| Abstract: | Fungi were screened for the production of inhibitors of appressorium formation in germinating conidiospores of Magnaporthe grisea on inductive and non-inductive surfaces. Bioactivity-guided isolation yielded glisoprenins A, C, D and E from Gliocladium roseum and oleic acid from three fungi. The glisoprenins were active only on a hydrophobic surface, whereas oleic acid inhibited appressorium formation on a hydrophilic surface when 1,16-hexadecanediol, but not 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate, was used as inducer. The inhibition by glisoprenins could be reversed competitively by 1,2-dioctanoylglycerol but not by 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol, both effective activators of protein kinase C in mammalian cells. Other mono-unsaturated fatty acids also inhibited appressorium formation. The corresponding methyl esters were inactive. The results agree with previous findings that at least two signal-transducing pathways are involved in appressorium formation. In addition, the differences observed between fungal signalling via PKC and the pathway used in mammalian cells could be used for the search for new and selective fungicides for rice blast disease. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry |
