Published Papers - Sekine Ken-Taro

Anthracnose and similar symptoms on mango leaves are caused by several other pathogenic fungi, including <i>Colletotrichum</i> spp.

Taba, S; Harashima, K; Nishihira, M; Maeuejo, H; Sekine, KT

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PLANT PATHOLOGY ( European Journal of Plant Pathology )  169 ( 3 ) 515 - 528   2024.07 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Development and Application of Attenuated Plant Viruses as Biological Control Agents in Japan

Tomitaka, Y; Shimomoto, Y; Ryang, BS; Hayashi, K; Oki, T; Matsuyama, M; Sekine, KT

VIRUSES-BASEL ( Viruses )  16 ( 4 )   2024.04 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Identification of a novel viral factor inducing tumorous symptoms by disturbing vascular development in planta.

Atsumi G, Naramoto S, Nishihara M, Nakatsuka T, Tomita R, Matsushita Y, Hoshi N, Shirakawa A, Kobayashi K, Fukuda H, Sekine KT

Journal of virology ( Journal of Virology )  97 ( 9 ) e0046323   2023.09 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Plant viruses induce various disease symptoms that substantially impact agriculture, but the underlying mechanisms of viral disease in plants are poorly understood. Kobu-sho is a disease in gentian that shows gall formation with ectopic development of lignified cells and vascular tissues such as xylem. Here, we show that a gene fragment of gentian Kobu-sho-associated virus, which is designated as Kobu-sho-inducing factor (KOBU), induces gall formation accompanied by ectopic development of lignified cells and xylem-like tissue in Nicotiana benthamiana. Transgenic gentian expressing KOBU exhibited tumorous symptoms, confirming the gall-forming activity of KOBU. Surprisingly, KOBU expression can also induce differentiation of an additional leaf-like tissue on the abaxial side of veins in normal N. benthamiana and gentian leaves. Transcriptome analysis with Arabidopsis thaliana expressing KOBU revealed that KOBU activates signaling pathways that regulate xylem development. KOBU protein forms granules and plate-like structures and co-localizes with mRNA splicing factors within the nucleus. Our findings suggest that KOBU is a novel pleiotropic virulence factor that stimulates vascular and leaf development.IMPORTANCEWhile various mechanisms determine disease symptoms in plants depending on virus-host combinations, the details of how plant viruses induce symptoms remain largely unknown in most plant species. Kobu-sho is a disease in gentian that shows gall formation with ectopic development of lignified cells and vascular tissues such as xylem. Our findings demonstrate that a gene fragment of gentian Kobu-sho-associated virus (GKaV), which is designated as Kobu-sho-inducing factor, induces the gall formation accompanied by the ectopic development of lignified cells and xylem-like tissue in Nicotiana benthamiana. The molecular mechanism by which gentian Kobu-sho-associated virus induces the Kobu-sho symptoms will provide new insight into not only plant-virus interactions but also the regulatory mechanisms underlying vascular and leaf development.

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How do emerging long-read sequencing technologies function in transforming the plant pathology research landscape?

Hamim, I; Sekine, KT; Komatsu, K

PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY ( Plant Molecular Biology )  110 ( 6 ) 469 - 484   2022.12 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Investigation of sodium nitrite and heat treatment conditions to introduce mutations into the genome of watermelon silver mottle virus

Tomitaka Yasuhiro, Adachi-Fukunaga Shuhei, Sekine Ken-Taro

Kyushu Plant Protection Research ( The Association for Plant Protection of Kyushu )  68 ( 0 ) 13 - 21   2022.11

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Plant viruses and viroids in Japan

Shin-ichi Fuji, Tomofumi Mochizuki, Mitsuru Okuda, Shinya Tsuda, Satoshi Kagiwada, Ken-Taro Sekine, Masashi Ugaki, Keiko T. Natsuaki, Masamichi Isogai, Tetsuo Maoka, Minoru Takeshita, Nobuyuki Yoshikawa, Kazuyuki Mise, Takahide Sasaya, Hideki Kondo, Kenji Kubota, Yasuyuki Yamaji, Toru Iwanami, Kazusato Ohshima, Kappei Kobayashi, Tatsuji Hataya, Teruo Sano, Nobuhiro Suzuki

Journal of General Plant Pathology ( Springer Science and Business Media LLC )  88 ( 2 ) 105 - 127   2022 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Abstract An increasing number of plant viruses and viroids have been reported from all over the world due largely to metavirogenomics approaches with technological innovation. Herein, the official changes of virus taxonomy, including the establishment of megataxonomy and amendments of the codes of virus classification and nomenclature, recently made by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses were summarized. The continued efforts of the plant virology community of Japan to index all plant viruses and viroids occurring in Japan, which represent 407 viruses, including 303 virus species and 104 unclassified viruses, and 25 viroids, including 20 species and 5 unclassified viroids, as of October 2021, were also introduced. These viruses and viroids are collectively classified into 81 genera within 26 families of 3 kingdoms (Shotokuvirae, Orthornavirae, Pararnavirae) across 2 realms (Monodnaviria and Riboviria). This review also overviewed how Japan's plant virus/viroid studies have contributed to advance virus/viroid taxonomy.

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First report of anthracnose of jaboticaba caused by Colletotrichum tropicale in Japan

Taba S., Fukuchi K., Tamashiro Y., Tomitaka Y., Sekine K., Ajitomi A., Takushi T.

Journal of General Plant Pathology ( Journal of General Plant Pathology )  86 ( 1 ) 65 - 69   2020.01 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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A novel FLOURY ENDOSPERM2 (FLO2)-interacting protein, is involved in maintaining fertility and seed quality in rice

Suzuki Rintaro, Imamura Tomohiro, Nonaga Yoko, Kusano Hiroaki, Teramura Hiroshi, Sekine Ken-Taro, Yamashita Tetsuro, Shimada Hiroaki

Ｐｌａｎｔ　Ｂｉｏｔｅｃｈｎｏｌｏｇｙ ( 日本植物細胞分子生物学会 )  37 ( 1 ) 47 - 55   2020 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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<p>Crop plants accumulate a large amount of storage starch and storage proteins in the endosperm. Genes involved in the biosynthesis of these substances work in concert during development of the rice endosperm. The rice <i>flo2</i> mutant produces aberrant seeds with reduced grain quality. <i>FLOURRY ENDOSPERM 2 (FLO2)</i>, the causative gene of the <i>flo2</i> mutant, is considered to be a regulatory protein that controls the biosynthesis of seed storage substances. FLO2 contains tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) motifs that may mediate protein–protein interactions. In this study, we identified the protein that interacts with the TPR motif of FLO2. We generated a transformant that produced the FLAG-tagged fusion FLO2 protein in the <i>flo2</i> mutant and used this in the shotgun proteomic analysis. A protein, which we named FLOC1, interacted with FLO2. In vitro pull-down assays indicated that the TPR motif was involved in this interaction. A knock-down transformant of FLOC1 showed significantly reducted fertility and generation of seeds with abnormal features. These findings suggest that FLOC1 is involved not only in seed fertility but also in seed quality. These phenotypes were also observed on the RNAi transformants of the <i>flo2</i> mutant although the effect of the <i>flo2</i> mutation remained. these findings imply that there is a difference in the functions of FLO2 and FLOC1 although both of appear to be involved in the control of seed quality during seed formation.</p>

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Bidens pilosa Extract Effects on Pine Wilt: Causal Agents and Their Natural Enemies

Taba S., Oohama T., Ajitomi A., Kiyuna C., Kinjo M., Sekine K.

Forest Science ( OXFORD ACADEMIC )  66 ( 3 ) 284 - 290   2019.12 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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We investigated the nematicidal and insecticidal activities of the aqueous extract from Bidens pilosa var. radiata on pine-wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) and Japanese pine sawyer (Monochamus alternatus) larvae and adults, the causal agent and vector of pine wilt, respectively. The aqueous extract killed the pine-wood nematode, adults, and larvae of the vector in vitro at all concentrations tested, and the effect decreased significantly with increasing extract dilution. Repellent activity was observed on the nematode and the vector adults as well, although the activity decreased with time in case of the vector. Furthermore, the aqueous extract of B. pilosa effectively promoted approximately 3.0-9.0 mm of hyphal growth in Beauveria spp., when compared with the control treatment. A minor insecticidal effect was also observed on two species of click beetle (Cryptalaus larvatus pini and Paracalais berus), which are natural predators of the Japanese pine-sawyer larvae. Pesticidal and repellent activities of the aqueous extract observed on several organisms related to pine wilt suggest that a multifactorial approach may effectively control this devastating disease.Study Implications: Preventing infestation by adults or larvae of the Japanese pine sawyer-or killing the insect-would prevent infection by the pathogenic pinewood nematode; indeed, preventing the multiplication and migration of the nematode would prevent the tree from dying, even if infected with it. Therefore, here we explored the possibility that the nematode might be controlled by the aqueous extract or the active ingredient present in such an extract obtained from Bidens pilosa var. radiata, which, in addition to insecticidal activity against the organisms associated with pine-wilt disease, effectively promoted the growth of the natural microbial predators of the insect vector. Furthermore, being a natural product, and thus presumably harmless to pine trees, the biological control of the pine-wood nematode and the insect vector by means of this extract clearly favors environmental preservation while allowing a substantial reduction in the use of agricultural chemicals for disease control, and will surely prove useful to the scientific community and decisionmakers (forest managers and planners) involved in prospective research focused on the implementation of control strategies for pine-wilt disease.

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The Host Stomatal Density Determines Resistance to Septoria gentianae in Japanese Gentian.

Tateda C, Obara K, Abe Y, Sekine R, Nekoduka S, Hikage T, Nishihara M, Sekine KT, Fujisaki K

Molecular plant-microbe interactions : MPMI ( Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions )  32 ( 4 ) 428 - 436   2019.04

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Random Mutagenesis of Virus Gene for the Experimental Evaluation of the Durability of NB-LRR Class Plant Virus Resistance Gene.

Idehara K, Tomita R, Sekine KT, Nishiguchi M, Kobayashi K

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) ( Methods in Molecular Biology )  2028   97 - 113   2019

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Identification and Functional Analysis of NB-LRR-Type Virus Resistance Genes: Overview and Functional Analysis of Candidate Genes.

Tomita R, Sekine KT, Tateda C, Kobayashi K

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) ( Methods in Molecular Biology )  2028   1 - 10   2019

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Insertion of Epitope Tag into NB-LRR Class Plant Virus Resistance Protein.

Kobayashi K, Tomita R, Sekine KT

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) ( Methods in Molecular Biology )  2028   11 - 25   2019

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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沖縄の地域農業振興を支える植物病理学研究の現状と展望

関根健太郎, 田場 聡

琉球大学農学部学術報告   65   13 - 18   2018.12

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

Efficacy of a Simple Formulation Composed of Nematode-Trapping Fungi and Bidens pilosa var. radiata Scherff Aqueous Extracts (BPE) for Controlling the Southern Root-Knot Nematode.

Ajitomi A, Taba S, Ajitomi Y, Kinjo M, Sekine KT

Microbes and environments ( 日本微生物生態学会・日本土壌微生物学会 )  33 ( 1 ) 4 - 9   2018.03

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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<p>We tested a formulation composed of a mixture of <i>Bidens pilosa</i> var. <i>radiata</i> extract (BPE) and nematode-trapping fungi for its effects on <i>Meloidogyne incognita</i>. In earlier evaluations of the effects of plant extracts on the hyphal growth of 5 species of nematode-trapping fungi with different capture organs (traps), the growth of all species was slightly inhibited. However, an investigation on the number of capture organs and nematode-trapping rates revealed that <i>Arthrobotrys dactyloides</i> formed significantly more rings and nematode traps than those of the control. An evaluation of simple mixed formulations prepared using sodium alginate showed that nematodes were captured with all formulations tested. The simple mixed formulation showed a particularly high capture rate. Furthermore, in a pot test, although the effects of a single formulation made from the fungus or plant extract were acceptable, the efficacy of the simple mixed formulation against <i>M. incognita</i> root-knot formation was particularly high.</p>

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Inducible expression of magnesium protoporphyrin chelatase subunit I (CHLI)-amiRNA provides insights into cucumber mosaic virus Y satellite RNA-induced chlorosis symptoms.

Bhor SA, Tateda C, Mochizuki T, Sekine KT, Yaeno T, Yamaoka N, Nishiguchi M, Kobayashi K

Virusdisease ( VirusDisease )  28 ( 1 ) 69 - 80   2017.03

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Horizontal pollen transmission of Gentian ovary ring-spot virus is initiated during penetration of the stigma and style by infected pollen tubes.

Isogai M, Kamata Y, Ando S, Kamata M, Shirakawa A, Sekine KT, Yoshikawa N

Virology ( Virology )  503   6 - 11   2017.03

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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Inducible transgenic tobacco system to study the mechanisms underlying chlorosis mediated by the silencing of chloroplast heat shock protein 90.

Bhor SA, Tateda C, Mochizuki T, Sekine KT, Yaeno T, Yamaoka N, Nishiguchi M, Kobayashi K

Virusdisease ( VirusDisease )  28 ( 1 ) 81 - 92   2017.03

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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The use of metabolome analysis to identify the cause of an unexplained disease of Japanese gentians (Gentiana triflora)

Hideyuki Takahashi, Hiroshi Abe, Kohei Fujita, Ken-Taro Sekine

Metabolomics   13   51   2017.03 [ Peer Review Accepted ]

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

Review of Beet pseudoyellows virus genome structure built the consensus genome organization of cucumber strains and highlighted the unique feature of strawberry strain.

Akhter MS, Bhor SA, Hlalele N, Nao M, Sekine KT, Yaeno T, Yamaoka N, Nishiguchi M, Gubba A, Kobayashi K

Virus genes ( Virus Genes )  52 ( 6 ) 828 - 834   2016.12

Type of publication: Research paper (scientific journal)

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