Construction of Fluorescent Protein Labeled Fusarium verticillioides with Different Mating Types

Purpose To construct fluorescent protein labeled strains of Fusarium verticillioides with different mating types, providing materials for the study of infection, colonization, and sexual reproduction of F. verticillioides.

Methods Through polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated protoplast transformation, the coding region of eGFP and mCherry fluorescent protein were introduced into F. verticillioides strains FvLNF15-11 and FvSHF19-37, respectively; the growth characteristics, sexual reproduction, and pathogenicity of fluorescently labeled strains were compared with the wild-type strain.

Results The fluorescently labeled strains FvLNF15-11-eGFP and FvSHF19-37-mCherry were obtained through PCR test. The eGFP and mCherry were successfully expressed in conidia and mycelia of strain FvLNF15-11 and FvSHF19-37 under confocal laser microscopy, respectively. Between fluorescently labeled strains and the wild-type strain, there were no obvious differences in vegetative growth, perithecium production, and pathogenicity.

Conclusion This study constructs the fluorescent protein labeled strains of F. verticillioides with different mating types, which not only provides material for studying the fungal infection and colonization in the host, but also accumulates a foundation for studying the sexual reproduction of F. verticillioides.