Advances in research on oomycete root pathogens
Abstract
This review discusses recent advances in research into plant pathogenic oomycetes with an emphasis on root-infecting species. We focus on aspects of host targeting, mycoparasitism, and the development of molecular techniques that enable functional dissection of key genes of this economically important group of pathogens, including genomics, proteomics and gene silencing. We have not incorporated aspects relating to host resistance, research carried out into downy mildews, and other phyloplane oomycetes, unless there is also a specific relevance to the root-oomycete research community. The analysis of the asexual life stages of these organisms from zoosporogenesis through zoospore liberation, host targeting, encystment, germination, and the formation of appressoria-like structures in the rhizosphere offer significant potential in the establishment of new approaches for the treatment of disease in these organisms. The advent of appropriate molecular tools is now enabling the molecular analysis of these developmental stages to begin in earnest and will stimulate research into an economically important but scientifically neglected group of organisms.
- Publication:
-
Physiological and Molecular Plant Pathology
- Pub Date:
- January 2003
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2003PMPP...62...99V
- Keywords:
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- Chemotaxis;
- Electrotaxis;
- Oomycete;
- Aphanomyces;
- Phytophthora;
- Pythium;
- Gene silencing;
- Rhizosphere;
- Soil borne diseases