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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (11): 136-149.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2024480

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Identification and green fluorescent protein gene transformation of the causal agent of yellow-core disease of Codonopsis pilosula

Yao FU1,2(), Zi-xian WANG1,2, Tai-xiang CHEN3, Ling JIN1,2, Xiao-hui MA1,2, Yan WANG1,2()   

  1. 1.School of Pharmacy,Gansu University of Chinese Medicine,Lanzhou 730000,China
    2.Northwest Collaborative Innovation Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Co-constructed by Gansu Province & MOE of PRC,Lanzhou 730000,China
    3.State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems,College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology,Lanzhou University,Lanzhou 730020,China
  • Received:2024-12-03 Revised:2025-03-03 Online:2025-11-20 Published:2025-10-09
  • Contact: Yan WANG

Abstract:

Yellow-core disease of Codonopsis pilosula significantly reduces its yield and quality. First, we clarified the taxonomic position of the pathogen causing the disease, and developed EGFP-labeled transformants of the causative fungus, providing a means for visual tracking of infection characteristics within the host plants. The pathogen was clarified by using both morphological and multi-gene locus analyses. ATMT was used to introduce a binary vector carrying the HygB and EGFP into the conidia of the yellow-core disease fungus. Genetically stable transformants were screened. The results indicated that the field incidence of yellow-core disease is 20%-30%. The pathogen is identified as Fusarium curvatum var. codonopsidis. Genetic transformation produced 138 positive transformants at an efficiency of approximately 46 transformants per 106 conidia. Four randomly selected positive transformants, after six subcultures, exhibited stable hygromycin B resistance and green fluorescence expression. Transformants EGFP7-3 and EGFP7-4 showed no significant differences in biological characteristics or pathogenicity compared to the wild-type strain, indicating successful and stableintegration EGFP without affecting virulence. This study provides valuable materials and technical support for investigating the pathogenesis and control of yellow-core disease in C.pilosula.

Key words: Codonopsispilosula, yellow-core disease, pathogen identification, EGFP, ATMT, gene transformation