Fungal pathogenesis in plants and crops : molecular biology and host defense mechanisms / P. Vidhyasekaran.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1: PERCEPTION AND TRANSDUCTION OF PLANT SIGNALS IN PATHOGENS
I. Introduction
II. Signaling and transduction systems in ¿first touch¿ and adhesion of fungal spores
III. Signaling in fungal spore germination
IV. Signaling in differentiation of germ tubes into infection structures
V. Signal transduction in fungal pathogenesis
VI. Genes involved in formation of infection structures
VII. Signals in fungal infection process
VIII. Conclusion
References

Chapter 2: PERCEPTION AND TRANSDUCTION OF PATHOGEN SIGNALS IN PLANTS
I. Introduction
II. What are elicitors?
III. Oligosaccharide elicitors
IV. Protein / peptide elicitors
V. Glycoprotein elicitors
VI. Lipid elicitors
VII. Toxins as elicitor molecules
VIII. Plant cell wall-degrading enzymes as elicitors
IX. Race-specific and cultivar-specific elicitors
X. Specificity of general elicitors
XI. Endogenous oligogalacturonide elicitors
XII. Multiple elicitors may be needed to activate defense responses
XIII. Availability of fungal elicitors at the site of fungal invasion in plants
XIV. Receptors for elicitor signals in plant cell membrane
XV. Calcium ion may act as second messenger
XVI. Phosphorylation of proteins as a component in signal transduction system
XVII. Mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades in signal transduction
XVIII. Phospholipid signaling system
XIX. Anion channels in signal transduction
XX. Extracellular alkalinization and cytoplasmic acidification in signaling system
XXI. Reactive oxygen species in signal transduction
XXII. Nitric oxide in signal transduction
XXIII. Salicylic acid signaling system
XXIV. Jasmonate signaling pathway
XXV. Role of systemin in signal transduction system
XXVI. Ethylene-dependent signaling pathway
XXVII. Abscisic acid signaling
XXVIII. Fatty acids as systemic signal molecules
XXIX. Other signaling systems
XXX. Network and interplay of signaling pathways
XXXI. Induction of defense genes may require different signal transduction systems
XXXII. Perception and transduction of pathogen signals in plants leading to susceptibility
XXXIII. Signaling systems in susceptible interactions
XXXIV. Conclusion
References

Chapter 3: DISEASE RESISTANCE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY GENES IN SIGNAL PERCEPTION AND EMISSION
I. Introduction
II. Molecular structure of resistance genes
III. Classification of resistance genes based on molecular structure of R gene-encoded proteins
IV. Molecular structure of recessive genes
V. Perception of pathogen signals by resistance genes
VI. Activation of R protein and emission of signals to other components in the cell
VII. Downstream components of R gene signaling systems
VIII. Downstream signaling events in R gene-mediated resistance
IX. Susceptibility genes in signal transduction
X. Conclusion
References

Chapter 4: CELL DEATH PROGRAMS DURING FUNGAL PATHOGENESIS
I. Introduction
II. Cell death in resistant interactions
III. Molecular mechanism of induction of hypersensitive cell death
IV. Molecular mechanism of induction of spontaneous cell death
V. Molecular mechanism of induction of runaway cell death
VI. Role of cell death in induction of systemic acquired resistance
VII. Susceptibility-related cell death
VIII. Molecular mechanisms in induction of cell death in susceptible interactions
IX. What is the function of cell death in fungal pathogenesis?
X. Conclusion
References

Chapter 5: CELL WALL DEGRADATION AND FORTIFICATION
I. Introduction
II. Structure of cuticle
III. Penetration of epicuticular waxy layer by pathogens
IV. Production of cutinases to breach cuticle barrier
V. Genes encoding cutinases
VI. Plant signals triggering fungal cutinases
VII. Importance of cutinases in penetration of cuticle
VIII. Cutinases as virulence/pathogenicity factors
IX. Melanins in fungal penetration of cuticle barrier
X. Degradation of pectic polysaccharides
XI. Pathogens produce cellulolytic enzymes to breach cell wall barrier
XII. Fungal hemicellulases in plant cell wall degradation
XIII. Degradation of cell wall structural proteins
XIV. Requirement of several cell wall-degrading enzymes to degrade the complex-natured cell wall
XV. Production of suitable enzymes in appropriate sequence by fungal pathogens
XVI. Reinforcement of host cell wall during fungal invasion
XVII. Papillae suppress fungal penetration
XVIII. Callose deposition in cell wall
XIX. How do pathogens overcome the papillae and callose barriers?
XX. Accumulation of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) in plant cell walls
XXI. Cell wall-bound phenolics and lignins
XXII. Suberization during fungal pathogenesis
XXIII. Deposition of mineral elements in host cell wall in response to fungal invasion
XXIV. Conclusion
References

Chapter 6: INDUCTION AND EVASION OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED PROTEINS
I. Introduction
II. Multiplicity of PR proteins
III. Classification of PR proteins
IV. Induction of PR proteins during fungal pathogenesis
V. Genes encoding PR proteins
VI. Transcription of PR genes
VII. Signals involved in transcriptional induction of PR genes
VIII. PR proteins are synthesized as larger precursors
IX. Secretion of PR proteins
X. PR proteins may be involved in inhibition of pathogen development
XI. PR proteins may be involved in triggering disease resistance
XII. How do pathogens overcome fungitoxic PR proteins of the host?
XIII. Conclusion
References

Chapter 7: EVASION AND DETOXIFICATION OF SECONDARY METABOLITES
I. Introduction
II. Chemical structural classes of phytoalexins
III. Biosynthesis of isoflvonoid phytoalexins
IV. Biosynthesis of flavanone phytoalexins
V. Biosynthesis of coumarin phytoalexins
VI. Biosynthesis of stilbene phytoalexins
VII. Biosynthesis of terpenoid phytoalexins
VIII. Biosynthesis of indole-based sulfur containing phytoalexins
IX. Biosynthesis of alkaloid phytoalexins
X. Site of synthesis of phytoalexins
XI. Phytoalexins are fungitoxic
XII. How do pathogens overcome the antifungal phytoalexins?
XIII. Chemical structural classes of phytoanticipins
XIV. Phenolics as phytoanticipins
XV. Toxicity of phenolics to pathogens
XVI. How does pathogen overcome the antifungal phenolics?
XVII. Saponins as phytoanticipins
XVIII. Glucosinolates as phytoanticipins
XIX. Cyanogenic glucosides
XX. Dienes
XXI. Conclusion
References

Chapter 8: TOXINS IN DISEASE SYMPTOM DEVELOPMENT
I. Introduction
II. Importance of toxins in disease development
III. Toxins suppress host defense mechanisms
IV. Toxins cause cell membrane dysfunction
V. How do pathogens induce membrane dysfunction only in susceptible hosts?
VI. Conclusion

Includes bibliographical references and index.