Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Genetic Manipulation of Plant Pathogenic Fungi

  • Chapter
Microbial Control of Weeds

Abstract

Fungi are the most common causal agents of plant disease. As such their potential for control of weed plants is great, and in many cases efficient biological weed control may depend upon the use of fungal pathogens. Strategies for developing more effective biological weed control will involve the genetic manipulation of these pathogens. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss potential strategies that may be followed to construct fungal pathogens improved in their ability to act as biological control agents of weeds. Although a comprehensive review of the literature will not be attempted, I hope to illustrate many of these approaches with published examples, or to point out the lack of published information in certain areas. Most examples are from the plant pathology literature, which emphasizes diseases of agriculturally important plants with a goal (if often unstated) of disease prevention. Nonetheless, basic information concerning the genetic control of pathogenesis and disease epidemics may be applied to both the prevention and maintenance of plant disease. Certainly some allowances must be made for differences among the studied systems, most notably the genetic diversity of weed populations compared with agronomic plants. These differences will be mentioned where appropriate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Literature Cited

  1. Anagnostakis, S. L. 1988. Cryphonectria parasitica, cause of chestnut blight. Pages 123–136, in: Genetics of Plant Pathogenic Fungi. Advances in Plant Pathology, Vo. 6. Academic Press, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Beckman, C. 1987. The Nature of Wilt Diseases of Plants. APS Press, St. Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bennett, J. W., and L. Lasure, eds. 1985. Gene Manipulations in Fungi. Academic Press, Orlando, FL

    Google Scholar 

  4. Blakeman, J. P., and N. J. Fokkema. 1982. Potential for biological control of plant diseases on the phylloplane. Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 20:167–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Blanch, P. A., M. J. C. Asher, and J. H. Burnett. 1981. Inheritance of pathogenicity and cultural characters in Gaewnannomyces graminis var. tritici. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 77:391–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Brasier, C. M., and J. N. Gibbs. 1976. Inheritance of pathogenicity and cultural characters in Ceratocytis ulmi: hybridization of aggressive and non-aggressive strains. Ann. Appl. Biol 83:31–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Caten, C. E., C. Person, J. V. Groth, and S. J. Dhahi. 1984. The genetics of pathogenic aggressiveness in three dikaryons of Ustilago hordei. Can. J. Bot. 62:1209–1219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Chumley, F., K. Parsons, and B. Valent. 1988. Genes that control host cultivar specificity in the rice blast fungus. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 12c:241.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ciuffetti, L. M., K. M. Weltring, B. G. Turgeon, O. C. Yoder, and H. D. VanEtten. 1988. Transformation of Nectria haematococca with a gene for pisatin demethylating activity and the role of pisatin detoxification in virulence. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 12C:278.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Cooley, R. N., R. K. Shaw, F. C. H. Franklin, and C. E. Caten. 1988. Transformation of the phytopathogenic fungus Septoria nodorum to hygromycin B resistance. Curr. Genet. 13:383–389.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Cullen, D., and J. H. Andrews. 1984. Epiphytic microbes as biological control agents. Pages 381–399, in: Plant-Microbe Interactions: Molecular Genetic Perspectives, Vol. 1; T. Kosuge and E. W. Nester, eds. Macmillan, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Défago, G., H. Kern, and L. Sedlar. 1983. Genetic analysis of tomatine insensitivity, sterol content and pathogenicity for green tomato fruits in mutants of Fusarium solani. Physiol. Plant Pathol. 22:39–43.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Défago, G., and H. Kern. 1983. Induction of Fusarium solani mutants insensitive to tomatine, their pathogenicity and aggressiveness to tomato fruits and pea plants. Physiol. Plant Pathol. 22:29–37.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Dickman, M. B., S. S. Patil, and P. E. Kolattukudy. 1982. Purification, characterization and rôle in infection of an extracellular cutinolytic enzyme from Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. on Carica papaya L. Physiol. Plant Pathol. 20:333–347.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Droby, S., D. Prusky, B. Jacoby, and A. Goldman. 1987. Induction of antifungal resorcinols in flesh of unripe mango fruits and its relation to latent infection by Alternaria alternata. Physiol. Molec. Plant Pathol. 30:285–292.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Epstein, L., L. B. Laccetti, R. C. Staples, and H. C. Hoch. 1987. Cell-substratum adhesive protein involved in surface contact responses of the bean rust fungus. Physiol. Molec. Plant Pathol. 30:373–388.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ettinger, W. F., S. K. Thukral, and P. E. Kolattukudy. 1987. Structure of cutinase gene, cDNA, and the derived amino acid sequence from phytopathogenic fungi. Biochemistry 26:7883–7892.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Farman, M. L., and R. P. Oliver. 1988. The transformation of protoplasts of Leptosphaeria maculans to hygromycin B resistance. Curr. Genet. 13:327–330.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Fuchs, A., F. W. deVries, and M. Platero Sanz. 1980. The mechanism of pisatin degradation by F. oxysporum f.sp. pisi. Physiol. Plant Pathol. 16:119–133..

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Fulbright, D. W. 1984. Effect of eliminating dsRNA in hypovirulent Endothia parasitica. Phytopathology 74:722–724.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Gabriel, D. W., N. Lisker, and A. H. Ellingboe. 1982. The induction and analysis of two classes of mutations affecting pathogenicity in an obligate parasite. Phytopathology 72:1026–1028.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Garber, R. C., W. E. Fry, and O. C. Yoder. 1983. Conditional field epidemics on plants: a resource for research in population biology. Ecology 64:1653–1655.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hamer, J. E., R. J. Howard, F. G. Chumley, and B. Valent. 1988. A mechanism for surface attachment in spores of a plant pathogenic fungus. Science 239:288–290.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Henson, J. M., N. K. Blake, and A. L. Pilgeram. 1988. Transformation of Gaeumannomyces graminis. J. Cell. Biochem Suppl. 12C:287.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Keller, N. P., G. C. Bergstrom, and O. C. Yoder. 1988. Stability of foreign DNA in the Cochliobolus heterostrophus genome. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 12C:282.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kelly, J. M., and M. J. Hynes. 1985. Transformation of Aspergillus niger by the amdS gene of Aspergillus nidulans. EMBO J. 4:475–479.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kistler, H. C., and U. K. Benny. 1988. Genetic transformation of the fungal wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. Curr. Genet. 13:145–149.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Kistler, H. C., and H. D. VanEtten (1984) Regulation of pisatin demethylation in Nectria haematococca and its influence on pisatin tolerance and virulence. J. Gen. Microbiol. 130:2605–2613.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Klittich, C. J. R., and C. R. Bronson. 1986. Reduced fitness associated with TOXI of Cochliobolus heterostrophus. Phytopathology 76:1294–1298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Kolattukudy, P. E. 1985. Enzymatic penetration of the plant cuticle by fungal pathogens. Ann. Rev. Phytopathol. 23:223–250.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Kronstad, J., J. Wang, S. Covert, and S. Leong. 1988. Isolation of metabolic and pathogenicity genes from Ustilago maydis. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 12C:283.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Lawrence G. J. 1988. Melampsora lini, rust of flax and linseed. Pages 313–331, in: Genetics of Plant Pathogenic Fungi. Advances in Plant Pathology, Vol. 6. Academic Press, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Leong, S. A. 1988. Recombinant DNA research in phytopathogenic fungi. Pages 1–26, in: Genetics of Plant Pathogenic Fungi. Advances in Plant Pathology. Vol. 6. Academic Press, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Leong, S. A., J. Wang, A. Budde, D. Holden, T. Kinscherf, and T. Smith. 1987. Molecular strategies for the analysis of the interaction of Ustilago maydis and maize. Pages 95–106, in: Molecular Strategies for Crop Protection. Alan R. Liss, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Leung, H., F. S. Borromeo, and M. A. Bernardo. 1988. Genetic control of cultivar specificity on rice in the blast fungus. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 12C:269.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Leung, H., and M. Taga. 1988. Magnaporthe grisea (Pyricularia species): the blast fungus. Pages 175–188, in Genetics of Plant Pathogenic Fungi. Advances in Plant Pathology, Vol. 6. Academic Press, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Lindemann, J. 1985. Genetic manipulation of microorganisms for biological control. Pages 116–130, in: Biological Control on the Phylloplane. C. E. Windeis and S. E. Lindow, eds. APS Press, St. Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Michelmore, R. W., and S. H. Hulbert. 1987. Molecular markers for genetic analysis of phytopathogenic fungi. Ann. Rev. Phytopathol 25:383–404.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Mullin, P. G., B. G. Turgeon, R. C. Garber, and O. C. Yoder. 1988. Integration of transforming DNA by homologous recombination allows gene replacement in Cochliobolus heterostrophus. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 12C:285.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Oliver, R. P., I. N. Roberts, H. Harling, L. Kenyon, P. J. Punt, M. A. Dingemans, and C. A. M. J. J van den Hondel. 1987. Transformation of Fulvia fulva, a fungal pathogen of tomato, to hygromycin B resistance. Curr. Genet. 12:231–233.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Panaccione, D. G., M. McKiernan, and R. M. Hanau. 1988. Colletotrichum graminicola transformed with homologous and heterologous benomyl-resistance genes retains expected pathogenicity to corn. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interactions 1:113–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Parsons, K. A., F. G. Chumley, and B. Valent. 1987. Genetic transformation of the fungal pathogen responsible for rice blast disease. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:4161–4165.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Powell, W. A., and N. K. Van Alfen. 1987. Differential accumulation of poly (A)+ RNA between virulent and double-stranded RNA-induced hypovirulent strains of Cryphonectria (Endothia) parasitica. Mol. Col. Biol. 7:3688–3693.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Prusky, D., N. T. Keen, and I. Eaks. 1983. Further evidence for the involvement of a preformed antifungal compound in the latency of Colletotrichum Gloeosporioides on unripe avocado fruits. Physiol. Plant Pathol. 22:189–198.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Rambosek, J., and J. Leach. 1987. Recombinant DNA in filamentous fungi: progress and prospects. CRC Crit. Rev. Biotechnol. 6:357–393.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Revuelta, J. L., and M. Jayaram. 1986. Transformation of Phycornyces blakesleeanus to G-148 resistance by an autonomously replicating plasmid. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:7344–7347.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Rodriguez, R. J., and O. C. Yoder. 1987. Selectable genes for transformation of the fungal plant pathogen Glomerella cingulata f.sp. phaseoli (Collectotrichum lindemuthianum) Gene 54:73–81.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Rowe, R. C. 1980. Comparative pathogenicity and host ranges of Fusarium oxysporum isolates causing crown and root rot of greenhouse and field-grown tomatoes in North America and Japan. Phytopathology 70:1143–1148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Salch,Y. P., and M. N. Beremand. 1988. Development of a transformation system for Fusarium sambucinum. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 12C:290.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Schäfer, W., H. D. VanEtten, and O. C. Yoder. 1988. Transformation of the maize pathogen Cochliobolus heterestrophus to a pea pathogen by insertion of a PDA gene of Nectria haematococca. J. Cell. Biochem. 12C:291.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Scheffer, R. P., and R. S. Livingston. 1984. Host selective toxins and their role in plant diseases. Science 223:17–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Sidhu, G. S., ed. 1988. Genetics of Plant Pathogenic Fungi. Advances in Plant Pathology, Vol. 6. Academic Press, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Stipes, R. J., and R. J. Campana, (eds). 1981. Compendium of elm diseases. APS Press, St. Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Thomashow, L. S., and D. M. Weiler. 1988. Role of a phenazine antibiotic from Pseudomonas fluorescens in biological control of Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. J. Bacteriol. 170:3499–3508.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Timberlake, W. E., M. T. Boylan, M. B. Cooley, P. M. Mirabito, E. B. O’Hara, and C. E. Willett. 1985. Rapid identification of mutation-complementing restriction fragments from Aspergillus nidulans cosmids. Exp. Mycol. 9:351–355.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Tsukuda, T., S. Carleton, S. Fotheringham, and W. K. Holloman. 1988. Isolation and characterization of an autonomously replicating sequence from Ustilago maydis. Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:3703–3709.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Turgeon, B. G., R. C. Garber, and O. C. Yoder. 1985. Transformation of the fungal maize pathogen Cochliobolus heterostrophus using the Aspergillus nidulans amdS gene. Mol. Gen. Genet. 201:450–453.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Turgeon, B. G., R. C. Garber, and O. C. Yoder. 1987. Development of a fungal transformation system based on selection of sequences with promoter activity. Mol. Cell. Biol. 7:3297–3305.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Typas, M. A. 1983. Heterokaryon incompatibility and interspecific hybridization between Verticillium albo-atrum and Verticillium dahliae following protoplast fusion and microinjection. J. Gen. Microbiol. 129:3043–3056.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Valent, B., M. S. Crawford, C. G. Weaver and F. G. Chumley. 1986. Genetic studies of fertility and pathogenicity in Magnaporthe grisea (Pyricularia oryzae). Iowa State J. Res. 60:569–594.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Van Etten, H. D., and H. C. Kistler. 1988. Nectria haematococca mating populations I and VI. Pages 189–206, in: Genetics of Plant Pathogenic Fungi. Advances in Plant Pathology, Vol. 6. Academic Press, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

  62. VanEtten, H. D., D. E. Matthews, and S. F. Mackintosh. 1987. Adaptation of pathogenic fungi to toxic chemical barriers in plants: the pisatin demethylase of Nectria haematococca as an example. Pages 59–70, in: Molecular Strategies for Crop Protection. Alan R. Liss, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Walton, J. D. 1987. Two enzymes involved in biosynthesis of the host-selective Phytotoxin HC-toxin. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:8444–8447.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Walton, J. D., and F. R. Holden. 1988. Properties of two enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the fungal pathogenicity factor HC-toxin. Mol. Plant-Microbe Interactions 1:128–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Wang, J., D. W. Holden, and S.A. Leong. 1988. Gene transfer system for the phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 85:865–869.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Ward, M., B. Wilkinson, and G. Turner. 1986. Transformation of Aspergillus nidulans with a cloned, oligomycin-resistant ATP synthase subunit 9 gene. Mol. Gen. Genet. 202:265–270.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Weltring, K. M., B. G. Turgeon, O. C. Yoder, and H. D. VanEtten. 1988. Cloning a phytoalexin detoxification gene from the plant pathogenic fungus Nectria haematococca by expression in Aspergillus nidulans. Gene (in press). 68:335–344.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Wernars, K., T. Goosen, B. M. J. Wennekes, K. Swart, C. A. M. J. J. van den Hondel, and H. W. J. van den Broek. 1987. Cotransformation of Aspergillus nidulans: a tool for replacing fungal genes. Mol. Gen. Genet. 209:71–77.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Wessel, W. L., K. A. Clare, and W. A. Gibbons. 1988. Purification and characterization of Hc toxin synthetase from Helminthosporium carbonum. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 16:401–402.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Yoder, O. C. 1988. Cochliobolus heterostrophus cause of southern corn leaf blight. Pages 93–112, in: Genetics of Plant Pathogenic Fungi. Advances in Plant Pathology, Vol. 6. Academic Press, San Diego.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. H. Corby Kistler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

David O. TeBeest

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kistler, H.C. (1991). Genetic Manipulation of Plant Pathogenic Fungi. In: TeBeest, D.O. (eds) Microbial Control of Weeds. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9680-6_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9680-6_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-9682-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-9680-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation