Calcium/calmodulin-dependent signaling for prepenetration development in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cochliobolus miyabeanus</Emphasis> infecting rice

Cochliobolus miyabeanus forms a specialized infection structure, an appressorium, to infect rice. Contacting a hard surface induces appressorium formation in C. miyabeanus, while the hydrophobicity of the substratum does not affect this morphogenic infection event. To determine whether the calcium/calmodulin-dependent signaling system is involved in prepenetration morphogenesis in C. miyabeanus, the effects of a calcium chelator (ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid; EGTA), phospholipase C inhibitor (neomycin), intracellular calcium channel blocker (TMB-8), calmodulin antagonists (chlorpromazine, phenoxybenzamine, and W-7), and calcineurin inhibitor (cyclosporin A) on morphogenesis and infection were examined. Addition of Ca²⁺ and the calcium ionophore A23187 did not affect conidial germination, while the number of appressoria decreased with higher concentrations. EGTA inhibited conidial germination and appressorium formation. The calcium channel blocker did not affect appressorium formation at any concentration; however, calmodulin antagonists and the calcineurin inhibitor specifically reduced appressorium formation at the micromolar level. One of the calmodulin antagonists, W-7, also inhibited accumulation of mRNA of the calmodulin gene within germinating conidia and/or appressorium-forming germ tubes. Thus, biochemical processes controlled by the calcium/calmodulin signaling system seem to be involved in the induction of prepenetration morphogenesis on rice.     

Effects of some indole-related compounds on the infection behavior of Magnaporthe grisea

Based on their effect on the infection behavior of Magnaporthe grisea, indole-related compounds were classified into three groups. The first group, including tryptophan, indole-3-butyric acid, indole-3-pyruvic acid, and indole-3-acetamide, did not inhibit infection behavior such as spore germination, appressorium formation, or infection hypha formation in M. grisea. The second, including indole acetic acid, indole-3-acetonitrile, oxindole, and tryptamine inhibited all stages of infection behaviors in a dose-dependent manner. The third, including gramine and indole, did not inhibit spore germination or appressorium formation, whereas it did inhibit infection hypha formation in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that endogenous or exogenously applied indole-related compounds in the second and third groups may contribute to protection in blast-susceptible plants such as rice and barley.     

Cyclic AMP Restores Appressorium Formation Inhibited by Polyamines in Magnaporthe grisea

ABSTRACT Magnaporthe grisea, the causal agent of rice blast, forms a dome-shaped melanized infection structure, an appressorium, to infect its host. Environmental cues that induce appressorium formation in this fungus include the hydrophobicity and hardness of the contact surface and chemicals produced by the host. An elevated concentration of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) has been implicated in appressorium differentiation in M. grisea. Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and sper-mine) are involved in cell growth and differentiation in a wide range of organisms. To understand the role of polyamines in appressorium differentiation in M. grisea, intracellular polyamines were quantified, and the effects of polyamines and polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors on conidial germination and appressorium formation were tested. High levels of polyamines were detected in freshly collected spores, but the levels decreased during conidial germination. Spermidine was found to be the major component. Polyamines and polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors did not affect conidial germination, but polyamines specifically impaired appressorium formation. Furthermore, exogenous addition of cAMP restored appressorium formation inhibited by poly-amines. These results suggest that polyamines may reduce intracellular cAMP levels in M. grisea, leading to the inhibition of appressorium formation.     

疏水表面诱导橡胶树炭疽菌侵染结构的发育分化过程

为了解橡胶树2种炭疽病菌的侵染结构发育分化过程,采用平板菌落生长速率法测定了3株胶孢炭疽菌Colletotrichum gloeosporioides和3株尖孢炭疽菌C.acutatum的菌丝生长速率,测量其分生孢子大小,显微观察2种炭疽菌在疏水表面诱导下侵染结构的发育分化过程。结果表明,胶孢炭疽菌菌丝生长速率为0.96~1.36 cm/d,显著高于尖孢炭疽菌的菌丝生长速率0.72~0.89 cm/d,但二者分生孢子大小无显著差异。在疏水表面诱导下,2种炭疽菌分生孢子在接种2~6 h后开始萌发,12 h孢子萌发率为71.70%~88.05%,13~16 h开始分化附着胞,24 h附着胞形成率为48.99%~70.74%,36 h菌丝诱发形成大量附着枝,48 h后分生孢子产生的次生菌丝也可诱发形成附着枝,附着枝呈圆形、姜瓣形、梨形或不规则形。分生孢子极易产生,可在菌丝顶端成簇或菌丝侧面排列产生,也可由分生孢子形成的芽管产生,或在芽管分化附着胞过程分枝形成分生孢子;附着胞多着生于芽管顶端,少数附着胞顶端可继续萌发类似短芽管结构,再次分化形成可黑色化的次级附着胞。表明橡胶树2种炭疽菌不同菌株间分生孢子萌发时间、孢子萌发率、附着胞形成时间和形成率有一定差异,但种间无明显差异;橡胶树炭疽菌分生孢子极易形成,在疏水表面容易分化形成附着胞和附着枝,说明具有极强的适生性。     

Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Signaling for Prepenetration Development in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

ABSTRACT Colletotrichum gloeosporioides forms a specialized infection structure, an appressorium, for host infection. Contacting hard surface induces appressorium formation in C. gloeosporioides, whereas hydrophobicity of the contact surface does not affect this infection-related differentiation. To determine if the calcium/calmodulin-dependent signaling system is involved in prepenetration morphogenesis in C. gloeosporioides pathogenic on red pepper, effects of calcium chelator (EGTA), phospholipase C inhibitor (neomycin), intracellular calcium modulators (TMB-8 and methoxy verampamil), and calmodulin antagonists (chloroproma-zine, phenoxy benzamine, and W-7) were tested on conidial germination and appressorium formation. Exogenous addition of Ca(2+), regardless of concentration, augmented conidial germination, while appressorial differentiation decreased at higher concentrations. Inhibition of appressorium formation by EGTA was partly restored by the addition of calcium ionophore A23187 or CaCl(2). Calcium channel blockers and calmodulin antagonists specifically reduced appressorium formation at micromolar levels. These results suggest that biochemical processes controlled by the calcium/calmodulin signaling system are involved in the induction of prepenetration morphogenesis in C. gloeosporioides pathogenic on red pepper.     

Antifungal activity and mode of action of Galla rhois-derived phenolics against phytopathogenic fungi

Antifungal activity and target sites of methanolic extract and its constituents from the gall (Galla rhois) caused by the Chinese sumac aphid, Schlechtendalia chinensis, on the nutgall sumac tree, Rhus javanica, were examined. In tests with six phytopathogenic fungi using a whole plant bioassay, the gall extract exhibited good antifungal activity. The biologically active constituents isolated from Galla rhois were characterized as the phenolics methyl gallate and gallic acid by spectroscopic analyses. Methyl gallate was highly suppressive to Magnaporthe grisea, Botrytis cinerea, and Puccinia recondita, whereas gallic acid exhibited good antifungal activity against M. grisea and Erysiphe graminis. These two compounds were ineffective against rice sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani. Methyl gallate did not adversely affect conidial germination (94%) but significantly inhibited appressorium formation (7%) of M. grisea. Moderate and significant inhibition of conidial germination (64%) and appressorium formation (5%) of M. grisea, respectively, were observed with gallic acid. In complementation tests with M. grisea, cAMP and 1,16-hexadecanediol restored significantly and slightly appressorium formation inhibited by methyl gallate and gallic acid, respectively. These results indicate that methyl gallate and gallic acid acted on a cAMP-related signaling pathway regulating appressorium formation in M. grisea.     

橡胶树白粉病菌分生孢子在不同介质的萌发过程及其内容物的变化

 本研究采用不同的染色方法和显微技术观察橡胶树白粉病菌(Oidium heveae)分生孢子的超微结构,分生孢子在不同介质表面及不同介质溶液中的萌发情况,以及孢子萌发过程中孢内主要物质的变化,以明确O. heveae分生孢子在不同介质萌发的形态变化及萌发所需能量来源。结果表明：O. heveae 分生孢子表面具有较浅的花纹结构,呈椭圆形或者卵圆形,大小为26.1~45.1μm×13.5~21.9μm。O. heveae 分生孢子在亲水和疏水介质上均能萌发产生芽管和附着胞,在葡萄糖水中的萌发率略高于清水中,但萌发率无显著性差异 (P>0.05),芽管和附着胞形成与形态无明显差别。分生孢子萌发过程中,几个液泡会融合形成一个,最终消散而呈不明显可见的泡囊结构。孢子内的糖原、脂质及分裂后的核仁等可通过芽管向附着胞输送,表明O. heveae 分生孢子萌发所需能量物质主要来源于自身能量贮备。     

The spore coat of the bean anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum is required for adhesion, appressorium development and pathogenicity

The spores (conidia) of the bean anthracnose fungal pathogen, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, adhere to the aerial parts of plants to initiate the infection process. In previous studies we have shown that the Colletotrichum spores are surrounded by a fibrillar spore coat, comprising several major glycoproteins. Previous evidence showed that a monoclonal antibody (UB20) that recognised these glycoproteins was able to inhibit adhesion of spores to a hydrophobic surface. In this paper we have further studied the role of the spore coat in adhesion, germination and fungal development by studying the effects of UB20 and protease treatment of spores. The latter treatment has previously been shown to remove the spore coat. Spores germinate on glass, polystyrene and water agar, however, appressoria only develop on glass or polystyrene, showing a requirement for a hard surface. Removal of the spore coat with protease inhibits adhesion at 30 min, before the secretion of ECM glycoproteins. Protease treatment also inhibits the development of appressoria and reduces pathogenicity on leaves. Incubation of spores with the MAb UB20 inhibits adhesion at 30 min, but does not affect appressorium formation or pathogenicity. The results suggest that an intact spore coat has two functions; it is required for adhesion to a hydrophobic surface and for the detection of a hard surface necessary for appressorium formation. We suggest that contact with a hard surface, rather than adhesion, is the key event leading to appressorium formation.     

A Target-Site-Specific Screening System for Antifungal Compounds on Appressorium Formation in Magnaporthe grisea

ABSTRACT Chemical fungicides are a major method of control for plant diseases in spite of potential negative effects on the environment and the appearance of resistant strains. Development of new chemical fungicides has been largely dependent upon in vivo efficacy tests in the greenhouse or in fields, which is in contrast to target-oriented in vitro screening systems widely used in the pharmaceutical field. To establish a target-site-specific screening system for antifungal compounds, specific inhibition on appressorium formation of the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea was employed. For many plant-pathogenic fungi, including M. grisea, appressorium formation is an essential step to infect host plants. Among 1,000 culture filtrates of members of the class Actinomycetes and fungi, five (A5005, A5008, A5314, A5387, and A5397) from the class Actinomycetes showed differential inhibitory effects on appressorium formation of M. grisea in a dosage-dependent manner. Three (A5005, A5314, and A5387) of these were further fractionated into ethyl acetate and water fractions. The ethyl acetate fraction of A5005 and both the ethyl acetate and water fractions from A5314 and A5387 inhibited appressorium formation, while conidial germination remained little affected. Inhibition of appressorium formation by the ethyl acetate or water fraction was reversed by the exogenous addition of cyclic AMP. Significantly reduced numbers of conidia with appressoria were observed on rice leaves in the presence of culture filtrates. Furthermore, these culture filtrates also exhibited significant disease control of rice blast in the greenhouse. This rapid and target-oriented screening system could be adopted to screen candidate compounds for rice blast control and could be applicable for other appressorium-forming, plant-pathogenic fungi.     

Germination and appressiorial formation by uredospores ofUromyces viciae-fabae exposed to inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis

An examination was made of the effects of three polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors on germination and appressorium formation by uredospores of the bean rust fungusUromyces viciae-fabea on artificial membranes. The ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor -difluoromethylornithine had no effect on uredospore germination, even when used at 2mM, whereas appressorium formation was reduced by 63% at 0.5 mM and by 99% at 2mM. Methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone), an inhibitor of S-andenosylmethionine decarboxylase, reduced germination when used at 0.025 mM, and at this concentration, appressorium formation was completed prevented. Uredospore germination was unaffected by as much as 3 mM cyclohexylamine, an inhibitor of spermidine esynthase, while appressorium formation was reduced at 1 mM and completely prevented at 3.3 mM. These results support previous suggestions that inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis exert their main effect on the early stages of fungal development on the leaf surface.Abbreviantions CHA cyclohyxylamine - DFMO -difluoromethylornithine - MGBG methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone)     

ZJUF0986活性代谢产物对稻瘟病菌致病性的影响

通过菌丝生长速率法和悬滴法测定ZJUF0986活性代谢产物对稻瘟病菌菌丝生长、孢子萌发和附着胞形成的影响。结果表明,ZJUF0986活性代谢产物对稻瘟病菌菌丝生长的有效中浓度EC50为18.55mg/L,与对照药剂三环唑的EC50(17.30mg/L)相比无显著性差异。活性代谢产物不仅影响孢子萌发,也显著降低附着胞的形成。浓度为10mg/L的活性代谢物可完全抑制孢子萌发及附着胞的形成;浓度为1.25mg/L时则明显延缓孢子萌发及附着胞的形成,处理48h后的孢子萌发率和附着胞形成率分别为62.17%和38.46%。以浓度为1.25mg/L活性代谢产物处理的稻瘟病菌孢子悬浮液接种离体大麦叶片,病原菌孢子在大麦叶片表面能部分萌发形成附着胞,但侵染栓形成延迟,致病性明显降低。     

Induction, Regulation, and Role in Pathogenesis of Appressoria in Monilinia fructicola

ABSTRACT Monilinia fructicola, which causes brown rot in stone fruit, forms appressoria on plant and artificial surfaces. On nectarine, the frequency of appressoria produced by conidial germlings depends to a large degree on the stage of fruit development, with numerous appressoria formed on immature (stage II) nectarine fruit, and no appressoria observed on fully mature fruit (late stage III). On polystyrene surfaces, appressorium formation was increased from <10% of germinated conidia to >95% of germinated conidia when the conidia were washed to remove residual nutrients and self-inhibitors. M. fructicola appressorium formation also appears to be regulated by the topography of the plant surface. On fruit, appressoria formed on stomatal guard cell lips, on the grooves of lateral cells adjacent to stomata or between two epidermal cells, and on the convex surfaces of epidermal cells. Pharmacological effectors indicate that cyclic AMP-, MAP kinase-, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent signaling pathways are involved in the induction and development of appressoria. KN-93, an inhibitor of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, did not inhibit conidial germination but did inhibit appressorium formation and brown rot development on flower petals, suggesting that appressoria are required for full symptom development on Prunus spp. petals.     

玉米大斑病菌孢子萌发和附着胞形成的影响因素研究

 Factors of influence on conidium germination and appressorium formation of Setosphaeria turcica,such as light condition,conidial concentration,nutrient resources and pH value of conidial suspension were studied.There was no significant difference among light treatments.The optimal pH for conidium germination and appressorium formation was 5.0 to 7.0.The exogenous nutrient sources were not the indispensable factors for conidium germination,but 5% sugar solution were more favorable for appressorium formation than the others.Low conidial concentration in suspension (conidia ≤ 10⁴/mL) was propitious to conidium germination and appressorium formation,which were inhibited significantly in higher concentration.It was suggested that the phenomenon was due to the self-inhibitor,a kind of lipophilic substance,existing in the site of conidium germination.     

Antifungal activities of hyoscyamine and scopolamine against two major rice pathogens: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Magnaporthe oryzae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis>

The antifungal activities of hyoscyamine and scopolamine, major alkaloids extracted from the desert plant Hyoscyamus muticus, against two rice pathogens, Magnaporthe oryzae and Rhizoctonia solani, were studied. The minimum inhibitory concentration of hyoscyamine that resulted in distinctive inhibition (MIC₅₀) was 1 μg/ml for both fungi. Exposure to hyoscyamine caused the leakage of electrolytes from the mycelia of both fungi. Hyoscyamine (>1 μg/ml) irreversibly delayed or inhibited conidial germination and appressorium formation in M. oryzae grown on polystyrene plates. Hyoscyamine effectively inhibited the attachment of conidia to the surface of rice (Oryza sativa) leaves and inhibited appressorium formation on the leaves. A high concentration of scopolamine (1000 μg/ml) also delayed or inhibited conidial germination in M. oryzae, but conidial germination was restored after washing the conidia with water. Antifungal activity of hyoscyamine was reduced by scopolamine. Magnaporthe oryzae infection was significantly suppressed (by >95%) in leaves of intact rice plants treated with hyoscyamine (10 μg/ml). Moreover, 10 μg hyoscyamine/ml significantly reduced the disease severity index for sheath blight to ≤0.2, when compared with the disease index of control plants (>7.0). Hyoscyamine (>20 μg/ml) completely inhibited sclerotial germination and development of R. solani by delaying the initiation, maturation, and melanization of the sclerotia. These results suggest that tropane alkaloids may be useful for controlling blast and sheath blight diseases of rice and for studying the mechanisms that regulate conidial germination in M. oryzae and sclerotial germination and development in R. solani.     

Infection of ryegrass by three rust fungi (Puccinia coronata, P. graminis and P. loliina) and some effects of temperature on the establishment of the disease and sporulation

Experiments were conducted to examine the processes leading up to the infection of Lolium temulentum by crown rust ( Puccinia coronata ), stem rust ( P. graminis ) and brown rust ( P. loliina ), and the effects of temperature on these processes and sporulation. Uredia of all three rusts were produced freely if the adaxial leaf surface was inoculated, but did not form following inoculation of the abaxial surface. Light and scanning electron microscopy revealed abnormal growth of germlings on the abaxial surface which had amorphous sheet-like epicuticular waxes and very few stomata. On the adaxial leaf surface germ tubes of all the rusts orientated at right angles to the long axis of the leaf. However, the directional growth of germ tubes was often disrupted when they contacted the surface of bulliform cells at the base of leaf grooves. For P. loliina the optimum temperatures for urediospore germination and sub-stomatal vesicle formation were 12–16°C, and 8–20°C for appressorium formation. The optimum temperatures, for the same stages of fungal development, for P. coronata and P. graminis were higher. Urediospore production of P. loliina was higher at 10°C than at 25°C, but was similar at both temperatures for P. coronata .     

Histological characterization of the early-stage infection events of Setosphaeria turcica in maize

Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB) caused by Setosphaeria turcica is a major foliar disease of maize. The early-stage infection events of this pathogen on maize leaves are unclear. We investigated the optimum temperature for conidial germination and appressorium formation, and characterized penetration and growth of S. turcica in maize leaf sheath and onion epidermis cells, including use of histological staining to assess plant cell viability. The results showed that the optimum temperature for conidial germination and appressorium formation was 20°C. On the maize leaf sheath, the appressoria were formed by germinated conidia, and penetration on the epidermal cells occurred at 8 h postinoculation (hpi). Round vesicles developed beneath the appressoria. Between 16 and 24 hpi, the branched invasive hyphae invaded three to five adjacent cells at most infection sites. The invasive hyphae tended to move along the cell wall and crossed from one cell to another. In the onion epidermis cells, the appressoria formed at 8 hpi, and in most cases the epidermal cells were penetrated through the juncture of the cell walls. At 16–24 hpi, the primary hyphal terminus swelled to a vesicle. The maize leaf sheath cells died at 8 hpi, whereas the onion cells did not. Our findings documented in detail the penetration and invasive hyphal growth in maize leaf sheath and onion epidermis, as well as viability of plant cells, at the early stages of infection, and provide a foundation for elucidating the underlying mechanism of S. turcica–maize interactions.     

Prehaustorial Resistance against Alfalfa Rust (Uromyces striatus) in Medicago truncatula

The legume species Medicago truncatula is gaining interests as a plant for structural and functional genomics that can be used to identify agronomically important genes in crop legumes. Resistance to the alfalfa rust (Uromyces striatus) was studied in a germplasm collection of M. truncatula. Accessions varied in resistance, as expressed by disease severity, but none showed macroscopically visible necrosis. Histological investigations, in selected lines covering the whole range of resistance reactions, revealed little difference in spore germination and none in orientation of germtubes on the leaf surface. However, appressorium formation on the stoma was significantly reduced in some accessions. Differences in resistance among accessions were more evident once the stoma were penetrated by the infection structures. Resistance was mainly due to a restriction of haustorium formation with varying levels of early abortion of the colonies, a reduction in the number of haustoria per colony, and hampered colony growth. In addition, necrosis of the host cells associated with infection hyphae was detectable in some accessions from the beginning of colony development. This information will be useful for eventual mapping and cloning analyses of resistance genes in M. truncatula that will in turn be useful for understanding other legume/rust interactions.     

Temperature requirements for germination,germ tube growth and appressorium formation of urediospores of Hemileia vastatrix

Requirements for germination, germ tube growth and appressorium formation of urediospores ofHemileia vastatrix, the causal organism of coffee leaf rust, were investigated by applying treatments with constant temperatures, ranging from 10 to 31°C, and with variable temperatures. Observations were made after 4, 6, 8 and 24 h of incubation of the spores in distilled water on glass slides. The lower and upper limits for germination were estimated to be 13 and about 30°C, respectively. Germination was quickest at 22 to 28°C, whereas appressoria formed more rapidly at 13 to 16°C. After 24 h of incubation, a broad optimum, from 16 to 28°C, was observed for germinationn and total appressorium formation. The shape of the appressoria was torpedo-like or roundish at 13 to 19°C, whereas at higher temperatures their shape was predominantly irregular. Germ tube length increased linearly with time, with an optimum at 19 to 22°C. The degree of branching of the germ tube was positively correlated with germ tube length. Germination percentage and appressorium formation were higher on leaf disks than on glass slides. With variable temperatures, significant correlation were found between temperature sum and percentage of germination, appressorium formation and germ tube length.The results show that germination and appressorium formation can occur at lower temperatures than reported in literature. Penetration byH. vastatrix seems te be realized most rapidly in nature, if, after wetting of the spores, a decline in temperature occurs from initially ca. 23 to 17°C within a few hours. Such conditions prevail during evening and early night in many areas where Arabica coffee is grown.Samenvatting De temperatuurbehoeften voor kieming en appressoriumvorming van uredosporen vanHemileia vastatrix werden onderzocht door incubatie bij constante temperaturen, 10 tot 31°C, en variabele temperaturen. Waarnemingen werden gedaan na 4, 6, 8 en 24 uur incubatie van de sporen in gedestilleerd water op glasplaatjes. De onder- en bovengrens voor kieming bleek bij 13 en ca 30°C te liggen. De kieming kwam het snelst op gang bij 22 tot 28°C en de appressoriumvorming bij 13 tot 16°C. Na 24 uur incubatie werd een breed optimum waargenomen van 16 tot 28°C voor het kiempercentage en het totale aantal appressoria. De vorm van de appressoria was torpedoachtig of rond bij 13 tot 19°C, terwijl bij hogere temperaturen de vorm meestal onregelmatig was. De lengte van de kiembuis nam vrijwel rechtlijnig toe met de tijd, met een optimum van 19 tot 22°C. De vertakkingsgraad van de kiembuizen was positief gecorreleerd met de kiembuislengte.Kieming en appressoriumvorming verliepen beter op de bladschijven dan op glasplaatjes. Bij de behandelingen met variabele temperaturen werden significante correlaties waargenomen tussen de temperatuursom en de kiembuislengte en ook tussen de temperatuursom en het kiem- en appressoriumpercentage.De resultaten tonen aan dat kieming en vooral appressoriumvorming bij lagere temperaturen kan plaatsvinden dan verondersteld in de literatuur. Ze suggereren dat penetratie vanH. vastatrix het snelst gerealiseerd kan worden in de natuur als, na bevochtiging van de sporen, een temperatuurdaling plaatsvindt van aanvankeljk ca. 23 naar ca. 17°C binnen een paar uur. Deze conditie komt veelvuldig voor in de namiddag en het begin van de nacht in vele gebieden waar Arabica-koffie wordt verbouwd.