Open AccessHydrophobicity of contact surface induces appressorium formation in Magnaporthe grisea
Author(s) -
Lee YongHwan,
Dean Ralph A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1994.tb06616.x
Subject(s) - appressorium , magnaporthe grisea , polystyrene , biology , ultraviolet , biophysics , biofilm , wafer , spore , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , materials science , nanotechnology , bacteria , biochemistry , optoelectronics , oryza sativa , organic chemistry , polymer , genetics , gene
Infection by Magnaporthe grisea , the causal agent of rice blast, requires the formation of a melanized, dome‐shaped infection cell, called an appressorium. Little is known about the signals and mechanisms regulating this important developmental process. We have previously observed a correlation between hydrophobicity of the contact surface and appressorium formation. To evaluate this thigmotropic response more precisely, we measured appressorium formation on the surfaces of silicon wafers modified to create various degrees of hydrophobicity. We also examined the effects of artificial ridges created on polystyrene surfaces. Hydrophobic surfaces induced a high level of appressorium formation, whereas hydrophilic surfaces did not. Tips of germ‐tubes did not respond to ridges of any particular height, but formed appressoria in a random manner. These results indicate that hydrophobicity of the substratum is a primary determinant and is sufficient to induce appressorium formation in M. grisea .