A GATA transcription factor contributes to the multidrug resistance and pathogenicity though mediating the transcription of hydrolases and xenobiotic detoxification genes in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

A GATA transcription factor SsGATA1 contributes to multidrug resistance by regulating the transcription of drug efflux pump genes. SsGATA1 positively regulates pathogenicity, which is attributed to the up-regulation of hydrolases during infection. SsGATA1 represents a new target for preventing and controlling Sclerotinia stem rot. Phytopathogenic fungi can weaken the effectiveness of anti-fungal chemicals from plants and artificial synthesis through xenobiotic detoxification system. Nevertheless, the transcription factors responsible for transcriptional activation of xenobiotic detoxification genes in phytopathogenic fungi are rarely reported. Here, we show that a GATA transcription factor SsGATA1 is regulating the transcription of drug efflux pump genes, thus contributing to the tolerance of various types of chemical fungicides, including propiconazole, caspofungin and azoxystrobin in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum . Similarly, SsGATA1 also plays the role of tolerance to isothiocyanate and flavonols, two reported as broad-spectrum anti-fungal chemicals, by mediating the transcription of isothiocyanates hydrolase SsSaxA . Importantly, SsGATA1 positively regulates pathogenicity, which is attributed to the up-regulation of hydrolases and SsSaxA during infection. Furthermore, SsGATA1 is responsible for tolerance to several stresses. Our findings demonstrated that SsGATA1 plays roles in multidrug resistance and pathogenicity by activating the transcription of hydrolases and xenobiotic detoxification genes.