ARS | Publication request: Functional genomic studies of pathogenicity in Fusarium graminearum

Submitted to: National Fusarium Head Blight Forum Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 11, 2005
Publication Date: December 11, 2005
Citation: Xu, J., Trail, F., Kistler, H.C. 2005. Functional genomic studies of pathogenicity in Fusarium graminearum. In: Proceedings of the National Fusarium Head Blight Forum, December 11-13, 2005, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. p. 171.

Technical Abstract: Head blight or scab caused by Fusarium graminearum is a disease of wheat and barley that occurs worldwide and that has great impact on U.S. agriculture and society. Infested cereals are often contaminated with trichothecene and estrogenic mycotoxins. To better understand fungal pathogenesis and development in this important pathogen, we have generated over 30,000 ESTs from three cDNA libraries and a draft sequence of the F. graminearum genome. A whole-genome Fusarium Affymetrix GeneChip (representing ~14000 putative genes) has been developed. Hybridizations with the Fusarium GeneChip were used to identify genes differentially expressed in cultures grown under different nutritional conditions or developmental stages. Transcript profiles of several mutants defective in plant infection have been generated and compared with that of the wild-type strain. Microarray analysis also was used to identify fungal genes differentially expressed during barley infection. In addition, a collection of over 10,000 random insertional mutants have been generated and screened for mutants defective in conidiation and pathogenicity. We also have constructed mutants deleted for over 50 candidate genes and thereby have identified novel virulence factors in F. graminearum. Details of the microarray data and phenotypes of selected mutants will be presented.