Gene Expression Study Reveals Distinct Virulence Modules of Corn Smut Fungus
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellLanver et al. investigate fungal gene expression during corn infection by Ustilago maydis. The Plant Cell (2018) https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00764
By Daniel Lanver and Regine Kahmann
Background: The corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis is a model organism for studying how fungi can colonize living…
Nodule Symbiosis: Cleavage of Bacterial Signals Affects Nodule Shape
Research, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In a NutshellCai et al. investigate the function of a Medicago truncatula enzyme (MtNFH1) that cleaves nodulation signals of symbiotic Sinorhizobium meliloti bacteria. Plant Cell (2018). https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.17.00420.
By Jie Cai, Zhi-Ping Xie and Christian Staehelin
Background: Nitrogen-fixing rhizobia…
Pentapeptide Protection of Botrytis-Infected Tomato by Phytosulfokine
Blog, The Plant Cell, The Plant Cell: In BriefFungal pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea can cause devastating losses to agricultural crops – ask any strawberry, grape, or tomato grower. To prevent these losses, plants can summon a variety of immune responses by recognizing specific molecules associated with pathogen attack and/or internal damage.…
Mycorrhiza-Triggered Networks in Leaves
Plant Physiology, Plant Physiology: On The InsideOne effect of mycorrhizal fungi is to stimulate the plant immune system, leading to induced systemic resistance (ISR). Thus, mycorrhizal fungi influence the interactions between plants and aboveground herbivores. The molecular mechanisms underlying these types of beneficial microbe-plant interactions…
Systemin receptor SYR1 enhances resistance against herbivorous insects (Nature Plants)
Plant Science Research WeeklySystemin is the first polypeptide hormone identified in plants, in 1991. Systemin is a small polypeptide hormone that conveys information about insect herbivory systemically (to other tissues). A previous report suggested that the tomato homologue of the brassinosteroid receptor BRI1 serves as a systemin…
Biological relevance of VOCs emitted during the pathogenic interactions (Mol. Plant Pathol.)
Plant Science Research WeeklyIt is well known that upon pathogenic infections, plants defend themselves by emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as one of the defence strategies. This work by Cellini et al. aims to understand the biological relevance of these organic volatiles in the fire blight disease of apple caused by…
Review. Rise of a cereal killer: The biology of Magnaporthe oryzae biotrophic growth
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae causes one of the most destructive diseases of rice, destroying around 10-30% of rice production world-wide. The pathogen undergoes different developmental changes and produce specialized infectious structures in order to rapidly proliferate within the host cells.…
Review. Plant cell wall-mediated immunity: cell wall changes trigger disease resistance responses
Plant Science Research WeeklyPlant cell walls have recently been revealed as an essential factor of plant environment monitoring system, much more than just a passive defensive barrier as previously thought. In a recent work, Bacete et al. have reviewed how changes to plant cell wall integrity affect disease resistance. More specifically,…
Jasmonic acid and salicylic acid signaling in fern Azolla filiculoides and its cyanobiont
Plant Science Research WeeklyThe phytohormones jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) play key roles in how plants respond to microbes. However, this interplay between JA, SA and microbes is less understood in non-angiosperm linages. de Vries and colleagues examine JA/SA signalling between the water fern Azolla filiculoides…