Metabolic arms race between a plant and a fungal pathogen

Abstract

Metabolic arms race between a plant and a fungal pathogen: the case of barley and common root rot (Bipolaris sorokiniana) Bipolaris sorokiniana (Bs) is a necrotrophic pathogen that infects wheat, barley and related cereal crops. We identified a gene cluster on barley chromosome 2 that is strongly induced in barley roots infected by Bs and encodes genes putatively involved in the biosynthesis of diterpenoid phytoalexins. Through metabolic engineering in yeast we identified the major diterpenoids produced by this gene cluster. We generated barley knock-out plants that are unable to produce these diterpenoids. Remarkably, these mutants are less colonized by Bs than wild-type plants. This correlates with the observation that the growth of Bs is stimulated by one of the diterpenoids produced by barley and that Bs is able to modifiy these diterpenoids. These results point to a metabolic adaptation of a pathogenic fungus to use phytoalexins for its own benefit.

References

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