bcpmr1 encodes a P-type Ca2+/Mn2+-ATPase mediating cell-wall integrity and virulence in the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea

• We have identified and characterized the B. cinerea pmr1 gene, the closest homolog of yeast PMR1.
• bcpmr1 gene is a functional homolog of yeast PMR1.
• bcpmr1 null mutants displayed a significant reduction in conidial production, radial growth and sclerotia diameter.
• bcpmr1 null mutants has a weakened cell wall.
• Deletion of bcpmr1 affected pathogenicity of B. cinerea on tomato leaves, and apple and tomato fruits.

The cell wall of fungi is generally composed of an inner skeletal layer consisting of various polysaccharides surrounded by a layer of glycoproteins. These usually contain both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides, coupled to the proteins by stepwise addition of mannose residues by mannosyltransferases in the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. In yeast, an essential luminal cofactor for these mannosyltransferases is Mn2+ provided by the Ca2+/Mn2+-ATPase known as Pmr1. In this study, we have identified and characterized the Botrytis cinerea pmr1 gene, the closest homolog of yeast PMR1. We hypothesized that bcpmr1 also encodes a Ca2+/Mn2+-ATPase that plays an important role in the protein glycosylation pathway. Phenotypic analysis showed that bcpmr1 null mutants displayed a significant reduction in conidial production, radial growth and diameter of sclerotia. Significant alterations in hyphal cell wall composition were observed including a 83% decrease of mannan levels and an increase in the amount of chitin and glucan. These changes were accompanied by a hypersensitivity to cell wall-perturbing agents such as Calcofluor white, Congo red and zymolyase. Importantly, the Δbcpmr1 mutant showed reduced virulence in tomato (leafs and fruits) and apple (fruits) and reduced biofilm formation. Together, our results highlight the importance of bcpmr1 for protein glycosylation, cell wall structure and virulence of B. cinerea.