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Mycologia 94(2), 2002, pp. 181-189
© 2002 by The Mycological Society of America

Physiological and environmental aspects of ascospore discharge in Gibberella zeae (anamorph Fusarium graminearum)


Frances Trail 1
Haixin Xu 2
Rachel Loranger 3

     Departments of Plant Biology and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824

David Gadoury

     Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, New York 14456

    ABSTRACT
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 

We investigated ascospore discharge in the perithecial fungus, Gibberella zeae. In a wind tunnel study that simulated constant rain and varying day and night lengths, the rate of ascospore release was approximately 8–30% greater under light than in complete darkness. Under constant light, ascospore discharge occurred at maximal rates at relative humidity levels greater than 92%. When perithecia were placed under conditions of high external osmolarity, ascospore discharge was significantly reduced. Ascospores were discharged from asci along with droplets of fluid, the epiplasm, from within the ascus. Analysis of discharged epiplasmic fluid by GC-MASS Spectrometry revealed that mannitol was the major simple sugar component of the fluid. Activity of mannitol dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the conversion of fructose to mannitol, was higher in protein extracts from mature perithecia than in extracts from vegetative tissue. Several inhibitors of K+ and Ca++ ion channels inhibited ascospore discharge, which suggested that ascospore discharge resulted from the buildup of turgor pressure generated by ion fluxes and mannitol accumulation.

Key words: ascus, ion channels, mannitol dehydrogenase, mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase, perithecia, turgor pressure


    INTRODUCTION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
The forcible discharge of ascospores is important in the dispersal of many ascomycetous fungi. Discharged ascospores become airborne and, in the case of plant-pathogenic fungi, may serve as the primary inoculum for epidemics. The environmental conditions that trigger discharge vary, but it is likely that the mechanism underlying ascospore discharge is conserved among fungal classes. Our goal is to understand the mechanism of discharge in Gibberella zeae (Schw.) Petch (anamorph Fusarium graminearum Schwabe), the causal agent of head blight of wheat and barley. G. zeae is an economically important pathogen of wheat and other grains worldwide, and caused yield losses of 378 million bushels to wheat growers in the US between 1991 and 1996 (McMullen et al 1997Citation ).

For head blight, airborne ascospores of G. zeae are considered to be the primary inoculum. Macroconidia may be dispersed by wind and rain-splash (Sutton 1982Citation , Parry et al 1995Citation , Fernando et al 1997Citation ), but are recovered from air samples in lower levels than ascospores (Fernando et al 2000)Citation . Several field and lab studies have explored the effects of environmental parameters on discharge of ascospores of G. zeae. Paulitz (1996)Citation studied the pattern of spore release in inoculated field plots and reported that high humidity is not necessary for discharge, and that ascospore release is reduced at relative humidity greater than 80%, and when daily rainfall exceeds 5 mm. Fernando et al (2000)Citation showed ascospore release, but not macroconidia release, follows a daily periodicity. Tschanz et al (1975)Citation reported that ascospore release follows drying of previously wetted ascocarps, and that a drop in relative humidity is required for spore release. Others have reported that ascospore release in the field is associated with high relative humidity or rainfall (Chen and Yuan 1984Citation , Reis 1990Citation ). Thus, a review of previous studies presents a confusing array of environmental stimuli that appear to simultaneously stimulate and inhibit ascospore release.

It is generally assumed that forcible ascospore discharge is driven by hydrostatic pressure buildup within the mature ascus (Ingold 1966, 1971Citation , Burnett 1976Citation , Beckett 1981Citation , Read and Beckett 1996Citation ). In several Pyrenomycetes species, mature asci, just prior to discharge, have been observed to be swollen (reviewed by Read and Beckett 1996Citation ). In G. zeae, we have observed individual mature asci extending up through the ostiole (Trail and Common 2000)Citation . Ingold (1966)Citation identified glucose as the predominant osmoticum in the ascus fluid Sordaria fimicola, although no supporting data were published. A role for ions in the generation of turgor pressure has also been suggested (Ingold 1971Citation , Minter and Cannon 1984Citation ).

Our goal is to understand the mechanism of forcible discharge of ascospores. To establish the optimal discharge conditions for our investigation, we examined environmental parameters affecting discharge in G. zeae. We have analyzed epiplasmic fluid from mature asci to identify components that may be responsible for the generation of turgor pressure within the ascus. A preliminary report of these studies was published previously (Trail et al 1998Citation ).


    MATERIALS AND METHODS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
Strains, cultural conditions, ascospore discharge assay – Two strains of G. zeae were used during this study: strain W-8 (Adams et al 1987Citation ) and strain PH-1 (NRRL 31084; Trail and Common 2000)Citation . Both strains were used for the relative humidity studies, only PH-1 was used for all other studies. Strains were maintained as soil stocks at -20 C. Nearly synchronous lawns of perithecia were produced on carrot agar as previously described (Klittich and Leslie 1988Citation ). After 2–4 d of growth on carrot agar in 60 mm Petri dishes, perithecia were induced from vegetative hyphae with the addition of 1 mL of 2.5% aqueous Tween 60 (Sigma Company, St. Louis, Missouri).

For ascospore discharge assays, agar blocks (1 cm x 1 cm) covered with perithecia were placed on the end of a glass microscope slide and oriented so the perithecium-bearing surface was perpendicular to the surface of the slide. Slides were placed on a platform in a transparent humidity chamber under continuous light. Discharged spores were collected on the slide. Unless otherwise stated, spores were quantified as follows: spores were collected by washing each slide with 1 mL sterile, distilled water, removed by centrifugation, resuspended in 1 mL distilled water and spore concentration was determined using a hemocytometer.

To determine the pattern of ascospore release relative to perithecium maturity, this procedure was slightly modified. Disks (1 cm diam) were removed from induced cultures, cut in half and placed on slides in humidity chambers. The perithecia were incubated for 24 h and quantified as above.

Spore release in the wind tunnel – A wind tunnel, previously described for use with Venturia inaequalis (Gadoury et al 1996Citation ), was used to observe discharge under varying light regimes and constant rainfall. The tunnel simulated a steady supply of rain, constant temperature (20 C) and air flow. Light (daylight-balanced artificial light comparable to that reported at mid-day during rain events) and dark cycles varied according to the experiment. Two 1 cm-diameter disks of carrot agar were removed from a culture producing mature perithecia (d 7–9 after induction) and mounted in the apparatus for each trial. Spores were collected at the end of the wind tunnel on cellophane tape mounted on a clock cylinder and quantified at the end of each trial as previously described(Gadoury et al 1996Citation ), and the ascospores of G. zeae were enumerated. Linear regression was performed on the data using Minitab 10.5 (Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania).

Relative humidity studies – Slides with agar blocks (1 cm x 1 cm) covered with mature perithecia (d 7–9 after induction) were placed on a platform in sealed humidity chambers above the surface of a solution of the appropriate concentration of glycerol to maintain constant relative humidity (Forney and Brandl 1992Citation ). Solutions were adjusted to the correct relative humidity with a hygrometer (Traceable® Hygrometer, VWR, U.S.A.). After 24 h, slides were removed, and the discharged spores were quantified by counting the total numbers of spores deposited along a 1 mm wide transect running lengthwise through the center of the spore deposit. Five to six independent trials were conducted at each relative humidity. Mean counts from treatments were transformed prior to analysis with the log transformation to homogenize the variances. Treatments were compared using PROC GLM of SAS Version 8 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina).

Light microscopy – Ascospore discharge was observed and photographed using a IMT-2 Olympus inverted microscope (Olympus Corporation, Lake Success, New York) equipped with Nomarski differential interference-contrast optics to visualize ascospores.

Analysis of ascus fluid – Ascospores were discharged onto clean glass slides overnight. Spores were collected and quantified as described above, except the spore washes (supernatant), containing the ascus exudates, were retained following centrifugation to remove the spores. Spore washes were frozen at -20 C, then dried in a Speed Vac (Savant Instruments, Inc., Farmingdale, New York). Identification of simple sugars in the spore washes was accomplished by GC-MASS Spectrometry analysis of alditol acetate derivatives as previously described (Higgins et al 1994Citation ). Variation in sugar reduction procedure and derivitization prior to analysis was used to distinguish various sugar and sugar alcohols as described by Higgins et al (1994)Citation . Each test was performed on at least 3 independent samples.

Enzyme assays – Perithecia were removed from the surface of carrot agar by gently scraping with a sterile scalpel. Mycelia were grown in liquid culture in YES (6% sucrose, 3% yeast extract) for 5 d at room temperature, shaking at 180 rpm. The mycelium was harvested by filtering through Miracloth (Calbiochem) and washed twice with distilled water. Mycelia were also grown on solid culture in carrot agar for 5 d, and scraped from the surface of the agar. Tissues were stored at -80 C prior to use.

Mannitol dehydrogenase (MTD) and mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (M1PD) assays were performed using modifications of a previously published procedure (Stoop et al 1995Citation ). Harvested tissue was placed in liquid nitrogen and ground to a fine powder with a mortar and pestle. Buffer [50 mM MOPS (pH 4.5, 5 mM dithiothreitol, 1 mM EDTA, 5 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride]) was added in a tissue-to-buffer ratio of 1 to 4. For initial assays to detect enzyme activity, undissolved components were removed from the homogenate by centrifugation (20 000 g for 20 min) at 4 C. For quantification of MTD activity in different tissues, the supernatant was brought to 45% saturation with (NH4)2SO4, stirred for 1 h on ice, and centrifuged as above. The supernatant was retained, brought to 80% saturation with (NH4)2SO4, stirred for 1 h on ice, and centrifuged again as above. The pellet was dissolved in a minimal volume of 50 mM MOPS (pH 7.5), 1 mM dithiothreitol. Protein concentration of the enzyme extract was determined spectrophotometrically using the BioRad Protein Assay system (BioRad Laboratories, Hercules, California) with bovine serum albumin as a standard.

Enzyme activity (reactions in both directions) was assayed spectrophotometrically (340 nm) by monitoring the reduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) and the oxidation NADPH by MTD or the reduction of nicotinamide adenine diphosphate (NAD) and the oxidation of NADH by M1PD. The assay mixtures, in a total volume of 1 mL, contained: for oxidation of mannitol, 100 mM Tris buffer (pH 9.5), 2 mM NADP, 25 µL enzyme extract, and 200 mM of mannitol; for the reduction of fructose, 100 mM MOPS (pH 7.5), 2 mM NADPH, 25 µL enzyme extract and 800 mM fructose. Oxidation of mannitol-1-phosphate by M1PD was similarly assayed in 10 mM HEPES (pH 9.0), 0.5 mM NAD, 10 mM mannitol-1-phosphate. Reduction of fructose-6-phosphate by M1PD was assayed in 10 mM HEPES (pH 7.0), 0.5 mM NADH, 10 mM fructose-6-phosphate. One unit of MTD activity was defined as the amount of enzyme that catalyzed the oxidation of 1 nmol NADPH per min.

Ion channel inhibition assays – Ascospore discharge assays were set up from cultures containing perithecia 5 d postinduction with the following modifications: thickness of the agar blocks was reduced to approximately 2 mm and blocks were placed on a similarly sized 2% water agar block containing dissolved inhibitors. Spores were allowed to discharge from the stacked blocks for 24 h, and then collected and quantified as described above. The number of perithecia on each agar block was also recorded and data normalized to reflect numbers of ascospores discharged per perithecium. Water agar blocks were prepared from inhibitor stocks dissolved in water [cesium chloride (CsCl), 8-(N,N-Diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB8), verapamil], or dimethylsulfoxide (glyburide, tolazamide) and added to molten agarose at 55 C. Control treatments were prepared with appropriate amounts of dimethylsulfoxide. Inhibitors were purchased from Calbiochem-Novabiochem Corp. (La Jolla, California). Data were collected from 3 independent trials, each run in triplicate. Treatments were compared to controls using PROC GLM of SAS Version 8. For comparisons of different trials, data for particular inhibitors were combined and experiment-wise error rates were controlled with Tukey-Kramer adjustments.

Effects of specific inhibitors on growth of mycelia were also measured. Inhibitors were added to 2% water agar as described above. Plates were center inoculated and radial growth was measured daily until mycelia in control cultures reached the periphery of the petri dish (3–4 d). Trials were run in triplicate.

Effect of osmotic changes on discharge – To investigate the effect of increased osmotic potential outside the asci on discharge of ascospores, assays were set up and analyzed in a similar manner to the ion channel inhibitor assays. Inhibition of mycelial growth by increased levels of mannitol and glycerol was studied in a manner similar to the specific inhibitors, using water agar amended with the appropriate amounts of osmoticum.


    RESULTS
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
Effect of light and relative humidity on ascospore discharge – Initially, a time-course for ascospore discharge was needed to determine, under our conditions, the age of perithecia at which discharge was maximal. Perithecia from 4 to 11 d after induction were tested for discharge activity. Maximal discharge occurred d 6 to 9 post-induction. Spore discharge was approximately 25% maximum on d 5; no discharge was detected on d 4, 10, or 11.

To investigate the temporal pattern of ascospore release, and how this pattern could be affected by selected environmental factors, we used a previously developed apparatus (Gadoury et al 1996Citation ) in which we could precisely control temperature, humidity, rainfall rate, light intensity and quality, and wind speed. Ascospore release followed a sigmoid distribution during simulated rain at 20 C under constant illumination (Fig. 1A ). The pattern of release was linearized by probit transformation, and subjected to linear regression. The linear model explained over 90% of the variation in observed release (Fig. 1B ). There was a significant (P = 0.05) effect of light upon the rate of ascospore release. The slope coefficients of linear models fit to ascospore release during light during h 4–6 of a wetting period (Fig. 2 ), or h 3–4 of a wetting period (Fig. 3 ) were approximately 8.2% and 31.8% greater, respectively.



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 FIG. 1. Release of ascospores of Gibberella zeae in a wind tunnel at 20 C. Perithecia were exposed to simulated rain and daylight-balanced illumination for 6 h. Data were pooled from six repetitions. Ascospore release followed a sigmoid distribution (A), and was linearized by probit transformation (B) for regression analysis

 


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 FIG. 2. Effect of light upon release of ascospores of Gibberella zeae. Perithecia were subjected to simulated rain at 20 C in a wind tunnel in darkness for 6 h (A), or 3 h in darkness followed by 3 h of daylight-balanced illumination (B). The cumulative percentage of ascospores released during h 4–6 of the test was regressed against time elapsed since the initial wetting. The rate of ascospore release during h 4–6 was significantly greater during light than during darkness (P = 0.05)

 


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 FIG. 3. Effect of light upon release of ascospores of Gibberella zeae. Perithecia were subjected to simulated rain at 20 C in a wind tunnel in darkness for 2 h. They were then kept in darkness (A) or were exposed to daylight-balanced illumination (B) illumination (B) during h 3 and 4, followed by an additional 2 h of illumination (A and B). The cumulative percentage of ascos released during darkness (A) or light (B) for hours 3 and 4 of the test was then regressed against time elapsed since the initial wetting. The rate of ascospore release during h 3 and 4 was significantly greater during light than during darkness (P = 0.05)

 
The effect of relative humidity on ascospore discharge was determined for two strains of G. zeae, W8 and PH1 (Table I ). In both cases, discharge increased significantly with increasing relative humidity (P < 0.0126 for PH1 and P < 0.003 for W8). Since the results of the 2 strains did not differ significantly, they were combined and analyzed as one population. Maximum discharge occurred at 100% humidity, but discharge occurred at all relative humidity levels.


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TABLE I. Effect of relative humidity on ascospore discharge

 
Turgor pressure within the ascus generates the force for discharge of ascospores – Discharge of ascospores was accompanied by discharge of droplets (Fig. 4 ). The presence of these droplets suggests buildup of turgor pressure within the ascus. Repeated visual observations (including video analysis, not shown) of spore discharge from many perithecia indicated this fluid originated from within the ascus and not from other areas within or outside of the perithecium.



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 FIG. 4. Contents discharged from a single ascus. Note 8 ascospores and droplets exuded from perithecium (located in upper left out of field of view). 35x

 
If the generation of the force for ascospore discharge were due to the buildup of turgor pressure, then the presence of an external source of high osmotic pressure would inhibit discharge. Placing perithecia on agar blocks containing increased concentrations of mannitol and glycerol reduced ascospore discharge significantly (Table II ). At 1 M mannitol or glycerol, inhibition of mycelial growth was less than 25%.


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TABLE II. Effect of hypertonic conditions on discharge of ascospores

 
Analysis of epiplasmic fluid for simple sugars – To identify a potential sugar component(s) involved in generation of turgor pressure, GC-mass spectrometry analyses of ascus exudates of G. zeae were performed. Mannitol was identified as the major simple sugar that consistently and prominently appeared in the exudates (Fig. 5 ). Analysis by GC-Mass spectrometry of derivitized, non-reduced exudates confirmed that this peak was not mannose. A smaller peak, identified as a glucose derivative, was also consistently present.



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 FIG. 5. GC-Mass spectrometry of ascus exudates. (A) Total ion current (top trace) and ions characteristic of alditol acetate derivitized simple sugars (lower traces) in ascus exudate. Peak identification: (1) mannitol; (2) glucose. Relative magnification of traces: TIC (1.0), 361 (2.5), 289 (1.2), 217 (1.0). (B) Mass Spectrum of peak 1, identifying derivitized mannitol. Representative spectrum of sample reduced with sodium borodeuteride

 
To determine the source of the mannitol, protein extracts of several tissue types were examined for MTD and M1PD activity, two enzymes known to be involved in mannitol biosynthesis in fungi. NADPH-dependent MTD activity was detected in all tissues examined (Fig. 6 ), but was detected at highest levels in mature perithecia 8 d after induction. The reverse reaction (NADP-dependent) showed a similar trend (data not shown). Activity of NADH- dependent M1PD (in either direction) was not detected in extracts of mycelia or perithecia.



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 FIG. 6. Differential mannitol dehydrogenase (MTD) activity in crude protein extracts of different tissue types. Representative trial, trends were similar among all trials

 
Effect of ion channel inhibitors on ascospore discharge – Pharmacological assays were used to determine if ion channel inhibitors were effective in inhibiting discharge. Assays were performed initially with a subset of pharmacological agents on perithecia of several ages until it was concluded that age did not affect inhibition (data not shown). Assays were then performed on all agents using perithecia 5 d post-induction, since data were collected more easily at this stage. Initially, the effects of the ion channel inhibitors on growth were determined. Inhibitor concentrations that inhibited growth more than 30% relative to control plates were eliminated from further studies, including glyburide at concentration of 1 mM. Several K+ channel inhibitors were effective, but never inhibited discharge over 50% (Table III ). Near complete inhibition of discharge was observed with two Ca++ channel inhibitors, verapamil (1 mM) and TMB8. However, verapamil inhibited the mycelial growth nearly 50%. No inhibitors tested were found to be inactive on discharge.


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TABLE III. The effect of ion channel inhibitors on ascospore discharge

 

    DISCUSSION
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
Light was not a requirement for discharge of ascospores from G. zeae, but light intensity comparable to that reported at mid-day during rain events did result in a slight to moderate increase in the rate of ascospore release over that observed during complete darkness. Measurements of discharge must take into consideration both ascus development and actual discharge. The time period for our wind-tunnel studies allowed the perithecia to expell their mature spores, allowing these two parameters to be separated. In our wind-tunnel tests, a cohort of perithecia completed releasing most of their ascospores within a 6-h period of simulated rain at 20 C under illumination. Complete darkness could therefore be expected to extend the period of release for 1–2 additional h, but not beyond that under field conditions due to relatively short nights during the time of year when crops are susceptible to ascospore infection.

High relative humidity may be sufficient for release of ascospores, but its effect is difficult to separate from that of free water in the field. Subtle changes in microclimates may occur that are not possible to measure, such as condensation due to minor temperature fluctuations in the presence of vegetation, small changes in terrain, and variations in soil type. Paulitz (1996)Citation studied the pattern of spore release in inoculated field plots over the course of 24 h intervals. Peak release occurred 2 to 4 d after a rainfall. He concluded that rainfall was needed for maturation of ascospores, but not release. Paulitz (1996)Citation suggested that reports that discharge is inhibited by free water may be due to discharged ascospores being retained in a layer of free water present on the surface of the perithecium (Paulitz 1996Citation ). Indeed, we have observed this phenomenon in the laboratory (unpubl obs). Given the osmotic nature of the discharge mechanism, it would be difficult to reconcile the discharge of ascospores with an absence of free water.

Our results support those of previous reports that turgor pressure is, at least in part, the driving force behind ascospore discharge. In Gibberella zeae, evidence for this is twofold: droplets are discharged along with the spores when an ascus fires (Fig. 4 ), and in the presence of high external osmotic conditions, discharge is inhibited (Table II ).

The presence of mannitol as the major simple sugar component of the ascus sap indicates this polyol is likely to be involved in generation of turgor pressure. In fungi, mannitol biosynthesis occurs by one of two pathways: the NADPH-dependent MTD-catalyzed conversion of fructose to mannitol, and the conversion of fructose-6-phosphate to mannitol-1-phosphate by mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (NAD-dependent), with the action of a phosphatase making the final conversion to mannitol (Jennings and Burke 1990Citation ). We did not detect the M1PD activity in hyphae nor in perithecia. Hult et al (1980)Citation also reported that such activity was not detected in G. zeae, although cultural conditions were limited in both studies. Resolution of the role of mannitol in ascospore discharge necessitates the isolation of gene(s) involved in mannitol biosynthesis, such as the MTD gene and the M1PD gene, and the specific disruption of these gene(s) in G. zeae. This work is in progress.

Accumulation of a compatible osmolyte, such as mannitol, for the generation of osmotic pressure has obvious advantages for the preservation of enzyme activity (Jennings and Burke 1990Citation ). Fungi are known to use glycerol, mannitol, sorbitol, trehalose and proline as compatible osmolytes, although other polyols may also be present in osmolyte mixtures (Jennings and Burke 1990Citation , Davis et al 2000Citation ). A recent study shows that many of the compatible osmolytes do not differ in the osmotic effects at physiological concentrations and thus the evolutionary advantage of a particular one for a specific function is not clear. In Magnaporthe grisea, glycerol has been identified as the osmolyte used to buildup large levels of turgor pressure (De Jong et al 1997Citation ) in the highly melanized appressoria used for leaf penetration. However, glycerol is known to pass through cell membranes at a higher rate than other compatible osmolytes (Davis et al 2000)Citation . In the absence of a physical barrier such as is found in these specialized appressoria, glycerol may not be as useful as the larger polyols in ascus turgor generation.

The source of mannitol within the ascus is not known. In fungi, lipids, glycogen and trehalose are known to be the main compounds for energy storage (Jennings 1995Citation ). The conversion of glycogen to reducing sugars has been suggested as the general biochemical basis for ascus turgor and forcible discharge (Ingold 1933, 1965Citation , Jackson and Wheeler 1974Citation ). However, Ingold (1966)Citation suggested that there is not sufficient glycogen in asci of Sordaria fimicola to account for the change in turgor pressure. Glycogen was not involved in forcible ascospore discharge in Uncinula necator (Gadoury and Pearson 1990Citation ), which appeared to be related to lipid metabolism during ascus maturation. In Magnaporthe grisea, evidence was recently presented in support of lipids as the source of glycerol in appressoria (Weber et al 2001)Citation

The potassium ion channel inhibitors did not inhibit discharge at levels greater than 50%, suggesting the presence of another mechanism also contributing to discharge (Table III ). It is likely that turgor pressure is generated through a combination of mannitol accumulation and K+ influx. Calcium ion channel inhibitors inhibited discharge nearly 100%. Calcium ion fluxes are likely to be involved in signalling discharge rather than direct generation of turgor pressure. Relatively high levels of some of the inhibitors were required to see the inhibitory effect. This may be due to the particular mode of absorption. To function, the inhibitors must be absorbed through the thick-walled, senescing perithecial wall cells into the centrum of the perithecium. We will pursue the identification and characterization of ion channels involved in ascospore discharge as part of an ongoing genomics project.

The present research may assist in the generation of novel control methods for controlling ascospore discharge in plant pathogenic fungi. In the G. zeae-wheat host-pathogen system, host susceptibility to ascospores is limited to the the time of wheat flowering—a relatively short time-period. Once the basic mechanism of discharge is understood on a physiological and genetic level, investigation into the control mechanisms for ascospore discharge and the environmental signals that trigger the mechanism will be pursued. These signals are probably complex—accounting for conflicting field observations.


    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
 
We thank Bev Chamberlain, Zhifang Gao, Iffa Gaffoor, Rawle Hollingsworth, and David Johnson for their helpful suggestions during the course of these studies. Thanks to Allison Miller for technical assistance. We thank Harvey Hoch for his assistance in photographing and filming discharging ascospores. Mass Spectrometral data were obtained at the Michigan State University Mass Spectrometry Facility which is supported, in part, by a grant (DRR-00480) from the Biotechnology Research Technology Program, National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health. This project was supported by the USDA Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative and the Michigan State University Agricultural Experiment Station.


    FOOTNOTES
 
1 Corresponding author, Email: trail{at}msu.edu Back

2 Current address: Department of Biology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland Back

3 Current address: Biolex, Inc.,158 Credle Street, Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312 Back

Accepted for publication July 17, 2001.


    LITERATURE CITED
 TOP
 ABSTRACT
 INTRODUCTION
 MATERIALS AND METHODS
 RESULTS
 DISCUSSION
 LITERATURE CITED
 
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