Defining the phosphite-regulated transcriptome of the plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi

Phosphite, an analog of phosphate is used to control oomycete diseases on a wide range of horticultural crops and in native ecosystems. In this study, we investigated morphological and transcriptional changes induced in Phytophthora cinnamomi by phosphite. Cytological observations revealed that phosphite caused hyphal distortions and lysis of cell walls and had an adverse effect on hyphal growth. At the molecular level, the expression levels of 43 transcripts were changed. Many of these encoded proteins involved in cell wall synthesis, or cytoskeleton functioning. The results of both the microscopic and molecular investigations are consistent with phosphite inhibiting the function of the cytoskeleton and cell wall synthesis.