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Male fertility in Pyricularia oryzae: Microconidia are spermatia

Alexandre Lassagne1,2, Sylvain Brun3, Fabienne Malagnac4

  • 1Plant Health Institute of Montpellier (PHIM), CIRAD, Montpellier, France.

Environmental Microbiology
|September 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

In Pyricularia oryzae, microconidia function as male gametes (spermatia) in sexual reproduction, unlike asexual macroconidia. This finding is crucial for understanding and controlling pathogenic fungi.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Plant Pathology
  • Fungal Genetics

Background:

  • Sexual reproduction in Ascomycetes is well-studied in model organisms.
  • Understanding sexual reproduction in pathogenic fungi like Pyricularia oryzae is vital for disease control.
  • The role of microconidia in Pyricularia oryzae sexual reproduction remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of microconidia in the sexual reproduction of Pyricularia oryzae.
  • To determine if microconidia function as male gametes (spermatia).
  • To elucidate the process of fertilization and perithecium formation in Pyricularia oryzae.

Main Methods:

  • Morphological characterization of microconidia.
  • Germination assays for microconidia and macroconidia.
  • Co-culture experiments to observe interactions between microconidia and female receptive hyphae.

Main Results:

  • Microconidia were morphologically characterized and identified as spermatia.
  • Microconidia do not germinate, unlike macroconidia.
  • Perithecium formation is dependent on the interaction of microconidia with opposite mating type mycelium, indicating fertilization.

Conclusions:

  • Microconidia are the sole male gametes in Pyricularia oryzae.
  • This study clarifies the sexual reproduction pathway in Pyricularia oryzae.
  • The findings provide a basis for developing strategies to control pathogenic fungi through their sexual cycle.

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