Early stages of pathogenesis in plant pathogenic fungi

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In the interaction of phytopathogenic fungi and their hosts the early events (spore germination, adhesion, penetration) are crucial for the development of disease. In the current project period we studied processes that are important for these early stages in two fungi with different infection strategies. The main findings of our study relate to the role of signalling cascades and their components, small GTPases, PCD and early infection-specific genes in disease establishment. Most of these findings were obtained in Botrytis cinerea using the new genomic tools that have been developed in the past few years. In this final prolongation the molecular and physiological principles of early infection in B. cinerea will be cracked down. Three main topics will be covered: detailed analysis of i) the role of small GTPases, ii) the signalling cascades that control apoptosis and of specific apoptotic genes, and iii) of Botrytis specific genes that are expressed exclusively in planta during the early stage of disease establishment. These targets are derived from results obtained during the current granting period. Extending the research by two more years will allow us to complete the study and to obtain deeper understanding of the key events and the molecular elements that are necessary for successful infection by this important plant pathogen. We expect that the new results will constitute a basis for the development of alternative disease control systems.