Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Science 6 January 1984:
Vol. 223. no. 4631, pp. 17 - 21
DOI: 10.1126/science.223.4631.17
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Host-Selective Toxins and Their Role in Plant Diseases

Robert P. Scheffer 1 and Robert S. Livingston 2

1 Professor in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.
2 Graduate research assistant in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.

Toxins with unusual characteristics are involved in some destructive diseases of plants. Certain parasitic fungi produce toxins of low molecular weight that selectively affect the host plant; nonhosts are tolerant. These toxins have diverse structures, including cyclic peptides and linear polyketols. Genetic and other data show that resistance to each fungus is based on tolerance to its toxin. The same fungal genes control toxin production and ability to cause disease. Little is known about toxic action, although one toxin selectively affects mitochondria. Plant cell membranes are affected; this may allow the fungus to colonize tissues. Resistant cells may lack toxin receptor sites.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Role of the Arginyl-Glycyl-Aspartic Motif in the Action of Ptr ToxA Produced by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis.
S. W. Meinhardt, W. Cheng, C. Y. Kwon, C. M. Donohue, and J. B. Rasmussen (2002)
Plant Physiology 130, 1545-1551
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Conditionally Dispensable Chromosome Controls Host-Specific Pathogenicity in the Fungal Plant Pathogen Alternaria alternata.
R. Hatta, K. Ito, Y. Hosaki, T. Tanaka, A. Tanaka, M. Yamamoto, K. Akimitsu, and T. Tsuge (2002)
Genetics 161, 59-70
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)