Botrytis cinerea virulence is drastically reduced after disruption of chitin synthase class III gene (Bcchs3a).
Cell Microbiol
; 8(8): 1310-21, 2006 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16882034
ABSTRACT
Botrytis cinerea is an important phytopathogenic fungus requiring new methods of control. Chitin biosynthesis, which involves seven classes of chitin synthases, could be an attractive target. A fragment encoding one of the class III enzymes was used to disrupt the corresponding Bcchs3a gene in the B. cinerea genome. The resulting mutant exhibited a 39% reduction in its chitin content and an 89% reduction in its in vitro chitin synthase activity, compared with the wild-type strain. Bcchs3a mutant was not affected in its growth in liquid medium, neither in its production of sclerotia, micro- and macroconidia. In contrast, the mutant Bcchs3a was severely impaired in its growth on solid medium. Counterbalancing this defect in radial growth, Bcchs3a mutant presented a large increase in hyphal ramification, resulting in an enhanced aerial growth. Observations by different techniques of microscopy revealed a thick extracellular matrix around the hyphal tips. Moreover, Bcchs3a mutant had a largely reduced virulence on Vitis vinifera and Arabidopsis thaliana leaves.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Fungal Proteins
/
Chitin Synthase
/
Botrytis
/
Genes, Fungal
Language:
En
Journal:
Cell Microbiol
Journal subject:
MICROBIOLOGIA
Year:
2006
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
France