A homologue of the fungal tetraspanin Pls1 is required for Epichloe festucae expressorium formation and establishment of a mutualistic interaction with Lolium perenne.

ABSTRACT: Epichloë festucae is an endophytic fungus that forms a mutualistic symbiotic association with the grass host Lolium perenne. Endophytic hyphae exit the host by an appressorium-like structure known as an expressorium. In plant-pathogenic fungi, the tetraspanin Pls1 and the NADPH oxidase component Nox2 are required for appressorium development. Previously we showed that the homologue of Nox2, NoxB, is required for E. festucae expressorium development and establishment of a mutualistic symbiotic interaction with the grass host. Here we used a reverse genetics approach to functionally characterize the role of the E. festucae homologue of Pls1, PlsA. The morphology and growth of ΔplsA in axenic culture was comparable to wild-type. The tiller length of plants infected with ΔplsA was significantl

SUBMITTER: Green KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6589725 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature