Ultrastructure of appressorium development by basidiospore germlings of the rust fungusGymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae

Summary Basidiospore germlings ofG. juniperi-virginianae readily formed appressoria (infection structures) on dialysis membranes. These specimens could be effectively freeze-substituted and processed for study with transmission electron microscopy. Appressorium formation on these membranes appeared to be very similar to that occurring on host leaves up to the point of penetration peg formation. A germ tube emerged laterally from each spore, grew until it contacted the membrane, and then differentiated into a swollen appressorium whose end was flattened against the membrane. The fungal wall in contact with the membrane became very thin. A region devoid of most organelles developed in the appressorium tip. Numerous filasomes and microvesicles accumulated in this region. Eventually, a structure known as the appressorial cone formed at the end of the appressorium. This structure was deposited outside the plasma membrane in direct contact with the dialysis membrane. Basidiospores and appressoria appeared to be effectively stuck to the dialysis membrane by a fibrillar, extracellular matrix. This substance appeared as a diffuse network on young germ tubes, but subsequently assumed the appearance of an electron-dense layer or coating on appressoria and basidiospores.     

Surface carbohydrates and cell wall structure of in vitro-induced uredospore infection structures ofUromyces viciae-fabae before and after treatment with enzymes and alkali

Summary Uredospores ofUromyces viciae-fabae differentiate to form germ tubes, appressoria, infection hyphae and haustorial mother cells on oil-containing collodion membranes. The cell walls of these infection structures were studied with the electron microscope and with FITC-labeled lectins before and after treatment with enzymes and inorganic solvents. Binding of the FITC-labeled lectins was measured with a microscope photometer. The enzymes pronase E, laminarinase, chitinase and lipase had different effects on each infection structure. Pronase treatment uncovered the chitin of germ tubes, appressoria and haustorial mother cells, but not of substomatal vesicles and infection hyphae. A mixture of - and -1,3-glucanase which also contained chitinase activity dissolved germ tubes and appressoria completely, but not infection pegs, substomatal vesicles, infection hyphae and haustorial mother cells. After treatment with laminarinase or lipase, an additional layer, which is especially obvious over the substomatal vesicle, infection hypha and haustorial mother cell, bound to LCA-FITC. In the wall of the haustorial mother cell, a ring, which surrounds the presumed infection peg, had strong affinity for WGA after protease and sodium hydroxide treatment. The infection structures have a fibrillar skeleton. The main constituent seems to be chitin. This skeleton is more dense or has a higher chitin content in the walls of appressoria and haustorial mother cells. The fibrils of the skeleton extend throughout the cell wall of the germ tube and appressorium. They are embedded within amorphous material of complex chemical composition (-1,3-glucan, -1,3-glucan, glycoprotein). The chitin of the infection peg, substomatal vesicle, infection hypha and haustorial mother cell is covered completely with this amorphous material. These results show, that each infection structure has distinct surface and wall characteristics. They may reflect the different tasks of the infection structures during host recognition and leaf penetration.Abbreviations AP appressorium - FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate - GT germ tube - HC haustorial mother cell - IH infection hypha - IP infection peg - LCA Lens culinaris agglutinin - n nucleus - neu neuramic acid - p pyranoside - R ring - s septum - SV substomatal vesicle - WGA wheat germ agglutinin     

Identification of thigmoresponsive loci for cell differentiation inUromyces germlings

Summary The sites alongUromyces appendiculatus germ tubes that are responsive to topographical induction for appressorium formation were determined using glass micropipettes. The germ tubes were perturbed with the micropipettes at different sites and durations. The most responsive region of the germ tubes for appressorium formation was within 0–10 m from the cell apex where >90% of the perturbed germ tubes developed appressoria. Furthermore, only the cell surface in contact with the substratum was responsive. Appressoria could not be induced to form, under any conditions, by perturbing cell-substratum regions of the germ tubes more than 40 m from the apex. Maximum appressorium formation occurred when the perturbing micropipette was left in place for >20 min.     

Physiology and fine structure of sporangiospore germination in Piptocephalis unispora prior to infection

Germination of the sporangiospore of Piptocephalis unispora Benjamin, observed by means of light and electron microscopy, involved the formation of a new inner wall which became continous with the inner layer of the wall of the germ tube. The outer wall layer of the germ tube was continous with the original inner wall layer of the dormant spore. Preliminary details of appressorium structure were noted. Nutritional experiments indicated that sporangiospores required external sources of utilisable nitrogen and carbon compounds for maximal swelling and germ tube production. Limited development occurred when either nutrient was supplied singly. Comparison of germination of the asexual spore with that in other Mucorales, especially the Kickxellaceae, has been made, and the merosporangial status in P. unispora discussed.Non-Standard Abbreviations CH casein hydrolysate - Q spore quotient     

MoCDC14 is important for septation during conidiation and appressorium formation in Magnaporthe oryzae

As a typical foliar pathogen, appressorium formation and penetration are critical steps in the infection cycle of Magnaporthe oryzae. Because appressorium formation and penetration are closely co‐regulated with the cell cycle, and Cdc14 phosphatases have an antagonistic relationship with cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDKs) on proteins related to mitotic exit and cytokinesis, in this study, we functionally characterized the MoCDC14 gene in M. oryzae. The Mocdc14 deletion mutant showed significantly reduced growth rate and conidiation. It was also defective in septum formation and nuclear distribution. Septation was irregular in Mocdc14 hyphae and hyphal compartments became multi‐nucleate. Mutant conidia often showed incomplete septa or lacked any septum. During appressorium formation, the septum delimiting appressoria from the rest of the germ tubes was often formed far away from the neck of the appressoria or not formed at all. Unlike the wild‐type, some mutant appressoria had more than one nucleus at 24 h. In addition to appressoria, melanization occurred on parts of the germ tubes and conidia, depending on the irregular position of the appressorium‐delimiting septum. The Mocdc14 mutant was also defective in glycogen degradation during appressorium formation and appressorial penetration of intact plant cells. Similar defects in septum formation, melanization and penetration were observed with appressorium‐like structures formed at hyphal tips in the Mocdc14 mutant. Often a long fragment of mutant hyphae was melanized, together with the apical appressorium‐like structures. These results indicate that MoCDC14 plays a critical role in septation, nuclear distribution and pathogenesis in M. oryzae, and correct septum formation during conidiogenesis and appressorium formation requires the MoCdc14 phosphatase.     

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.     

Induction and formation ofCochliobolus sativus appressoria

Summary GerminatingCochliobolus sativus spores were induced to form appressoria on a variety of artificial surfaces, including replicas of the barley leaf surface. Evidence was obtained for the involvement of chemical and topographic signals during induction of appressorium formation inC. sativus. Germ tube thigmotropism was also observed in vitro. Ultrastructure relevant to appressorium formation was observed, including the germ tube apex, apical swelling of the germ tube apex prior to appressorium formation, the appressorium with associated septation and the penetration peg. Cytochemical probes applied to germlings at the electron microscope level failed to detect -D-mannan, -D-glucan, -D-galactan, D-glcNAc or D-galNAc polymers in the extracellular mucilage associated with the fungal germlings. The ultrastructure of hyphal apices from germlings grown under different nutritional conditions differed with respect to Spitzenkörper morphology, apex shape and in the quantity of associated extracellular mucilage. Experimental findings are discussed relative to current understanding of appressorium induction in more extensively studied systems.Abbreviations PDA potato dextrose agar - DS dilute salts - Con A concanavalin A - RcA₁₂₀ Ricinus communis agglutinin₁₂₀ - WGA wheat germ agglutinin - HpA Helix pomatia agglutinin - DIC differential interference contrast - UV ultraviolet - TEM transmission electron microscopy - NNF National Nanofabrication Facility     

Callose deposition and breakdown, followed by phytomelan synthesis in the seed coat ofGasteria verrucosa (Mill.) H. Duval

Summary In the seed coat ofGasteria verrucosa the deposition of phytomelan takes place during seed development in three stages. Phytomelan is a black cell wall material which is chemically very inert. First the radial walls and part of the transverse cell wall of the outer epidermis of the outer integument become thickened by exocytosis of dictyosome vesicles. Callose is deposited at the tangential plasma membrane against those walls. After the callose deposition about two thirds of the original cell volume is filled with callose. During the second stage the callose is broken down, probably into glucose monomers or small polymers. At the same time cellulose is deposited at the outer tangential plasma membrane, forming a wall between the dissolving callose and the plasma membrane. In the third phase small granules appear in the solution of dissolved callose. which grow out and finally fuse to form a block of phytomelan, consisting of spherical 15-nm units. Remarkable is the function of the callose: it determines the size of the phytomelan block, and it probably functions as carbohydrate source for the phytomelan synthesis and/or for the cellulose inner layer. In this study transmission electron microscopy and cryo scanning electron microscopy are used to study the three developmental stages of the formation of the phytomelan layer.     

The mitogen-activated protein kinase gene MAF1 is essential for the early differentiation phase of appressorium formation in Colletotrichum lagenarium

Colletotrichum lagenarium, the causal agent of cucumber anthracnose, invades host plants by forming a specialized infection structure called an appressorium. In this fungus, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene CMK1 is involved in several steps of the infection process, including appressorium formation. In this study, the goal was to investigate roles of other MAPKs in C. lagenarium. The MAPK gene MAF1, related to Saccharomyces cerevisiae MPK1 and Magnaporthe grisea MPS1, was isolated and functionally characterized. The maf1 gene replacement mutants grew normally, but there was a significant reduction in conidiation and fungal pathogenicity. The M. grisea mps1 mutant forms appressoria, but conidia of the C. lagenarium maf1 mutants produced elongated germ tubes without appressoria on both host plant and glass, on which the wild type forms appressoria, suggesting that MAF1 has an essential role in appressorium formation on inductive surfaces. On a nutrient agar, wild-type conidia produced elongated germ tubes without appressoria. The morphological phenotype of the wild type on the nutrient agar was similar to that of the maf1 mutants on inductive surfaces, suggesting repression of the MAF1-mediated appressorium differentiation on the nutrient agar. The cmk1 mutants failed to form normal appressoria but produced swollen, appressorium-like structures on inductive surfaces, which is morphologically different from the maf1 mutants. These findings suggest that MAF1 is required for the early differentiation phase of appressorium formation, whereas CMK1 is involved in the maturation of appressoria.     

稻瘟病菌单克隆抗体的研制及其对稻瘟病菌附着胞形成的影响

稻温病菌的分生孢子、芽管、附着胞的混合物作为抗原免疫BALB/c小鼠,取免疫小鼠的脾细胞与SP2/0骨髓瘤细胞在50%PEG下融合成杂交瘤细胞,用间接ELISA筛选阳性孔,获11株单克隆抗体。间接免疫荧光试验表明其中4株单克隆抗体2B4、4A1、1D1和2H4分别与孢子、芽管或附着胞有特异性结合;Western blotting分析发现2B4、4A1、1D1单克隆抗体分别与孢子、芽管表面的提取物有不同的结合带;此四株单克隆抗体均干扰稻温病菌附着胞形成,并抑制稻温病菌在叶表的致病性。     

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.     

Penetration of Phytophthora cinnamomi into disease tolerant and susceptible eucalypts

The mechanisms of penetration of Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands into seedling eucalypt roots were studied by light and electron microscopy. Culture grown seedlings of root-rot tolerant Eucalyptus st johnii and root-rot susceptible Eucalyptus obliqua were inoculated with both zoospores and mycelium. Zoospores encysted on roots of both species and the germ tubes penetrated without the formation of appressoria. Swellings, previously described as appressoria, were formed when the germ tube was slow to enter the host by intracellular penetration. Vegetative hyphae penetrated both inter- and intracellularly into the zones of root elongation and differentiation, often through root hairs. Evidence of hydrolysis of the host cell-wall at the point of penetration was observed in electron micrographs. Several hours after the germ tube penetrated the epidermis, a thick plug of amorphous material formed in the germ tube slightly below the level of the outer walls of the epidermal cells, sealing off the hypha within the root. Behaviour of zoospores and germ tubes and the mechanism of penetration were similar on both hosts. Micrographs do not suggest any kind of a hypersensitive reaction by the host cells during the early stages of infection.     

Pollen and Tapetum Development in Male Fertile Rosmarinus Officinalis L. (Lamiaceae)

The development of microspores/pollen grains and tapetum was studied in fertile Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae). Most parts of the cell walls of the secretory anther tapetum undergo modifications before and during meiosis: the inner tangential and radial cell walls, and often also the outer tangential and radial wall, acquire a fibrous appearance; these walls become later transformed into a thin poly-saccharidic film, which is finally dissolved after microspore mitosis. Electron opaque granules found within the fibrous/lamellated tapetal walls consist of sporopollenin-like material, but cannot be interpreted as Ubisch bodies. The middle lamella and the primary wall of the outer tangential and radial tapetal walls remain unmodified, but get covered by an electron opaque, sporopollenin-like layer. Pollenkitt is formed only by lipid droplets from the ground plasma and/or ER profiles, the plastids do not form pollenkitt precursor lipids. Tapetum maturation (“degeneration”) does not take place before late vacuolate stage.

The apertures are determined during meiosis by vesicles or membrane stacks on the surface of the plasma membrane. The procolumellae are conical, but at maturity the columellae are more cylindrical in shape. The columellar bases often fuse, but a genuine foot layer is lacking. The formation of the endexine starts with sporopollenin-accumulating white lines adjacent to the columellar bases. Later, the endexine grows more irregularly by the accumulation of sporopollenin globules. In mature pollen the intine is clearly bilayered.

Generative cells (GCs) and sperm cells contain a comparatively large amount of cytoplasm, and organelles like mitochondria, dictyosomes, ER, and multi-vesicular bodies, but no plastids; GCs and sperms are separated from the vegetative cell only by two plasma membranes.     

Ultrastructure of spore development in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scutellospora heterogama</Emphasis>

The ultrastructural detail of spore development in Scutellospora heterogama is described. Although the main ontogenetic events are similar to those described from light microscopy, the complexity of wall layering is greater when examined at an ultrastructural level. The basic concept of a rigid spore wall enclosing two inner, flexible walls still holds true, but there are additional zones within these three walls distinguishable using electron microscopy, including an inner layer that is involved in the formation of the germination shield. The spore wall has three layers rather than the two reported previously. An outer, thin ornamented layer and an inner, thicker layer are both derived from the hyphal wall and present at all stages of development. These layers differentiate into the outer spore layer visible at the light microscope level. A third inner layer unique to the spore develops during spore swelling and rapidly expands before contracting back to form the second wall layer visible by light microscopy. The two inner flexible walls also are more complex than light microscopy suggests. The close association with the inner flexible walls with germination shield formation consolidates the preferred use of the term ‘germinal walls’ for these structures. A thin electron-dense layer separates the two germinal walls and is the region in which the germination shield forms. The inner germinal wall develops at least two sub-layers, one of which has an appearance similar to that of the expanding layer of the outer spore wall. An electron-dense layer is formed on the inner surface of the inner germinal wall as the germination shield develops, and this forms the wall surrounding the germination shield as well as the germination tube. At maturity, the outer germinal wall develops a thin, striate layer within its substructure.     

STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF WALLS IN FUNARIA STOMATA

The development and structure of the guard cell walls of Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. (Musci) were studied with the light and electron microscopes. The stoma consists of only one, binucleate guard cell as the pore wall does not extend to the ends of the cell. The guard cell wall is thinnest in the dorsal wall near the outer wall but during movement is most likely to flex at thin areas of the outer and ventral walls. The mature wall contains a mottled layer sandwiched between two, more fibrillar layers. The internal wall layer has sublayers with fibrils in axial and radial orientations with respect to the pore. During substomatal cavity formation, the middle lamella is stretched into an electron dense network and into strands and sheets. After stomatal pore formation, the subsidiary cell walls close to the guard cell become strikingly thickened. The functional implications of these results are discussed.     

Morphological studies of N-acetylglucosamine induced germ tube formation by Candida albicans

In N-acetylglucosamine induced germ tube formation by Candida albicans, multiple (up to five) protuberances appeared within 90 min at 37 degrees C on each yeast cell. The protuberances were extensions of the cytosol and contained vesiclelike structures. Usually only one protuberance subsequently developed into a germ tube. The germ tubes emanated from all aspects of the cell surface but seldom from the budding (long axis) poles. Pseudohyphae, which originated from the budding pole, exhibited a marked constriction at the site of emergence and were 0.6-2.5 microns in diameter compared with a diameter of 0.6-0.8 micron for germ tubes. The presence of septa confirmed that germ tubes are precursors of septate mycelia. Ultrathin-section transmission electron microscopy of aldehyde plus osmium fixed cells revealed electron-lucent walls with a thin electron-dense outer layer. A fibrillar border was also routinely associated with germ tubes. Poststaining with potassium permanganate revealed, in addition, a previously invisible fuzzy layer on the outer region of the cell wall which extended over bud scars and germ tubes and which coalesced at sites of contact between cells.     

Ultrastructural Explanation for Snapping Postfission Movements in Arthrobacter crystallopoietes

The ultrastructure of dividing rod-stage cells of Arthrobacter crystallopoietes was examined by electron microscopy. The cell walls consist of two layers. During cell division, the inner layer invaginates to form the septum. The outer layer does not participate in septum formation. After septum formation is completed, the two daughter cells remain attached by the outer layer of the cell wall. It appears that localized rupture of the outer layer during further wall growth is responsible for the phenomenon known as "snapping division" or "snapping postfission movement."     

Cytological Study of Wheat Spike Infection by Bipolaris sorokiniana

The infection of wheat spikelets by Bipolaris sorokiniana , the causal agent of black point on grains and grain shrivelling, was examined by light and electron microscopy. Conidia of the pathogen germinated 6–12 h after inoculation on the surfaces of the different spike tissues. Extracellular sheaths were observed on germ tubes and appressoria attached to the surfaces of lemma, palea and seeds, but were only scarcely detected on the surface of conidia. Appressoria, frequently found over grooves, formed penetration hyphae invading the epidermal cell walls. Infection process was similar on the surface of the lemma, palea and glume. Growth of the fungus in the epidermal and parenchyma cells was found predominantly in the cell walls, and hyphae also extended intercellularly and intracellularly. Infection of seeds appeared to occur via two ways: (i) direct infection of the outer layers of the cell walls of the pericarp and (ii) through entering the stigma into the pericarp cells. Secretion of host cell wall hydrolytic enzymes at the apex of the penetrating hyphae may facilitate the spread of the fungus. In addition, toxins secreted by the fungus might explain the rapid death of host cells in contact with or distant to fungal cells. A host response to fungal infection involved the development of appositions between cell wall and plasma membrane in cells adjacent to fungal cells. Fungal hyphae were sometimes also surrounded by electron dense material.     

Surface ultrastructure of the uredinial stage ofCerotelium fici and its infection process on mulberry

Surface morphology of uredinia and urediniospores ofCerotelium fici (Cast.) Arth., and its infection process in mulberry (Morus alba L.) have been described using the scanning electron microscope. The uredinia ofC. fici are paraphysate and bear pedicellate urediniospores. The surface morphology of urediniospore is similar to most of the rust fungi which have pedicellate urediniospores. The infection process ofC. fici on mulberry leaves differs from other rust fungi in not forming appressoria over the stomates. Further, the germ tube of the urediniospore crosses over the stomata, and sometimes forms an appressorium close to the stoma rather than forming over it. Thus, the present study indicates that the formation of appressoria byC. fici on mulberry leaves is not site specific but an independent, specialized and inherent mechanism required byC. fici to penetrate the mulberry leaf cuticle and epidermis.