Abstract: Smut fungi are biotrophic basidiomycetes that colonize a number of important crop plants systemically and cause disease symptoms mainly in the inflorescence. The maize pathogen Ustilago maydis has become the model species among smut fungi as it displays a distinct life style and in particular can cause symptoms on all above ground parts of its host plant maize. In this chapter we describe the effectors of U. maydis and their virulence functions. In particular, we focus on polymorphisms in effector gene clusters where single or multiple deletions or amplification of genes have occurred. We also highlight recent findings on the deployment of distinct effectors for colonizing different plant tissues and include novel insights into effectors from comparing the genomes of closely related smut species.
Publication Year: 2011
Publication Date: 2011-11-02
Language: en
Type: other
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 4
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