title: Secret lifestyles of Neurospora crassa.
abstract: Neurospora crassa has a long history as an excellent model for genetic, cellular, and biochemical research. Although this fungus is known as a saprotroph, it normally appears on burned vegetations or trees after forest fires. However, due to a lack of experimental evidence, the nature of its association with living plants remains enigmatic. Here we report that Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is a host plant for N. crassa. The endophytic lifestyle of N. crassa was found in its interaction with Scots pine. Moreover, the fungus can switch to a pathogenic state when its balanced interaction with the host is disrupted. Our data reveal previously unknown lifestyles of N. crassa, which are likely controlled by both environmental and host factors. Switching among the endophytic, pathogenic, and saprotrophic lifestyles confers upon fungi phenotypic plasticity in adapting to changing environments and drives the evolution of fungi and associated plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Hsiao-Che
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Center for Fungal Pathogenesis, and Center for Fungal Genetic Resources, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaeyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Frederick O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Asiegbu
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Jari P T
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Valkonen
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland [2] Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland [3] Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Center for Fungal Pathogenesis, and Center for Fungal Genetic Resources, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-921, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000502:physiology*; D028223:Pinus / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*