This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Harris, S. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Harris, S. D. Agricola Articles by Harris, S. D.

Morphogenesis in germinating Fusarium graminearum macroconidia

     Plant Science Initiative and Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588-0660

Fusarium graminearum (teleomorph Gibberella zeae) is a significant pathogen of wheat and corn. F. graminearum forms multicellular macroconidia that play an important role in dissemination of the disease. The spatial pattern of morphogenesis in germinating macroconidia is described. Germ tubes preferentially emerge from the apical cells in a bipolar pattern that appears to be common to filamentous fungi. Chitin deposition occurs at two locations: the spore apices and cortical regions of macroconidial cells that subsequently produce a germ tube. The spatial pattern of morphogenesis requires the presence of functional microtubules, which may be responsible for the transport of key polarity factors to specific sites. These observations suggest that F. graminearum possesses a regulatory system that marks germ tube emergence sites. Perturbation of this system may represent an effective approach for inhibiting colonization of host plant surfaces.

Key words: cell polarity, Fusarium, microtubules, spore germination, macro conidia

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S.-H. Lee, J. Lee, S. Lee, E.-H. Park, K.-W. Kim, M.-D. Kim, S.-H. Yun, and Y.-W. Lee GzSNF1 Is Required for Normal Sexual and Asexual Development in the Ascomycete Gibberella zeae Eukaryot. Cell, January 1, 2009; 8(1): 116 - 127. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]