Bipolaris sorokiniana, a cereal pathogen of global concern: cytological
and molecular approaches towards better control
Jagdish Kumar1, Patrick Schäfer2, Ralph Hückelhoven2,
Gregor Langen2, Helmut Baltruschat2, Elke Stein2,
Subramaniam Nagarajan1 and Karl-Heinz Kogel2
1 Directorate of Wheat Research, Agrasen Road, Karnal 132001,
India
2 Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Environmental Sciences,
Justus-Liebig-University, D-35392 Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26–32, Germany
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| Summary: |
Bipolaris sorokiniana
(teleomorph Cochliobolus sativus) is the causal agent of common
root rot, leaf spot disease, seedling blight, head blight, and black point
of wheat and barley. The fungus is one of the most serious foliar disease
constraints for both crops in warmer growing areas and causes significant
yield losses. High temperature and high relative humidity favour the
outbreak of the disease, in particular in South Asia's intensive irrigated
wheat-rice production systems. In this article, we review the taxonomy and
worldwide distribution, as well as strategies to counteract the disease as
an emerging threat to cereal production systems. We also review the
current understanding of the cytological and molecular aspects of the
interaction of the fungus with its cereal hosts, which makes B.
sorokiniana a model organism for studying plant defence responses to
hemibiotrophic pathogens. The contrasting roles of cell death and H2O2
generation in plant defence during biotrophic and necrotrophic fungal
growth phases are discussed. |
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Disease caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana. The pathogen causes spot
blotch on primary leaves of barley (A), wheat (B), and flag leaves of
wheat (C). Necrotic lesions are light coloured on barley compared to
darker lesions on wheat. Barley leaves develop more chlorosis as compared
to wheat. |
