The role of fungal appressoria in plant infection.
Plant pathogenic fungi differentiate a highly specialized infection cell called an appressorium to infect their hosts. Appressorium formation is induced by specific physical or chemical cues provided by the host plant. Several components of signal transduction pathways have been identified that are involved in infection-related morphogenesis and virulence or pathogenicity. In this review we summarize current knowledge on appressorium differentiation and function, and discuss aspects of initial stages of fungal development in the plant.
Deising
H B
HB
Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Faculty of Agriculture, Phytopathology and Plant Protection, Ludwig-Wucherer-Str. 2, D-06099 (Saale), Halle, Germany. deising@landw.uni-halle.de
Werner
S
S
Wernitz
M
M
D005658:Fungi / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014774:Virulence