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.

Science 2 April 1993:
Vol. 260. no. 5104, pp. 75 - 78
DOI: 10.1126/science.260.5104.75
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Genetic Conversion of a Fungal Plant Pathogen to a Nonpathogenic, Endophytic Mutualist

Stanley Freeman 1 and Rusty J. Rodriguez 1

1 Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521

The filamentous fungal ascomycete Colletotrichum magna causes anthracnose in cucurbit plants. Isolation of a nonpathogenic mutant of this species (path-1) resulted in maintained wild-type levels of in vitro sporulation, spore adhesion, appressorial formation, and infection. Path-1 grew throughout host tissues as an endophyte and retained the wild-type host range, which indicates that the genetics involved in pathogenicity and host specificity are distinct. Prior infection with path-1 protected plants from disease caused by Colletotrichum and Fusarium.Genetic analysis of a cross between path-1 and wild-type strains indicated mutation of a single locus.

Submitted on October 29, 1992
Accepted on January 12, 1993


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
More than 400 million years of evolution and some plants still can't make it on their own: plant stress tolerance via fungal symbiosis.
R. Rodriguez and R. Redman (2008)
J. Exp. Bot. 59, 1109-1114
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Root Infection and Systemic Colonization of Maize by Colletotrichum graminicola.
S. A. Sukno, V. M. Garcia, B. D. Shaw, and M. R. Thon (2008)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 74, 823-832
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Fungal endophytes limit pathogen damage in a tropical tree.
A. E. Arnold, L. C. Mejia, D. Kyllo, E. I. Rojas, Z. Maynard, N. Robbins, and E. A. Herre (2003)
PNAS 100, 15649-15654
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Required for Induction of Cytokinesis and Appressorium Formation by Host Signals in the Conidia of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.
Y.-K. Kim, T. Kawano, D. Li, and P. E. Kolattukudy (2000)
PLANT CELL 12, 1331-1344
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Biochemical Analysis of Plant Protection Afforded by a Nonpathogenic Endophytic Mutant of Colletotrichum magna.
R. S. Redman, S. Freeman, D. R. Clifton, J. Morrel, G. Brown, and R. J. Rodriguez (1999)
Plant Physiology 119, 795-804
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Response.
T. M. Perring, C. A. Farrar, A. D. Cooper, T. S. Bellows Jr., and R. J. Rodriguez (1993)
Science 261, 1334-1335
   PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

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