cAMP regulation of "pathogenic" and "saprophytic" fungal spore germination

We report on the elucidation of two separate pathways of spore germination in a plant pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene. Conidia of the fungus can germinate either from one side or from both sides, depending on external conditions. In shake culture that includes an extract made up from fresh peas, the unicellular conidium divides and one of the two cells develops a germ tube. On a solid surface this germ tube differentiates an appressorium. In rich medium without pea extract, germination is highly similar to Aspergillus spore germination: the conidium swells, forms a single germ tube and then divides and forms a second germ tube. Conidia that germinate in a rich medium do not form appressoria even on a solid surface and are non-pathogenic. In rich medium, cAMP stimulates germination in rich liquid cultures and induces appressoria formation on a hard surface. In pea extract cAMP induces swelling and formation of irregular germ tubes and appressoria. Our results suggest that plant surface signals induce pathogenic-specific spore germination in a cAMP-independent manner. cAMP is required for saprophytic germination and for appressorium formation.     

Green mould of oranges caused by Penicillium digitatutn Sacc.; effect of additives on spore germination and infection

Water extracts of rind, essential oil and juice from oranges, also citrus pectin and citric acid promoted the formation of lesions when spores of Penicillium digitatum were placed in wounds 1·0 mm deep in flavedo of oranges; fructose, glucose and sucrose had little effect. Rind extracts were less effective in wounds 0·5 mm deep but orange juice and pectin still increased infection. None of the substances allowed the parasite to infect fruit through unwounded surfaces. Germination of spores in water increased as spore concentration decreased but was poor even at low concentrations. Almost all spores germinated in aqueous extracts of flavedo, albedo or whole rind, or in wounds on the surface of fruit. Fructose, glucose, sucrose and xylose were less effective but still caused over two-thirds of spores to germinate but only in the presence of phosphate buffer. Without buffer, germination was little different from that in water. Arabinose and galactose stimulated germination to a lesser extent but with the same phosphate effect. Carboxymethylcellulose and pectin did not affect germination. A variety of substances containing nitrogen increased germination but to different degrees, decreasing in the order, casamino acids, yeast extract, ammonium salts, nitrate. Thiamin and to a lesser extent biotin were also effective. Volatile substances from rind infected with P. digitatum stimulated spore germination and growth of germ tubes. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to infection.     

Percutaneous infection of Hylobius pales by Metarrhizium anisopliae

The manner in which Metarrhizium anisopliae infects larval and adult Hylobius pales was investigated histologically and by scanning electron microscopy. In the presence of fungal and bacterial contaminants on beetles, none or few conidia of M. anisopliae germinated. Antibiosis is suggested, since the inhibition could be eliminated by surface sterilization. On larvae, the contaminants were scarce, and spore germination was greater. With germination, the germ tubes typically grew extensively over the procuticle or sclerites before producing appressoria of various shapes and sizes. These appressoria consistently produced a light-transmissible mucoid substance. Conidia, germ tubes, and appressoria were frequently fused into infection cushions of random arrangement and size. Sclerites of larvae and adults were not penetrated by the fungus, whereas procuticle and metawings were.     

Pathogenesis of barley leaves by Helminthosporium teres II: Carbohydrate involvement

Conidia of Helminthosporium teres had negligible difference in germination and germ tube length between the decolorized and non-decolorized host leaves. Appressoria, penetration and colonization were less on decolorized host leaves, but addition of exogenous nutrients stimulated these stages. Leached conidia had reduced germination on decolorized host leaves, while appressoria formation, penetration and colonization were negligible. The addition of nutrients in the external environment, however, enabled some of the leached conidia to penetrate and colonize. Stimulation by the exogenous nutrients in decreasing order were: sucrose > glucose > yeast extract > leaf leachates. Optimum levels for various nutrients tested were 2% (w/v) each of sucrose and glucose, and 0.1% (w/v) yeast extract. Higher concentrations inhibited these stages of infection. Leached conidia and decolorized leaves had smaller amounts of carbohydrates than non-leached conidia and non-decolorized leaves, respectively. Depletion of host carbohydrates reduced appressoria formation, penetration and colonization and loss of carbohydrates from spores reduced germination.     

Involvement of carbohydrates and cytokinins in pathogenicity ofHelminthosporium carbonum

Significant stimulation of the number of appressoria, penetration and colonization by conidia ofHelminthosporium carbonum occurred on decolorized maize leaves when exogenous carbohydrates and leaf leachates were added. Germination and germ tube length, however, did not exhibit appreciable differences on decolorized or non-decolorized maize leaves. Lower germination was recorded by leached conidia on decolorized leaves; while appressoria, penetration and colonization were absent. Addition of exogenous nutrients (sucrose>leaf leachates>yeast extract>glucose) enabled conidia to accomplish appressoria, penetration and colonization. Optimum levels for various nutrients observed were 2% (w/v) sucrose/glucose or 0.1% (w/v) yeast extract. Higher concentrations inhibited the infection stages of the pathogen. Depletion of host carbohydrates from green islands/infection sites adversely affect appressoria formation, penetration and colonization; and the loss of carbohydrates from the spore affects germination. Cytokinin-like activity at the infection site/green islands increased with the period of incubation of the host as compared to the surrounding tissue or tissue under water drops. The culture filtrate extracts ofH. carbonum recorded cytokinin-like activity which increased with growth of the fungus. TLC (thin layer chromatography) of cytokinin-like substances (tissue extract and culture filtrate) revealed major activity was confined to Rf zones 0.6 to 0.8 which co-chromatographed with zeatin and zeatin riboside. These substances increase at infection sites by virtue of which carbohydrates accumulate at these sites ensuring a continuous supply to the growing pathogen.     

Secondary Sporangium Formation in Phytophthora Palmivora (Butl.) Butl

Very few sporangia of Phytophthora palmivora germinated directlyand produced secondary sporangia in distilled water and in solutionsof amino acids and carbohydrates at 30 °C. Although 1.0per cent (w / v) peptone and yeast-extract stimulated a highpercentage of germination by formation of germ tubes, less than1.0 per cent of the germinated sporangia produced secondarysporangia. Secondary sporangium formation was induced by transferringgerminated primary sporangia from a nutrient medium of sufficientlyhigh concentration to either distilled water or dilute solutionsof organic and inorganic compounds immediately after emergenceof the germ tubes. The percentage of germinated sporangia formingsecondary sporangia was influenced by both the nature and concentrationof the medium into which they were transferred. The secondarysporangia were significantly smaller than the primary sporangia. Phytophthora palmivora, germination, sporangium, Theobroma cacao L., cocoa     

Conidia of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erysiphe trifoliorum</Emphasis> attempt penetration twice during a two-step germination process on non-host barley leaves and an artificial hydrophobic surface

In the present study, using a high-fidelity digital microscope, we observed the sequence of appressorial development on the germ tubes of a powdery mildew fungus isolated from red clover leaves. Based on its morphological characteristics and rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, the fungus was identified as Erysiphe trifoliorum, and one of its isolates, designated as KRCP-4N, was used in this work. The conidial germination of isolate KRCP-4N was studied on host (red clover) and non-host (barley) leaves, as well as on an artificial hydrophobic membrane (Parafilm). More than 90% of conidia germinated synchronously and developed dichotomous appressoria (symmetrical double-headed appressoria) on all substrata used. On host leaves, all appressorium-forming conidia developed hyphae (colony-forming hyphae) from conidial bodies without extending germ tubes from the tips of the appressoria. On non-host leaves and on Parafilm-covered glass slides, however, all conidia extended germ tubes from one side of dichotomous appressoria (two-step germination). In addition to the dichotomous appressoria, we detected a few conidia that produced hooked appressoria and extended germ tubes from the tip of the appressorium. Penetration attempts by KRCP-4N conidia on barley leaves were impeded by papillae formed at penetration sites beneath these two types of appressorium. From these results, we conclude that the “two-step germination” of E. trifoliorum KRCP-4N conidia is the result of an unsuccessful penetration attempt, causing diversity in appressorial shape.     

Morphology and lipid body and vacuole dynamics during secondary conidia formation in Colletotrichum acutatum: laser scanning confocal analysis

Colletotrichum acutatum may develop one or more secondary conidia after conidial germination and before mycelial growth. Secondary conidia formation and germination were influenced by conidia concentration. Concentrations greater than 1x105 conidia/mL were associated with germination decrease and with secondary conidia emergence. Secondary conidia can form either alone or simultaneously with germ tubes and appressoria. Confocal analysis showed numerous lipid bodies stored inside ungerminated conidia, which diminished during germ tube and appressoria formation, with or without secondary conidia formation. They were also reduced during secondary conidia formation alone. While there was a decrease inside germinated conidia, lipid bodies appeared inside secondary conidia since the initial stages. Intense vacuolization inside primary germinated conidia occurred at the same time as the decrease in lipid bodies, which were internalized and digested by vacuoles. During these events, small acidic vesicles inside secondary conidia were formed. Considering that the conidia were maintained in distilled water, with no exogenous nutrients, it is clear that ungerminated conidia contain enough stored lipids to form germ tubes, appressoria, and the additional secondary conidia replete with lipid reserves. These results suggested a very complex and well-balanced regulation that makes possible the catabolic and anabolic pathways of these lipid bodies.     

Mode of Infection of Phyllosticta maculata on Banana as Revealed by Scanning Electron Microscopy

The initial infection stages of Phyllosticta maculata on banana were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Conidial germination on the banana leaf surface commenced within 3 h postinoculation to produce a long and slender germ tube. The hyphae developed secondary branches and mostly grew randomly across the leaf surface. Appressoria were formed at the apex of the germ tubes within 18 h postinoculation and were variable in shape. A layer of an extracellular matrix surrounded the appressoria at the pathogen–host interface. On the fruit surface, conidia germinated to produce predominantly swollen germ tubes which functioned as lateral appressoria together with some slender ones. These germ tubes were formed within 3 h postinoculation. There was no stomatal penetration apparent on the leaf; instead, direct penetration through the cuticle with and without the formation of appressoria was observed. Cuticular degradation on the leaf surface was evident with a circular, darkened area around the point of penetration by hyphae or appressoria. The significant role of pycnidia and conidia in the epidemiology of the disease was further demonstrated in naturally infected leaf samples.     

Ability of casamino acids to support gellan production by Sphingomonas paucimobilis ATCC 31461

The ability of casamino acids and vitamin-assay casamino acids to support gellan production by Sphingomonas paucimobilis ATCC 31461 was examined in a medium containing glucose or corn syrup as the carbon source relative to yeast extract supplementation. When glucose or corn syrup served as the carbon source, the presence of yeast extract in the growth medium stimulated gellan production by strain ATCC 31461 on casamino acids. Using vitamin-assay casamino acids as the nitrogen source, the addition of vitamins lowered gellan synthesis by glucose-grown cells regardless of yeast extract supplementation while gellan elaboration by corn syrup-grown strain ATCC 31461 cells could only be increased by supplementing vitamins into medium lacking yeast extract. Independent of carbon source, the absence of yeast extract in the medium reduced biomass production. Biomass production by the strain grown on either carbon source was increased by supplementing vitamins in the medium containing yeast extract.     

Ultrastructure of Wall Swellings of Germinating Sporangia of Phytophthora palmivora (Butl.) Butl.

Germ tubes of directly germinating sporangia of P. palmivoraincubated in yeast extract solution at 30 ?C usually developedinto prominent swellings from which hyphae later emerged. Thegerm tubes arose as an extension of a new germination wall formedinternal to the sporangial wall prior to germination. The germtube swellings contained typical hyphal organelles. The germtube swelling possessed a thicker wall than both hyphae growingout of it and germ tubes that did not form swellings.     

Cooperativity between different nutrient receptors in germination of spores of Bacillus subtilis and reduction of this cooperativity by alterations in the GerB receptor

The GerA nutrient receptor alone triggers germination of Bacillus subtilis spores with L-alanine or L-valine, and these germinations were stimulated by glucose and K+ plus the GerK nutrient receptor. The GerB nutrient receptor alone did not trigger spore germination with any nutrients but required glucose, fructose, and K+ (GFK) (termed cogerminants) plus GerK for triggering of germination with a number of L-amino acids. GerB and GerA also triggered spore germination cooperatively with l-asparagine, fructose, and K+ and either L-alanine or L-valine. Two GerB variants (termed GerB*s) that were previously isolated by their ability to trigger spore germination in response to D-alanine do not respond to D-alanine but respond to the same L-amino acids that stimulate germination via GerB plus GerK and GFK. GerB*s alone triggered spore germination with these L-amino acids, although GerK plus GFK stimulated the rates of these germinations. In contrast to l-alanine germination via GerA, spore germination via L-alanine and GerB or GerB* was not inhibited by D-alanine. These data support the following conclusions. (i) Interaction with GerK, glucose, and K+ somehow stimulates spore germination via GerA. (ii) GerB can bind and respond to L-amino acids, although normally either the binding site is inaccessible or its occupation is not sufficient to trigger spore germination. (iii) Interaction of GerB with GerK and GFK allows GerB to bind or respond to amino acids. (iv) In addition to spore germination due to the interaction between GerA and GerK, and GerB and GerK, GerB can interact with GerA to trigger spore germination in response to appropriate nutrients. (v) The amino acid sequence changes in GerB*s reduce these receptor variants' requirement for GerK and cogerminants in their response to L-amino acids. (vi) GerK binds glucose, GerB interacts with fructose in addition to L-amino acids, and GerA interacts only with L-valine, L-alanine, and its analogs. (vii) The amino acid binding sites in GerA and GerB are different, even though both respond to L-alanine. These new conclusions are integrated into models for the signal transduction pathways that initiate spore germination.     

Studies on the nature of resistance in tomato plants to Verticillium albo-atrum

Extracts of healthy resistant and of healthy susceptible plants of tomato had the same effect on growth of Verticillium albo-atrum in vitro. Tracheal saps from resistant and from susceptible plants showed no difference in their effect on spore germination and mycelial growth of V. albo-atrum. Cuttings from resistant plants, inoculated with V. albo-atrum and fed with low concentrations of casamino acids, or glucose, at first wilted more than controls but soon recovered. Continuous treatment with dilute ethanol solutions for 2 weeks induced marked wilting in inoculated cuttings of resistant plants: treatment for shorter periods caused less severe symptoms, from which cuttings recovered slowly. Metabolic inhibitors did not break resistance of cuttings, but the pathogen survived longer in cuttings treated with sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, salicylaldoxime or 8-hydroxyquinoline than in controls. When one end of segments of stems of resistant plants was inoculated with the pathogen, and 48 h later the uninoculated end was placed near a colony of V. albo-atrum on agar, growth of the fungus colony towards the stem segment was sometimes inhibited. There was no such inhibition when segments from susceptible plants were used. Both tracheal sap and diffusates from segments of inoculated resistant plants supported less growth of germ tubes of V. albo-atrum than sap and diffusates from uninoculated plants. These differences were not obtained with the susceptible variety and production of fungitoxic substances in resistant plants after infection is inferred.     

Effect of Light on Uredospore Germination and Germ Tube Growth of Soybean Rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi Syd.)

The effect of light on uredospore germination and germ tube growth of Phakopsora pachyrhizi was studied. Frequency of uredospore germination was only partially reduced by high light intensity (> 1,9 * 10⁴ mW * m^?2). In uredospores unilaterally irradiated with polychromatic light germ tubes always emerged from the shadowed side. Already developed germ tubes showed a negative phototropic response. Both effects were inducible by low light intensities. Negative phototropism of germ tubes was a blue light effect. Light of 441 nm was more effective than that of 422 nm or 372 nm. Red light (> 600 nm) was ineffective, green light (513 nm) induced medium responses. In half-side illumination studies longitudinal halves of germ tube tips and spores were irradiated under a microscope. The tips of the germ tubes bent into the illuminating beam. In half-side illumination studies germ tubes always emerged from the illuminated spore halves. Under unilateral illumination liquid paraffin reversed this light “polarization” of spores and the negative phototropism of germ tubes. These results suggest that during unilateral illumination spores and germ tube tips act as a lens focussing the light on the wall farthest away from the light source., There, in uredospores emergence of germ tubes is stimulated and in germ tubes growth is inhibited. As a consequence, under unilateral illumination germ tubes emerge at the shadowed side of the spores and grow away from the light.     

The effect of pollen grains on infections caused by Botrytis cinerea Fr

The addition of pollen to spores of Botrytis cinerea Fr. in droplets of distilled water stimulates spore germination, growth of germ tubes and lesion development. Aqueous diffusate from pollen is as effective as pollen grains, and frozen pollen is more stimulatory than freshly collected pollen. The presence of pollen grains reduces considerably the number of spores needed to allow infection to occur. The lost germination ability and infectivity of old spores is restored by pollen. The stimulatory effect of the presence of pollen has been demonstrated both in vitro and on the surfaces of strawberry petals, strawberry fruits and broad bean leaves. Complete removal of the source of pollen, the anthers from strawberry fruits, markedly affected the speed and severity of infections of strawberry fruits. On broad bean leaves the addition of pollen grains to spores induced the development of spreading aggressive lesions. Preliminary work indicates that the effective principle in pollen is water-soluble, dialysable and heat-stable. Although glucose and fructose are important components of diffusate, neither glucose solution nor fructose solution nor a mixture of the two showed as marked effects as did pollen. Orange juice produces similar effects.     

Stimulation of sclerotial germination ofSclerotium cepivorum by host-plant extract

Summary Extract from onion bulbs and diffusate from roots of onion seedlings were fractionated by column chromatography. The stimulatory effects of the different fractions of onion extract on sclerotial germination ofSclerotium cepivorum were studied. The sugar fraction was the most stimulatory, whereas, the amino acid fraction was not effective. Paper chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of glucose, fructose and no amino acids in the root diffusate. These two sugars and 13 amino acids were identified in the onion extract. When various sugars and amino acids were supplied individually to autoclaved soil, only glucose, fructose, mannose and maltose effectively induced sclerotial germination. Partial stimulation occured in nonsterile soil amended with high glucose concentrations. Studies on the antibiotic effect of the different fractions against some soil fungi by the spore germination method showed that, the sugar fraction inhibits completely the spore germination of all the fungi, tested, whereas, the amino acid fraction was non-inhibitory. Both fractions did not show antibiotic activity when tested by the filter paper disc method. Attempts to extract inhibitory substances from soil which inhibit sclerotial germination were unsuccessful. It was suggested that onion extract plays a twofold role in stimulating sclerotial germination in natural soil: (a) a direct nutritional influence; (b) an antibiotic effect on soil mycoflora which reduces competition for nutrients.     

The Stimulation of Spore Germination in Agaricus bisporus by Organic Acids

Germination of Agaricus bisporus spores is stimulated by vapourdiffusing from dilute solutions of various short-chain fattyacids, especially uo-valeric acid. No increase in germinationwas found in spores treated with succinic acid. All these compoundsinhibited spore germination at concentrations above the optimallevel. An examination of the influence of hydrogen-ion concentrationon germination is also reported. It is suggested that the germination-stimulatingactivity of the acids tested is not a pH effect but is due todirect entry of these compounds into metabolic pathways, particularlythose of fat metabolism. The prominent oil reserves in thesespores suggests a system analogous to that of rust uredospores,the respiration and germination of which is stimulated by short-chainfatty acids, contributing both to the respired carbon dioxideand the for-mation of new cell materials.     

冠盘二胞Marssonina coronaria侵染不同抗性苹果叶片的组织病理学研究

利用光学和电子显微镜,从组织细胞学水平系统研究了冠盘二胞Marssonina coronaria在苹果抗、感病品种叶片上的侵染过程及侵染后寄主细胞的超微结构特征。结果表明：冠盘二胞的侵入和定殖过程可以分为6个阶段：孢子萌发与芽管形成、附着胞形成、侵入细胞角质层、在叶肉细胞内产生吸器、菌丝在叶肉细胞间和细胞内扩展、分生孢子盘形成。随着菌丝扩展,受侵寄主细胞出现细胞壁加厚,细胞壁降解,质壁分离,叶绿体内淀粉粒、嗜饿颗粒积累,叶绿体基粒片层瓦解,线粒体空泡化等现象。在不同抗性的苹果品种上,分生孢子萌发率差别不明     

A microtiter fluorometric assay to detect the germination of Bacillus anthracis spores and the germination inhibitory effects of antibodies

Bacillus anthracis spore germination is usually detected in vitro by alterations in spore refractility, heat resistance, and stainability. We developed a more quantitative, sensitive, and semi-automated procedure for detecting germination by using a microtiter kinetic reader for fluorescence spectrophotometry. The procedure was based on the increase in fluorescence of spores with time during their incubation in germination medium containing a fluorescent nucleic acid-binding dye which stained germinated B. anthracis but not ungerminated (UG) spores. Spore germination in the presence of several germinants was characterized. Although L-alanine and inosine alone stimulated rapid germination in this assay, a medium containing optimal concentrations of L-alanine, adenosine, and casamino acids gave low background fluorescence, stimulated germination completely, and at a reasonable rate. Suspensions of heat-activated, UG spores of B. anthracis strain Ames were preincubated with antibodies (Abs) against whole spores to assess their effect on germination. Analyses of the germination data obtained revealed significant differences between spores pretreated with these Abs and those treated with non-immune sera or IgG. Germination inhibitory activity (GIA) was detected for several polyclonal rabbit anti-spore Ab preparations. These included anti-Ames strain spore antisera, IgG purified from the latter, and spore affinity-purified Abs from antisera elicited against four strains of B. anthracis. Abs elicited against UG as well as completely germinated Ames spores inhibited germination. Abs were ranked according to their GIA, and those specific for UG spores usually exhibited greater GIA. Direct binding to spores of these Abs was detected by an ELISA with whole un-germinated Ames spores. Although specific binding to spores by the anti-spore Abs was shown, their titers did not correlate with their GIA levels. Current efforts are focused on identifying the spore antigens recognized by the anti-spore Abs, characterizing the role of these targeted antigens in disease pathogenesis, and evaluating the ability of specific anti-spore Abs to protect against infection with B. anthracis.     

Physiology of spore germination in cephalosporium acremonium

Conidia ofC. acremonium require an exogenous supply of carbon, nitrogen, magnesium, and phosphate for swelling and germ tube formation. Germination is stimulated by supplementing the medium with sulfate. Maximum frequency of germination occurs at a temperature of 27° to 32°C and a pH of 8.0. Conidia swell at pH 4.0 to 5.5 but do not form germ tubes. Conidia allowed to swell at pH 5.5 initiate germ tube formation immediately when the pH is adjusted to 7.5. Under optimal conditions, over 95 percent of the spore population formed germ tubes by 13 hours.