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Possible roles for mannitol and mannitol dehydrogenase in the biotrophic plant pathogen Uromyces fabae

Ralf T Voegele1, Matthias Hahn, Gertrud Lohaus

  • 1Phytopathologie, Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany. ralf.voegele@uni-konstanz.de

Plant Physiology
|December 25, 2004
PubMed

Insights

The rust fungus Uromyces fabae dramatically increases mannitol levels in its host Vicia faba, suggesting a dual role in carbohydrate storage and reactive oxygen species scavenging for the pathogen.

Area of Science:

  • Plant-pathogen interactions
  • Fungal metabolism
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Rust fungi like Uromyces fabae infect host plants, altering host metabolism.
  • Polyols, such as mannitol, are important in biological systems but their role in plant-fungal interactions is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role and origin of mannitol accumulation during the Uromyces fabae and Vicia faba interaction.
  • To explore the potential functions of mannitol in the fungal pathogen.

Main Methods:

  • Quantification of mannitol in infected plant tissues and fungal spores.
  • Analysis of mannitol dehydrogenase (MAD1) gene expression and protein localization.
  • Enzymatic assays to determine the activity of MAD1.

Main Results:

  • Mannitol accumulated to millimolar concentrations in infected Vicia faba leaves and Uromyces fabae spores.
  • High expression of mannitol dehydrogenase (MAD1) was observed in fungal haustoria.
  • MAD1 enzyme activity suggests a role in both mannitol production in haustoria and utilization in spores.

Conclusions:

  • Mannitol likely serves a dual purpose for Uromyces fabae: carbohydrate storage and reactive oxygen species scavenging.
  • The fungal pathogen Uromyces fabae utilizes mannitol, a compound not synthesized by Vicia faba, for its benefit.

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