Pyrenophora teres
Encyclopedia
Pyrenophora teres is a necrotrophic fungal pathogen
of some plant
species, the most significant of which are economically important agricultural crops such as barley
.
, senescence
and eventually cell death. In countries like Australia
, damage from Pyrenophora can have serious economic consequences and reduce farm yields by up to 50%. Host tissue is obtained by penetration of the cell with an appressorium
, a bulbous formation produced by the fungus that allows the uptake of nutrients.
production. This implicates ROS as having a central role in plant resistance, along with their regulators, known as ROS scavengers
Pathogen
A pathogen gignomai "I give birth to") or infectious agent — colloquially, a germ — is a microbe or microorganism such as a virus, bacterium, prion, or fungus that causes disease in its animal or plant host...
of some plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
species, the most significant of which are economically important agricultural crops such as barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
.
Dispersal and spread
The spores of P. teres are usually carried by wind. Growth of the organism on a host plant causes symptoms including necrosisNecrosis
Necrosis is the premature death of cells in living tissue. Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, toxins, or trauma. This is in contrast to apoptosis, which is a naturally occurring cause of cellular death...
, senescence
Senescence
Senescence or biological aging is the change in the biology of an organism as it ages after its maturity. Such changes range from those affecting its cells and their function to those affecting the whole organism...
and eventually cell death. In countries like Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, damage from Pyrenophora can have serious economic consequences and reduce farm yields by up to 50%. Host tissue is obtained by penetration of the cell with an appressorium
Appressorium
An appressorium is a flattened, hyphal "pressing" organ, from which a minute infection peg grows and enters the host, using turgor pressure capable of punching through even Mylar....
, a bulbous formation produced by the fungus that allows the uptake of nutrients.
Role of reactive oxygen species
During plant-fungal interactions involving Pyrenophora, resistant and susceptible varieties of barley display differential levels of reactive oxygen speciesReactive oxygen species
Reactive oxygen species are chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen. Examples include oxygen ions and peroxides. Reactive oxygen species are highly reactive due to the presence of unpaired valence shell electrons....
production. This implicates ROS as having a central role in plant resistance, along with their regulators, known as ROS scavengers