The nuclear pore protein Nup2 is essential for growth and development, stress response, pathogenicity and deoxynivalenol biosynthesis in Fusarium graminearum

BACKGROUND Wheat is an important grain crop that has been under serious threat from Fusarium graminearum. Nup2, a member of the nuclear pore complex, plays an important role in regulating eukaryotic nuclear protein transport and participates in gene regulation. Dissecting the function of nuclear pore proteins in pathogenic fungi may provide effective targets for novel fungicides. RESULTS Mutants exhibited nutritional growth defects, asexual/sexual developmental abnormalities. Deficiency of FgNup2 resulted in increased resistance of Fusarium graminearum to cell wall disruptors and increased sensitivity to metal ions. Pathogenicity analyses showed that the mutant was significantly less virulent on flowering wheat ears, consistent with the observed decrease in deoxynivalenol (DON) production. Furthermore, we showed that FgNup2 interacts synergistically with FgTri6, a transcription factor of the TRI family, to regulate the expression of toxin‐producing genes, which, in turn, affects the biosynthesis of DON and related toxins. CONCLUSION This study revealed that FgNup2 plays important roles in the growth and development, cell wall integrity, stress response, pathogenicity, and DON synthesis of F. graminearum. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. A model for the regulation of fungal development and virulence by Nup2 in F. graminearum. FgNup2 is localized in the nucleus and interacts with FgTri6. It regulates mycelial growth, asexual and sexual reproduction, stress responses and DON production in F. graminearum and is essential for its virulence.