title: Inhibition of Fusarium graminearum growth and development by farnesol.
abstract: The isoprenoid farnesol was previously shown to induce morphological features characteristic of apoptosis in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. This study demonstrates that under similar liquid media growth conditions, farnesol also triggers apoptosis in the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. However, unlike A. nidulans, F. graminearum spores treated with farnesol exhibited altered germination patterns and most (>60%) lysed upon prolonged exposure. Given the economic importance of F. graminearum as a pathogen of small grains, this study proposes that farnesol may have potential value as an antifungal compound.
authors.affiliation: Plant Science Initiative and Department of Plant Pathology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA.
authors.forename: Camile P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Semighini
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D005204:Farnesol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005204:Farnesol