Hydrogen peroxide is involved in the sclerotial differentiation of filamentous phytopathogenic fungi.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of H(2) O(2) and the related oxidative stress markers catalase (CAT) and lipid peroxidation in the sclerotial differentiation of the phytopathogenic filamentous fungi Sclerotium rolfsii, Sclerotinia minor, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Rhizoctonia solani.


RESULTS
Using the H(2) O(2) -specific scopoletin fluorometric assay and the CAT-dependent H(2) O(2) consumption assays, it was found that the production rate of intra/extracellular H(2) O(2) and CAT levels in the sclerotiogenic fungi were significantly higher and lower, respectively, than those of their nondifferentiating counterpart strains. They peaked in the transition between the undifferentiated and the differentiated state of the sclerotiogenic strains, suggesting both a cell proliferative and differentiative role. In addition, the indirect indicator of oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, was substantially decreased in the nondifferentiating strains.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the differentiative role of H(2) O(2) is expressed via induction of higher oxidative stress in the sclerotiogenic filamentous phytopathogenic fungi.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that the direct marker of oxidative stress H(2) O(2) is involved in the sclerotial differentiation of the phytopathogenic filamentous fungi S. rolfsii, S. minor, S. sclerotiorum and R. solani, which could have potential biotechnological implications in terms of developing antifungal strategies by regulating intracellular H(2) O(2) levels.
Papapostolou
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Department of Biology, Section of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Patras, Patras, Greece.
Georgiou
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D001203:Ascomycota / Q000254:growth & development; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000254:growth & development; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012232:Rhizoctonia / Q000254:growth & development
D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase