Maize susceptibility to Ustilago maydis is influenced by genetic and chemical perturbation of carbohydrate allocation.

ABSTRACT: The ability of biotrophic fungi to metabolically adapt to the host environment is a critical factor in fungal diseases of crop plants. In this study, we analysed the transcriptome of maize tumours induced by Ustilago maydis to identify key features underlying metabolic shifts during disease. Among other metabolic changes, this analysis highlighted modifications during infection in the transcriptional regulation of carbohydrate allocation and starch metabolism. We confirmed the relevance of these changes by establishing that symptom development was altered in an id1 (indeterminate1) mutant that showed increased accumulation of sucrose as well as being defective in the vegetative to reproductive transition. We further established the relevance of specific metabolic functions related to carbo

SUBMITTER: Kretschmer M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6638311 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature