Univ., Diss.--Kaiserslautern, 1999.

We identified a synthetic hexapeptide that blocks Magnaporthe grisea appressorium formation, in artificial hydrophobic surface. The results suggest that peptides interfere with surface recognition. M. grisea non pathogenic pth1 mutants were complemented by N. crassa orthologous gene suggesting that the biochemical function of pth1 has not evolved specifically to play a role in appressorium development.

The fungus <i>Colletotrichum truncatum</i> (Schw.) Andrus and Moore causes lentil anthracnose, which is a major challenge to lentil production in Western Canada. The pathogen infects leaves and stems, resulting in defoliation, stem girdling, plant wilting, and possibly plant death. Two races, Ct0 and Ct1, have been identified in the pathogen population in Canada. However, the differences in the infection process between the two races have not been described in detail. Currently, several lentil cultivars, such as CDC Redberry, CDC Robin, CDC Rosetown, CDC Rouleau, and CDC Viceroy, have resistance against race Ct1, whereas there are no cultivars showing resistance to race Ct0. The objective of this study was to investigate differences in the infection process between race Ct0 and race Ct1 using the fully susceptible cultivar Eston and the race Ct1-resistant cultivar CDC Robin. Experiments on glass well slides showed that race Ct0 had no inherently different conidium germination rate compared to race Ct1, and that differences in conidium germination between the two races on lentil plants were the result of specific interactions between the two races and lentil resistance. Investigations of the infection process of the two races on detached and attached leaves of both lentil cultivars were conducted starting 12 h postinoculation (hpi) until 72 hpi, including conidium germination, appressorium formation, and leaf penetration. Results indicated that differences in virulence of the two races may be related to the ability of conidia to germinate and form appressoria, as well as the ability of primary infection hyphae to grow in response to cues from the lentil cultivars. Furthermore, resistance of lentil to isolates of race Ct1 appeared to involve an inhibition in and/or delay of the spread of primary infection hyphae inside the plant tissue. Results of infection studies of one isolate from each race on attached leaves did not completely agree with results of the same isolates on detached leaves. Based on this study, race Ct0 and race Ct1 do not appear to be classical physiological races, but may represent aggressive races or some intermediate forms.

The fungus <i>Colletotrichum truncatum</i> (Schw.) Andrus and Moore causes lentil anthracnose, which is a major challenge to lentil production in Western Canada. The pathogen infects leaves and stems, resulting in defoliation, stem girdling, plant wilting, and possibly plant death. Two races, Ct0 and Ct1, have been identified in the pathogen population in Canada. However, the differences in the infection process between the two races have not been described in detail. Currently, several lentil cultivars, such as CDC Redberry, CDC Robin, CDC Rosetown, CDC Rouleau, and CDC Viceroy, have resistance against race Ct1, whereas there are no cultivars showing resistance to race Ct0. The objective of this study was to investigate differences in the infection process between race Ct0 and race Ct1 using the fully susceptible cultivar Eston and the race Ct1-resistant cultivar CDC Robin. Experiments on glass well slides showed that race Ct0 had no inherently different conidium germination rate compared to race Ct1, and that differences in conidium germination between the two races on lentil plants were the result of specific interactions between the two races and lentil resistance. Investigations of the infection process of the two races on detached and attached leaves of both lentil cultivars were conducted starting 12 h postinoculation (hpi) until 72 hpi, including conidium germination, appressorium formation, and leaf penetration. Results indicated that differences in virulence of the two races may be related to the ability of conidia to germinate and form appressoria, as well as the ability of primary infection hyphae to grow in response to cues from the lentil cultivars. Furthermore, resistance of lentil to isolates of race Ct1 appeared to involve an inhibition in and/or delay of the spread of primary infection hyphae inside the plant tissue. Results of infection studies of one isolate from each race on attached leaves did not completely agree with results of the same isolates on detached leaves. Based on this study, race Ct0 and race Ct1 do not appear to be classical physiological races, but may represent aggressive races or some intermediate forms.

Magnaporthe grisea est responsable de la pyriculariose du riz, principale maladie de cette céréale. L’entrée du champignon dans la plante hôte se fait via l’appressorium. La différenciation de cette structure résulte d’une réorientation génétique et métabolique, et nécessite une régulation génétique fine. Une étude transcriptomique comparant les stades mycélium et appressorium a permis de montrer qu’environ 1300 ORFs sont surexprimées au stade appressorial. Ce transcriptome a permis l’identification de 32 gènes codant pour des facteurs de transcription pour lesquels dix mutants de délétion ont été générés et caractérisés. L’étude de leur pouvoir infectieux a révélé que le mutant délété du gène TF7 présente une pathogénie réduite de 70% sur plant d’orge. De plus, ce mutant est incapable de former des appressoria sur membrane artificielle sauf en présence d’un inducteur chimique (1,16- hexadecanediol). Par ailleurs, lorsque les appressoria sont formés, ils éclatent au bout de 14 heures. Cette altération peut être compensée par l’addition de sorbitol comme osmoprotecteur. Ce mutant est hypersensible à la Nikkomycine Z, un inhibiteur de la chitine synthase suggérant une altération du métabolisme pariétal. Un transcriptome différentiel réalisé à partir d’appressoria sauvages et mutés différenciés sur membrane de Téflon a révélé que des gènes impliqués dans le métabolisme de la chitine sont sous-exprimés dans le mutant ΔTf7. Le facteur de transcription Tf22 dont la délétion conduit à une réduction de 70% de la pathogénie sur riz a également fait l’objet d’une attention particulière. En effet, la recherche d’homologie a montré la présence de deux protéines homologues à Tf22 chez les deux champignons phytopathogènes S. nodorum et C. nicotianae et au-delà de la conservation d’un cluster potentiel de gènes du métabolisme secondaire, identifié chez C.nicotianae. La caractérisation du mutant a montré que l’expression de ce cluster potentiel est régulée négativement par le gène TF22 / Magnaporthe grisea is responsible for rice blast, the major disease of rice. The entry of the fungus in the host plant is via a specialized cell called appressorium. The differentiation of this structure results from a genetic and metabolic shift, and requires fine control mechanisms. A transcriptomic study comparing vegetative mycelium and appressorium mature stage, characteristic of the pre-penetration step was realized. In order to identify new regulatory networks specific of the appressorial differentiation, we focused on 32 genes encodi. Ten deletion mutants of transcription factor genes were generated and characterized. The study of their infectivity revealed that the TF7 gene deleted mutant has a reduced pathogenicity of 70% on barley plant resulting from an inability to penetrate the plant surface. Moreover, unlike the parental strain, this mutant is unable to form appressoria on artificial membrane except in the presence of a chemical inducer (1.16-hexadecanediol). Moreover, when appressoria are formed, they burst after 14 hours. This alteration can be compensated by a sorbitol solution acting as an osmoprotectant. This mutant is hypersensitive to nikkomycin Z, a chitin synthase inhibitor suggesting an alteration of parietal metabolism. A differential transcriptome was conducted comparing wild and mutated appressoria differentiated on Teflon membrane revealed that genes involved in chitin metabolism are dependent on the transcription factor Tf7. A second transcription factor Tf22 whose, deletion leads to a reduction of 70% of pathogenesis on rice, has also been studied. Indeed, the homology search showed the presence of two proteins homologous to Tf22 for S. nodorum and C. nicotianae. Beyond the conservation of the transcription factor, we observed the conservation of a potential cluster of genes of secondary metabolism identified in C.nicotianae. The characterization of the mutant revealed that expression of this potential cluster is negatively regulated by the gene TF22

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Plant Pathology / Barbara S. Valent / Rice (Oryza sativa L.) production worldwide is constrained by rice blast disease caused by the ascomycetous fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Rice blast has become a model system for the study of fungal plant diseases based on its global relevance to agriculture and on our ability to apply molecular genetic and genomic analyses to both the pathogen and the plant. We have applied molecular and cellular analyses to understand critical processes in the M. oryzae disease cycle. The dark melanin pigment produced by the fungus is critical for the function of its specialized appressorial cell, which punches the leaf surface by generating the highest pressure known in any biological system, estimated at 80 times the atmospheric pressure. Without melanin, the fungus can neither generate this pressure nor puncture the plant surface and disease does not occur. M. oryzae genome sequencing identified a cluster of melanin biosynthesis genes that included an attractive candidate for the transcription factor that regulates melanin biosynthesis in appressoria. We report the structural and functional characterization of this putative transcription factor, although its role remains elusive. Host cellular responses after appressorial penetration are equally important in determining if disease will occur. We have characterized the cellular response of one rice variety to a compatible fungal strain (causes disease), an incompatible strain (fails to cause disease due to specific triggering of rice defenses) and a non-host strain (causes disease in barley but not in rice). Distinctive fungal and rice cellular responses correlated with the outcome of each particular pathogen-strain rice interaction. We report contrasting responses in two rice leaf sheath assays that are amenable to live cell microscopy, as well as a novel cellular response of crystalline aggregations deposited inside the host cell under appressoria on the leaf surface. Our studies have important implications for future analyses of pathogenicity and host specificity in rice blast disease.

O fungo Magnaporthe oryzae, agente causal da brusone em trigo e em várias outras gramíneas, desde o seu primeiro relato no Brasil tem sido alvo de inúmeras pesquisas. O entendimento da morfologia, fisiologia e parâmetros bioquímicos deste ascomiceto é o primeiro passo para a adoção de medidas eficientes de controle da doença. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar os aspectos morfológicos, fisiológicos e bioquímicos relativos à patogenicidade do fungo M. oryzae em trigo, além de determinar in vitro as condições ótimas de temperatura e fotoperíodo para o crescimento e esporulação dos isolados testados, quantificar a pressão de turgor exercida pelo apressório no momento da penetração do substrato, verificar a presença de enzimas extracelulares produzidas pelo patógeno e o papel de cada uma delas na degradação da parede celular e, também, demonstrar a possível produção e ação de metabólitos tóxicos do fungo em plântulas de trigo. Dois isolados do fungo, Py5003 e Py6017, foram repicados para os meios de cultivo cenoura, milho-cenoura, batata-dextrose-ágar (BDA), aveia e V8, incubados, de maneira independente, sob luz contínua, escuro contínuo e fotoperíodo de 12h, por 20 dias, sendo avaliados periodicamente quanto ao crescimento micelial total e esporulação do patógeno. Em seguida, conídios germinados e com apressórios formados foram submetidos a diferentes concentrações de PEG-8000 para a mensuração da pressão de turgor apressorial. Além disso, o teor de proteínas totais foi mensurado e a atividade celulolítica determinada, por espectrofotometria indireta para os isolados cultivados em meio Merlin-Norkrans Modificado (MNM), a partir das enzimas exo e endo-?-1,4-glucanase e ?-glicosidase. A produção de metabólitos tóxicos foi determinada por condutivimetria, após o cultivo dos isolados por 5 e 10 dias em batata-dextrose (BD) e obtenção dos filtrados após esse período, sendo que, a ação destes, foi observada em plântulas de trigo com 25 dias de idade. Os resultados evidenciaram melhor crescimento micelial e esporulação dos isolados em meio de cultivo composto de aveia, incubado a 25 °C e fotoperíodo de 12 h. A pressão de turgor apressorial, tanto para Py5003 quanto para Py6017, concentrouse na faixa dos 7,5 MPa. Não houve diferença estatística entre os teores de proteínas totais apresentados pelo isolados. Os dois isolados exibiram alta atividade celulolítica, com diminuição da atividade observada para endo-?-1,4-glucanase e ?- glicosidase na presença de glicose e celobiose, respectivamente. A exposição de plântulas de trigo aos filtrados dos isolados do fungo M. oryzae provocou alta liberação de eletrólitos, sendo, em termos absolutos, Py5003 maior do que Py6017. Plântulas expostas ao filtrado, autoclavado ou não, e ao extrato bruto obtido a partir da separação dos metabólitos tóxicos em acetato de etila, apresentaram-se cloróticas e/ou necróticas. Os resultados sugerem um mecanismo de parasitismo desenvolvido por M. oryzae no desenvolvimento da brusone em trigo, indo desde a fase de pré-penetração, passando pelo estabelecimento das relações parasitárias estáveis e o aparecimento de sintomas e sinais na planta hospedeira. / The fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, causal agent of blast in wheat and several other grasses, since its first occurrence in Brazil has been the subject of extensive research. The understanding of the morphology, physiology and biochemical parameters of this ascomycete is the first step for the adoption of efficient measures to control the disease. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the morphological, physiological and biochemical aspects related to the pathogenicity of the fungus M. oryzae on wheat. Thus, it were determined in vitro the optimal conditions of temperature and photoperiod for growth and sporulation of the isolates tested, quantified the pressure exerted by appressorium at the time of substrate penetration, verified the presence of extracellular enzymes produced by the pathogen and their role in the degradation of cell wall and also demonstrated the possible production and action of toxic metabolites of the fungus in wheat seedlings. Two isolates of the fungus, Py5003 and Py6017, were grown on carrot, maize-carrot, PDA, oat and V8 media and measure periodically for 20 days and after that period, being evaluated the total mycelia growth and sporulation of the pathogen. Then, germinated conidia and appressoria were subjected to different concentrations of PEG-8000 for the measurement of appressorial turgor pressure. In addition, the concentration of total proteins was measured and enzyme activity (exo and endo-?- 1,4-glucanase, ?-glucosidase) was determined by indirect spectrophotometry, for the isolates grown in Modified Melin-Nokrans (MMN) medium. The production of toxic metabolites was determined after growing the isolates for 5 and 10 days in potatodextrose medium (PD) and obtaining the filtrate. The toxic action was evaluated in wheat seedlings (25 days old) by measuring electrolyte leakage. The results showed better mycelial growth and sporulation of the isolates in oat medium incubated at 25 °C and under a photoperiod of 12 h. Appressorial turgor pressure for both isolates were at the range of 7.5 MPa.There were no statistical differences between the levels of total protein presented by the isolates. The two isolates showed high cellulolytic activity, with decreased activity observed for endo-?-1,4-glucanase and ?- glucosidase in the presence of glucose and celobiose, respectively. The exposure of wheat seedlings to the filtrates of the fungus M. oryzae caused high electrolyte release, being, in absolute terms, Py5003 greater than Py6017. Seedlings exposed to the filtrate, autoclaved or not, and the crude extract obtained from the separation of the toxic metabolites in ethyl acetate, exibited clorotic and/or necrotic. These results suggest a mechanism of parasitism developed by M. oryzae on wheat, ranging from pre-penetration through the establishment of stable parasitic relationships and the appearance of symptoms and signals in the host plant.

O fungo Magnaporthe oryzae, agente causal da brusone em trigo e em várias outras gramíneas, desde o seu primeiro relato no Brasil tem sido alvo de inúmeras pesquisas. O entendimento da morfologia, fisiologia e parâmetros bioquímicos deste ascomiceto é o primeiro passo para a adoção de medidas eficientes de controle da doença. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar os aspectos morfológicos, fisiológicos e bioquímicos relativos à patogenicidade do fungo M. oryzae em trigo, além de determinar in vitro as condições ótimas de temperatura e fotoperíodo para o crescimento e esporulação dos isolados testados, quantificar a pressão de turgor exercida pelo apressório no momento da penetração do substrato, verificar a presença de enzimas extracelulares produzidas pelo patógeno e o papel de cada uma delas na degradação da parede celular e, também, demonstrar a possível produção e ação de metabólitos tóxicos do fungo em plântulas de trigo. Dois isolados do fungo, Py5003 e Py6017, foram repicados para os meios de cultivo cenoura, milho-cenoura, batata-dextrose-ágar (BDA), aveia e V8, incubados, de maneira independente, sob luz contínua, escuro contínuo e fotoperíodo de 12h, por 20 dias, sendo avaliados periodicamente quanto ao crescimento micelial total e esporulação do patógeno. Em seguida, conídios germinados e com apressórios formados foram submetidos a diferentes concentrações de PEG-8000 para a mensuração da pressão de turgor apressorial. Além disso, o teor de proteínas totais foi mensurado e a atividade celulolítica determinada, por espectrofotometria indireta para os isolados cultivados em meio Merlin-Norkrans Modificado (MNM), a partir das enzimas exo e endo-?-1,4-glucanase e ?-glicosidase. A produção de metabólitos tóxicos foi determinada por condutivimetria, após o cultivo dos isolados por 5 e 10 dias em batata-dextrose (BD) e obtenção dos filtrados após esse período, sendo que, a ação destes, foi observada em plântulas de trigo com 25 dias de idade. Os resultados evidenciaram melhor crescimento micelial e esporulação dos isolados em meio de cultivo composto de aveia, incubado a 25 °C e fotoperíodo de 12 h. A pressão de turgor apressorial, tanto para Py5003 quanto para Py6017, concentrouse na faixa dos 7,5 MPa. Não houve diferença estatística entre os teores de proteínas totais apresentados pelo isolados. Os dois isolados exibiram alta atividade celulolítica, com diminuição da atividade observada para endo-?-1,4-glucanase e ?- glicosidase na presença de glicose e celobiose, respectivamente. A exposição de plântulas de trigo aos filtrados dos isolados do fungo M. oryzae provocou alta liberação de eletrólitos, sendo, em termos absolutos, Py5003 maior do que Py6017. Plântulas expostas ao filtrado, autoclavado ou não, e ao extrato bruto obtido a partir da separação dos metabólitos tóxicos em acetato de etila, apresentaram-se cloróticas e/ou necróticas. Os resultados sugerem um mecanismo de parasitismo desenvolvido por M. oryzae no desenvolvimento da brusone em trigo, indo desde a fase de pré-penetração, passando pelo estabelecimento das relações parasitárias estáveis e o aparecimento de sintomas e sinais na planta hospedeira. / The fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, causal agent of blast in wheat and several other grasses, since its first occurrence in Brazil has been the subject of extensive research. The understanding of the morphology, physiology and biochemical parameters of this ascomycete is the first step for the adoption of efficient measures to control the disease. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the morphological, physiological and biochemical aspects related to the pathogenicity of the fungus M. oryzae on wheat. Thus, it were determined in vitro the optimal conditions of temperature and photoperiod for growth and sporulation of the isolates tested, quantified the pressure exerted by appressorium at the time of substrate penetration, verified the presence of extracellular enzymes produced by the pathogen and their role in the degradation of cell wall and also demonstrated the possible production and action of toxic metabolites of the fungus in wheat seedlings. Two isolates of the fungus, Py5003 and Py6017, were grown on carrot, maize-carrot, PDA, oat and V8 media and measure periodically for 20 days and after that period, being evaluated the total mycelia growth and sporulation of the pathogen. Then, germinated conidia and appressoria were subjected to different concentrations of PEG-8000 for the measurement of appressorial turgor pressure. In addition, the concentration of total proteins was measured and enzyme activity (exo and endo-?- 1,4-glucanase, ?-glucosidase) was determined by indirect spectrophotometry, for the isolates grown in Modified Melin-Nokrans (MMN) medium. The production of toxic metabolites was determined after growing the isolates for 5 and 10 days in potatodextrose medium (PD) and obtaining the filtrate. The toxic action was evaluated in wheat seedlings (25 days old) by measuring electrolyte leakage. The results showed better mycelial growth and sporulation of the isolates in oat medium incubated at 25 °C and under a photoperiod of 12 h. Appressorial turgor pressure for both isolates were at the range of 7.5 MPa.There were no statistical differences between the levels of total protein presented by the isolates. The two isolates showed high cellulolytic activity, with decreased activity observed for endo-?-1,4-glucanase and ?- glucosidase in the presence of glucose and celobiose, respectively. The exposure of wheat seedlings to the filtrates of the fungus M. oryzae caused high electrolyte release, being, in absolute terms, Py5003 greater than Py6017. Seedlings exposed to the filtrate, autoclaved or not, and the crude extract obtained from the separation of the toxic metabolites in ethyl acetate, exibited clorotic and/or necrotic. These results suggest a mechanism of parasitism developed by M. oryzae on wheat, ranging from pre-penetration through the establishment of stable parasitic relationships and the appearance of symptoms and signals in the host plant.