A highly conserved metalloprotease effector enhances virulence in the maize anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum graminicola

• DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12347
• Publication Date: 2015-11-30T15:56:44Z
• Authors: José M. Sanz‐Martín; José Ramón Pachec...; Víctor Bello‐Rico; Walter A. Vargas; Michel Monod; José M. Díaz‐Mínguez; Michael R. Thon; Serenella A. Sukno
• Keywords: Graminicola; Colletotrichum

Summary Colletotrichum graminicola causes maize anthracnose, an agronomically important disease with a worldwide distribution. We have identified fungalysin metalloprotease (Cgfl) role in virulence. Transcriptional profiling experiments and live cell imaging show that Cgfl is specifically expressed during the biotrophic stage of infection. To determine whether has virulence, we obtained null mutants lacking performed pathogenicity microscopy assays. The appressorium morphology normal, but they exhibit delayed development infection process on leaves roots, showing In vitro chitinase activity assays infected wild‐type mutant strains that, absence Cgfl, increased activity. Phylogenetic analyses highly conserved fungi. Similarity searches, phylogenetic analysis transcriptional C. encodes two LysM domain‐containing homologues Ecp6, suggesting this fungus employs both Cgfl‐mediated protein‐mediated strategies to control chitin signalling.