF620112.1), and RsolPLR (KJ395592.1) in vitamin B6 de novo biosynthesis by yeast complementation assays. Since gene expression studies focusing on oxidative stress responses of both the plant and the pathog...

Genome announcements, 2014

The soil fungus Rhizoctonia solani is a pathogen of agricultural crops. Here, we report on the 51... more The soil fungus Rhizoctonia solani is a pathogen of agricultural crops. Here, we report on the 51,705,945 bp draft consensus genome sequence of R. solani strain Rhs1AP. A comprehensive understanding of the heterokaryotic genome complexity and organization of R. solani may provide insight into the plant disease ecology and adaptive behavior of the fungus.

Phytopathology, 2005

ABSTRACT Recent reports have shown induction of resistance to Rhizoctonia root rot using nonpatho... more ABSTRACT Recent reports have shown induction of resistance to Rhizoctonia root rot using nonpathogenic strains of binucleate Rhizoctonia spp. (np-BNR). This study evaluates the biocontrol ability of several np-BNR isolates against root and foliar diseases of cotton in greenhouse trials, provides evidence for induced systemic resistance (ISR) as a mechanism in this biocontrol, and compares the disease control provided by np-BNR with that provided by the chemical inducer benzothiadiazole (BTH). Pretreatment of cotton seedlings with np-BNR isolates provided good protection against pre- and post-emergence damping-off caused by a virulent strain of Rhizoctonia solani (AG-4). Seedling stand of protected cotton was significantly higher (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05) than that of nonprotected seedlings. Several np-BNR isolates significantly reduced disease severity. The combination of BTH and np-BNR provided significant protection against seedling rot and leaf spot in cotton; however, the degree of disease reduction was comparable to that obtained with np-BNR treatment alone. Significant reduction in leaf spot symptoms caused by Alternaria macrospora occurred on cotyledons pretreated with np-BNR or sprayed with BTH, and the np- BNR-treated seedlings had significantly less leaf spot than BTH-treated seedlings. The results demonstrate that np-BNR isolates can protect cotton from infections caused by both root and leaf pathogens and that disease control was superior to that observed with a chemical inducer.

FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 2000

There are an increasing number of assays available for fungal plant pathogens based on DNA techno... more There are an increasing number of assays available for fungal plant pathogens based on DNA technology. We have developed such an assay for Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt) in soil, using slot-blot hybridisation. To ensure the validity of DNA-based soil assays for the fungus, it is important to determine the stability of Ggt DNA in soil. This study was undertaken to quantify the DNA degradation of dead Ggt in soil using a DNA-based assay. Mycelia were killed using various treatments, then DNA was extracted and estimated by a slot-blot hybridisation technique using the specific Ggt DNA probe, pG158. Mycelia were also killed using a fungicide (triadimefon) at a concentration of 150^250 Wg ml 31 . The amount of detectable DNA of Ggt, killed using triadimefon, declined by 82^93%. Inoculum in the form of diseased wheat roots, artificially inoculated ryegrass seed, particulate soil organic matter and whole soil was killed using heattreatment. The amount of detectable DNA of Ggt declined markedly (90%) in both heat-treated roots and inoculated ryegrass seeds, and declined by 50% in both treated soil and soil organic matter. The rate of DNA degradation of Ggt in soil varied with the type of inoculum. The amount of detectable DNA of Ggt in dead mycelia declined by 99.8% after 4 days of incubation in soil. No DNA was detected after 8 days of incubation. In contrast, Ggt DNA in live mycelia declined by 70% after 8 days of incubation and declined to 10% of original DNA level after 32 days. In ground ryegrass seed inoculum, DNA in both killed and live Ggt declined by 50% after 8 days. In diseased roots, DNA from both live and killed Ggt did not appear to decline over 16 days. Estimates of the amount of Ggt in the soil using a DNA-based assay reflect both live and dead populations of the fungus. The rate of breakdown of DNA of the dead fungus is very high and the presence of dead fungi in roots probably a rare event so the DNA from dead fungus probably contributes little to the total DNA level.

Phytopathology, 2009

Fish emulsion (FE) added to a sandy-loam soil at 1 and 2% rates reduced the viability of Verticil... more Fish emulsion (FE) added to a sandy-loam soil at 1 and 2% rates reduced the viability of Verticillium dahliae microsclerotia by 39 and 74% in 1 day, 87 and 98% in 3 days, and 95 and 99% in 6 days, respectively. The immediate kill of microsclerotia indicated that FE contains toxic substances. We found in FE high concentrations (400 mmol/liter) of organic acids, including some known toxicants. Glycolic, acetic, formic, n-butyric, and propionic acids were the major organic acids detected in FE at the proportions of 52.5, 26.9, 7.9, 7.2, and 4.7%, respectively. In solution assays, the viability of V. dahliae microsclerotia treated for 24 h in 1, 2, 5, and 10% FE (pH 3.6 to 3.0) or a mixture of organic acids (pH 4.1 to 3.9) equivalent to the proportions in FE was reduced by 74, 94, 97, and 99% or 81, 91, 98, and 99%, respectively. The viability of microsclerotia was increased when the treatment solutions were buffered to pH 6.0. The organic acids mixtures and formic (0.025%) and acetic (0.1%) acids were toxic to Pythium ultimum. A mixture of organic acids (1, 2, and 4%) provided immediate protection of cucumber seedlings from damping-off in P. ultimum-infested muck and sandy-loam soils but not in peat-based mix. FE (1 and 2%) provided immediate protection of cucumber seedlings from damping-off in an infested muck soil, and disease protection was consistent when planting was delayed for 7, 14, and 28 days after adding FE. FE (1, 2, and 4%) did not provide immediate protection of cucumber seedlings from damping-off in a P. ultimum-infested peat-based mix; however, disease suppression was evident when planting was delayed for 7, 14, and 21 days after adding FE. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses of the peat-based mix indicated that the P. ultimum populations in the FE-amended mix declined over time. This study suggests that these organic acids in FE played a major role in pathogen or disease suppression, depending on the soil and substrate.

Frontiers in Microbiology, 2016

Vitamin B6 is recognized as an important cofactor required for numerous metabolic enzymes, and ha... more Vitamin B6 is recognized as an important cofactor required for numerous metabolic enzymes, and has been shown to act as an antioxidant and play a role in stress responses. It can be synthesized through two different routes: salvage and de novo pathways. However, little is known about the possible function of the vitamin B6 pathways in the fungal plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. Using genome walking, the de novo biosynthetic pathway genes; RsolPDX1 and RsolPDX2 and the salvage biosynthetic pathway gene, RsolPLR were sequenced. The predicted amino acid sequences of the three genes had high degrees of similarity to other fungal PDX1, PDX2, and PLR proteins and are closely related to other R. solani anastomosis groups. We also examined their regulation when subjected to reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress inducers, the superoxide generator paraquat, or H2O2, and compared it to the well-known antioxidant genes, catalase and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). The genes were differentially regulated with transcript levels as high as 33 fold depending on the gene and type of stress reflecting differences in the type of damage induced by ROS. Exogenous addition of the vitamers PN or PLP in culture medium significantly induced the transcription of the vitamin B6 de novo encoding genes as early as 0.5 hour post treatment (HPT). On the other hand, transcription of RsolPLR was vitamer-specific; a down regulation upon supplementation of PN and upregulation with PLP. Our results suggest that accumulation of ROS in R. solani mycelia is linked to transcriptional regulation of the three genes and implicate the vitamin B6 biosynthesis machinery in R. solani, similar to catalases and GST, as an antioxidant stress protector against oxidative stress.

Archivum histologicum Japonicum. Nippon soshikigaku kiroku

Bioscience Biotechnology and Biochemistry

Crude urinary trypsin inhibitor was obtained by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography from normal ... more Crude urinary trypsin inhibitor was obtained by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography from normal fresh urine. By the purification of the crude urinary inhibitor on successive chromatography methods using Sephacryl S-200, DEAE-cellulose, CM-Sepharose CL-6B and Sephadex G-100, we detected two forms of urinary trypsin inhibitor: form I and form II. The specific activity of form I increased approx. 4-fold with a recovery of 60%, as compared to that of crude urinary trypsin inhibitor. N-terminal amino acids of form I and form II were determined to be alanine and valine, respectively. Molecular weights of forms I and II were estimated to be 67000 and 28000 by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and to be 43000 and 19000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. S-carboxymethylated form I migrated as a single band corresponding to a molecular weight of 59000 in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. From the results of the determination of a single N-terminal amino acid of form I and a single band of S-carboxymethylated form I, it is indicated that it is composed of single polypeptide chain. And the present study suggests that form I is a native form of trypsin inhibitor in normal human urine and form II is a fragmented product from form I in the purification steps.

Genome Announcements, 2015

Bacillus methylotrophicus is implicated in phytostimulation and disease suppression of agricultur... more Bacillus methylotrophicus is implicated in phytostimulation and disease suppression of agricultural and bioenergy crops. Here, we present the genome sequences of B. methylotrophicus strains B26 and OB9. Their assembly resulted in 26 and 24 contigs, respectively. These strains are well suited for comparative genomics studies and the evaluation of commercially valuable biomolecular compounds.

Clubroot disease, caused by the soil-borne phytopathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae is one of the m... more Clubroot disease, caused by the soil-borne phytopathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae is one of the most devastating diseases on Brassica crop species worldwide. For decades, host resistance has been the major tool in management of clubroot. The CR gene Rcr1 was previously identified from Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis. In this work, proteomic and metabolic approaches were employed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of the disease resistance conferred by Rcr1. Functional analysis of differentially accumulated proteins identified a potential signaling pathway associated with the resistance by Rcr1 that was distinct from other commonly reported modes of recognition receptors for fungal and bacterial pathogens. This novel signaling pathway appeared to act in a calcium-independent way through an unknown cascade of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and would require the ubiquitin-26S proteasome, which was previously demonstrated to function in abiotic stresses, especially the cold ...

PLOS ONE, 2015

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGB) induce positive effects in plants, for instance, increased ... more Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGB) induce positive effects in plants, for instance, increased growth and reduced abiotic stresses susceptibility. The mechanisms by which these bacteria impact the host plant are numerous, diverse and often specific. Here, we studied the agronomical, molecular and biochemical effects of the endophytic PGB Bacillus subtilis B26 on the full life cycle of Brachypodium distachyon Bd21, an established model species for functional genomics in cereal crops and temperate grasses. Inoculation of Brachypodium with B. subtilis strain B26 increased root and shoot weights, accelerated growth rate and seed yield as compared to control plants. B. subtilis strain B26 efficiently colonized the plant and was recovered from roots, stems and blades as well as seeds of Brachypodium, indicating that the bacterium is able to migrate, spread systemically inside the plant, establish itself in the aerial plant tissues and organs, and is vertically transmitted to seeds. The presence of B. subtilis strain B26 in the seed led to systemic colonization of the next generation of Brachypodium plants. Inoculated Brachypodium seedlings and mature plants exposed to acute and chronic drought stress minimized the phenotypic effect of drought compared to plants not harbouring the bacterium. Protection from the inhibitory effects of drought by the bacterium was linked to upregulation of the drought-response genes, DREB2B-like, DHN3-like and LEA-14-A-like and modulation of the DNA methylation genes, MET1B-like, CMT3-like and DRM2-like, that regulate the process. Additionally, total soluble sugars and starch contents increased in stressed inoculated plants, a biochemical indication of drought tolerance. In conclusion, we show a single inoculation of Brachypodium with a PGB affected the whole growth cycle of the plant, accelerating its growth rates, shortening its vegetative period, and alleviating drought stress effects. These effects are relevant to grasses and cereal crops.

Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 1989

ABSTRACT

Frontiers in Plant Science, 2015

The root system of most terrestrial plants form symbiotic interfaces with arbuscular mycorrhizal ... more The root system of most terrestrial plants form symbiotic interfaces with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which are important for nutrient cycling and ecosystem sustainability. The elucidation of the undergoing changes in plants&amp;#39; metabolism during symbiosis is essential for understanding nutrient acquisition and for alleviation of soil stresses caused by environmental cues. Within this context, we have undertaken the task of recording the fluctuation of willow (Salix purpurea L.) leaf metabolome in response to AMF inoculation. The development of an advanced metabolomics/bioinformatics protocol employing mass spectrometry (MS) and (1)H NMR analyzers combined with the in-house-built metabolite library for willow (http://willowmetabolib. mcgill.ca/index.html) are key components of the research. Analyses revealed that AMF inoculation of willow causes up-regulation of various biosynthetic pathways, among others, those of flavonoid, isoflavonoid, phenylpropanoid, and the chlorophyll and porphyrin pathways, which have well-established roles in plant physiology and are related to resistance against environmental stresses. The recorded fluctuation in the willow leaf metabolism is very likely to provide AMF-inoculated willows with a significant advantage compared to non-inoculated ones when they are exposed to stresses such as, high levels of soil pollutants. The discovered biomarkers of willow response to AMF inoculation and corresponding pathways could be exploited in biomarker-assisted selection of willow cultivars with superior phytoremediation capacity or genetic engineering programs.

Phytopathology, 2015

Many studies have investigated the effect of biochar on plant yield, nutrient uptake, and soil mi... more Many studies have investigated the effect of biochar on plant yield, nutrient uptake, and soil microbial populations; however, little work has been done on its effect on soilborne plant diseases. To determine the effect of maple bark biochar on Rhizoctonia damping-off, 11 plant species were grown in a soilless potting substrate amended with different concentrations of biochar and inoculated or not with Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group 4. Additionally, the effect of biochar amendment on R. solani growth and metabolism in vitro was evaluated. Increasing concentrations of maple bark biochar increased Rhizoctonia damping-off of all 11 plant species. Using multivariate analyses, we observed positive correlations between biochar amendments, disease severity and incidence, abundance of culturable bacterial communities, and physicochemical parameters. Additionally, biochar amendment significantly increased R. solani growth and hyphal extension in vitro, and altered its primary metabolism, notably the mannitol and tricarboxylic acid cycles and the glycolysis pathway. One or several organic compounds present in the biochar, as identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, may be metabolized by R. solani. Taken together, these results indicate that future studies on biochar should focus on the effect of its use as an amendment on soilborne plant pathogens before applying it to soils.

Frontiers in Microbiology, 2015

Chamoun R, Aliferis KA and Jabaji S

Phytopathology, 2003

The capacity of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices in reducing the presence of... more The capacity of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices in reducing the presence of Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli in bean plants and the surrounding mycorrhizosphere soil was evaluated in a compartmentalized experimental system. Quantification of the pathogen and the symbiont in plant tissues, the soil regions of the mycorrhizosphere (rhizosphere and mycosphere), and the bulk soil was accomplished using specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers in real-time PCR assays, culture-dependant methods, and microscopic determination techniques. Nonmycorrhizal bean plants infected with the pathogen had distinctive Fusarium root rot symptoms, while infected plants previously colonized by G. intraradices remained healthy. The amount of F. solani f. sp. phaseoli genomic DNA was significantly reduced in mycorrhizal bean plants and in each mycorrhizosphere soil compartment. The presence of G. intraradices in the mycorrhizosphere was not significantly modified, although the ...