Fungal-Specific Transcription Factor AbPf2 Activates Pathogenicity in Alternaria brassicicola

ABSTRACT: Alternaria brassicicola is a successful saprophyte and necrotrophic plant pathogen. Molecular determinants of its life style shift between saprophyte and pathogen, however, are unknown. To identify these determinants we studied nonpathogenic mutants of a transcription factor-coding gene, AbPf2. Frequency and timing of germination and appressorium formation on host plants were similar between the nonpathogenic Δabpf2 mutants and wild-type A. brassicicola. The mutants were also similar in vitro to wild-type A. brassicicola in vegetative growth, conidium production, and responses to chemical stressors, such as a phytoalexin, reactive oxygen species, and osmolites. The mutants, however, did not penetrate host plant tissues, though their hyphae continued to grow on the plant surface. Tran

ORGANISM(S): Alternaria brassicicola

SUBMITTER: Yangrae Cho 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-38984 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress