Visualization of Three Sclerotiniaceae Species Pathogenic on Onion Reveals Distinct Biology and Infection Strategies.

ABSTRACT: Botrytis squamosa, Botrytis aclada, and Sclerotium cepivorum are three fungal species of the family Sclerotiniaceae that are pathogenic on onion. Despite their close relatedness, these fungi cause very distinct diseases, respectively called leaf blight, neck rot, and white rot, which pose serious threats to onion cultivation. The infection biology of neck rot and white rot in particular is poorly understood. In this study, we used GFP-expressing transformants of all three fungi to visualize the early phases of infection. B. squamosa entered onion leaves by growing either through stomata or into anticlinal walls of onion epidermal cells. B. aclada, known to cause post-harvest rot and spoilage of onion bulbs, did not penetrate the leaf surface but instead formed superficial colonies which pr

SUBMITTER: Steentjes MBF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7918164 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature