A hydrophobin gene, VDH1, is involved in microsclerotial development and spore viability in the plant pathogen Verticillium dahliae.
The wilt fungus Verticillium dahliae Kleb. produces desiccation- and cold-tolerant resting structures, known as microsclerotia, which are the primary source of disease inoculum in the field. In an exploration of the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of these important structures, we have identified in V. dahliae a differentially expressed, class II hydrophobin gene (VDH1). vdh1 mutants generated through targeted gene disruption show a severe reduction in microsclerotia production, indicating that the gene is important for this type of development. Although vdh1 mutants do produce normal conidiophores and spores, desiccation-tolerance of the spores is reduced. The VDH1 gene is not, however, needed for normal disease development in tomato. VDH1's functions are multi-faceted, and seem generally relevant to long-term survival in V. dahliae.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Southern Crop Protection and Food Research Centre, 1391 Sandford St., London, Ont., Canada N5V 4T3.
Anna
A
Klimes
Katherine F
KF
Dobinson
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000382:microbiology; D008853:Microscopy; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics*; D020172:Verticillium / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D014774:Virulence
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012333:RNA, Messenger