title: Isolation, characterization, and avenacin sensitivity of a diverse collection of cereal-root-colonizing fungi.
abstract: A total of 161 fungal isolates were obtained from the surface-sterilized roots of field-grown oat and wheat plants in order to investigate the nature of the root-colonizing fungi supported by these two cereals. Fungi were initially grouped according to their colony morphologies and then were further characterized by ribosomal DNA sequence analysis. The collection contained a wide range of ascomycetes and also some basidiomycete fungi. The fungi were subsequently assessed for their abilities to tolerate and degrade the antifungal oat root saponin, avenacin A-1. Nearly all the fungi obtained from oat roots were avenacin A-1 resistant, while both avenacin-sensitive and avenacin-resistant fungi were isolated from the roots of the non-saponin-producing cereal, wheat. The majority of the avenacin-resistant fungi were able to degrade avenacin A-1. These experiments suggest that avenacin A-1 is likely to influence the development of fungal communities within (and possibly also around) oat roots.
authors.affiliation: The Sainsbury Laboratory, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom. jonathan.carter@bbsrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spink
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Cannon
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Osbourn
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D018554:Avena / Q000382:microbiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000382:microbiology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000382:microbiology; D012503:Saponins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D014908:Triticum / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012503:Saponins; C091460:avenacin A 1