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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Fungal Biol.
Sec. Fungi-Plant Interactions
Volume 5 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/ffunb.2024.1454633
This article is part of the Research Topic Current Perspectives on Colletotrichum: From Molecules to Ecosystems View all 3 articles

Conserved perception of host and non-host signals via the a-pheromone receptor Ste3 in Colletotrichum graminicola

Provisionally accepted
Anina Y. Rudolph Anina Y. Rudolph 1Carolin Schunke Carolin Schunke 1,2Daniela E. Nordzieke Daniela E. Nordzieke 1*
  • 1 University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
  • 2 Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Understanding the interactions between fungal plant pathogens and host roots is crucial for developing effective disease management strategies. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms underpinning the chemotropic responses of the maize anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum graminicola to maize root exudates. We identify the 7-transmembrane G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) CgSte3 as a key player in sensing both plant-derived class III peroxidases and diterpenoids. Activation of CgSte3 initiates signaling through CgSo, a homolog to the Cell Wall Integrity Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (CWI MAPK) pathway scaffold protein identified in other filamentous fungi, facilitating the pathogen's growth towards plant defense molecules. The NADPH oxidase CgNox2 is crucial for peroxidase sensing but not for diterpenoid detection. These findings reveal that CgSte3 and CWI MAPK pathways are central to C. graminicola's ability to hijack plant defense signals, highlighting potential targets for controlling maize anthracnose.

    Keywords: Colletotichum graminicola, chemotropic growth, root exudates, class III peroxidases, diterpenoids, GPCR, Cell Wall Integrity MAPK pathway, NADPH Oxidase

    Received: 25 Jun 2024; Accepted: 09 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Rudolph, Schunke and Nordzieke. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Daniela E. Nordzieke, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany

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