Magnaporthe oryzae endopolygalacturonase homolog correlates with density-dependent conidial germination.
Endopolygalacturonases (endoPGs) of some phytopathogens are virulent factors for dicots. To investigate the function of the endoPG of Magnaporthe oryzae, a disruption mutant of MGG_08938, the homolog of endoPG found in the genome database of this fungus, was generated. The pathogenicity, mycelial growth, and appressorium formation of this mutant were comparable with those of the wild-type strain; however, the germination of conidia in a highly concentrated suspension of conidia was affected by the mutation. Whereas the germination of the wild-type strain was inhibited at high concentrations, this effect was canceled out by disruption by the endoPG homolog gene. The authors named the gene MDG1 (M. oryzae density-dependent germination), which delineates this new function in the fungus.
Mori
Takuma
T
Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Biology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Jung
Hee-Young
HY
Maejima
Kensaku
K
Hirata
Hisae
H
Himeno
Misako
M
Hamamoto
Hiroshi
H
Namba
Shigetou
S
D005800:Genes, Fungal; D020082:Magnaporthe / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D011096:Polygalacturonase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development*
D011096:Polygalacturonase