Paul Tudzynski

Bio: Paul Tudzynski is an academic researcher from University of Münster. The author has contributed to research in topics: Botrytis cinerea & Claviceps purpurea. The author has an hindex of 59, co-authored 145 publications receiving 10679 citations. Previous affiliations of Paul Tudzynski include Ruhr University Bochum & University of Cádiz.

Botrytis cinerea: the cause of grey mould disease

Abstract: Introduction: Botrytis cinerea (teleomorph: Botryotinia fuckeliana) is an airborne plant pathogen with a necrotrophic lifestyle attacking over 200 crop hosts worldwide. Although there are fungicides for its control, many classes of fungicides have failed due to its genetic plasticity. It has become an important model for molecular study of necrotrophic fungi. Taxonomy: Kingdom: Fungi, phylum: Ascomycota, subphylum: Pezizomycotina, class: Leotiomycetes, order: Helotiales, family: Sclerotiniaceae, genus: Botryotinia. Host range and symptoms: Over 200 mainly dicotyledonous plant species, including important protein, oil, fibre and horticultural crops, are affected in temperate and subtropical regions. It can cause soft rotting of all aerial plant parts, and rotting of vegetables, fruits and flowers post-harvest to produce prolific grey conidiophores and (macro)conidia typical of the disease. Pathogenicity: B. cinerea produces a range of cell-wall-degrading enzymes, toxins and other low-molecular-weight compounds such as oxalic acid. New evidence suggests that the pathogen triggers the host to induce programmed cell death as an attack strategy. Resistance: There are few examples of robust genetic host resistance, but recent work has identified quantitative trait loci in tomato that offer new approaches for stable polygenic resistance in future.

Genomic Analysis of the Necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea

Abstract: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea are closely related necrotrophic plant pathogenic fungi notable for their wide host ranges and environmental persistence. These attributes have made these species models for understanding the complexity of necrotrophic, broad host-range pathogenicity. Despite their similarities, the two species differ in mating behaviour and the ability to produce asexual spores. We have sequenced the genomes of one strain of S. sclerotiorum and two strains of B. cinerea. The comparative analysis of these genomes relative to one another and to other sequenced fungal genomes is provided here. Their 38-39 Mb genomes include 11,860-14,270 predicted genes, which share 83% amino acid identity on average between the two species. We have mapped the S. sclerotiorum assembly to 16 chromosomes and found large-scale co-linearity with the B. cinerea genomes. Seven percent of the S. sclerotiorum genome comprises transposable elements compared to ,1% of B. cinerea. The arsenal of genes associated with necrotrophic processes is similar between the species, including genes involved in plant cell wall degradation and oxalic acid production. Analysis of secondary metabolism gene clusters revealed an expansion in number and diversity of B. cinerea-specific secondary metabolites relative to S. sclerotiorum. The potential diversity in secondary metabolism might be involved in adaptation to specific ecological niches. Comparative genome analysis revealed the basis of differing sexual mating compatibility systems between S. sclerotiorum and B. cinerea. The organization of the mating-type loci differs, and their structures provide evidence for the evolution of heterothallism from homothallism. These data shed light on the evolutionary and mechanistic bases of the genetically complex traits of necrotrophic pathogenicity and sexual mating. This resource should facilitate the functional studies designed to better understand what makes these fungi such successful and persistent pathogens of agronomic crops.

Reactive Oxygen Species in Phytopathogenic Fungi: Signaling, Development, and Disease

Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in pathogen-plant interactions: recognition of a pathogen by the plant rapidly triggers the oxidative burst, which is necessary for further defense reactions. The specific role of ROS in pathogen defense is still unclear. Studies on the pathogen so far have focused on the importance of the oxidative stress response (OSR) systems to overcome the oxidative burst or of its avoidance by effectors. This review focuses on the role of ROS for fungal virulence and development. In the recent years, it has become obvious that (a) fungal OSR systems might not have the predicted crucial role in pathogenicity, (b) fungal pathogens, especially necrotrophs, can actively contribute to the ROS level in planta and even take advantage of the host's response, (c) fungi possess superoxide-generating NADPH oxidases similar to mammalian Nox complexes that are important for pathogenicity; however, recent data indicate that they are not directly involved in pathogen-host communicati...

Botrytis: biology, pathology and control.

Abstract: Preface.- Acknowledgements.- Contributors.- 1: Botrytis spp. and diseases they cause in agricultural systems - an introduction Yigal Elad, Brian Williamson, Paul Tudzynski and Nafiz Delen.- 1 Introduction. 2. Geographical and ecological occurrence. 3. Variability and adaptability. 4. Quiescent, restricted and aggressive infection. 5. Molecular basis of host-parasite interactions. 6. References. 2: The Ecology of Botrytis on Plant Surfaces Gustav Holz, Sonja Coertze and Brian Williamson.- 1. Introduction. 2. Survival. 3. Inoculum production and dispersal. 4. Growth on plant surfaces. 5. Infection pathways on diverse plant organs. 6. Conclusion. 7. References. 3: Taxonomy and Genetic Variation of Botrytis and Botryotinia Ross E. Beever and Pauline L. Weeds.- 1. Introduction. 2. Taxonomy. 3. Botrytis cinerea. 4. Genetics of other species of Botrytis. 5. The future. 6. Acknowledgements. 7. References. 4: Approaches to Molecular Genetics and Genomics of Botrytis Paul Tudzynski and Verena Siewers.- 1. Introduction. 2. Generation of transgenic Botrytis strains. 3. Unbiased gene cloning systems. 4. Perspectives. 5. Acknowledgements. 6. References. 5: Morphology and Cellular Organisation in Botrytis Interactions with Plants Klaus B. Tenberge.- 1. Introduction. 2. Cytology and ultrastructure of Botrytis. 3. Imaging of infection. 4. Host response. 5. Conclusions. 6. Acknowledgements. 7. References. 6: Signalling in Botrytis cinerea Bettina Tudzynski and Christian Schulze Gronover.- 1. Introduction. 2. Ga subunits of hetrotrimeric G proteins. 3. cAMP signalling pathway. 4. MAP kinase pathways. 5. Genes of the Ras superfamily. 6. Calcineurin/cyclophilin A signalling. 7. Putative transmembrane receptor proteins. 8. Two-component signal transduction genes in Botrytis cinerea. 9. Further protein kinase encoding geneswith unknown function. 10. Conclusion. 11. References. 7: Extracellular Enzymes and Metabolites Involved in Pathogenesis of Botrytis Ilona Kars and Jan A.L. van Kan.- 1. Introduction. 2. Penetration of the host surface. 3. Killing of host cells. 4. Conversion of host tissue into fungal biomass. 5. Other enzymes potentially involved in pathogenesis. 6. Concluding remarks. 7. Acknowledgements. 8. References. 8: Botrytis cinerea Perturbs Redox Processes as an Attack Strategy in Plants Gary D. Lyon, Bernard A. Goodman and Brian Williamson.- 1. Introduction. 2. Hydrogen peroxide and other AOS. 3. Low molecular mass antioxidant molecules. 4. Perturbation of free radical chemistry as a result of Botrytis infection. 5. Production of oxalic acid. 6. Dynamics of iron redox chemistry. 7. Regulation of plant enzymes. 8. Botrytis-derived enzymes. 9. Generation of lipid peroxidation products. 10. Host signalling and programmed cell death. 11. Fungus-derived metabolites. 12. Conclusion. 13. Acknowledgements. 14. References. 9: Plant Defence Compounds against Botrytis Infection Peter van Baarlen, Laurent Legendre and Jan A.L. van Kan.- 1. Introduction. 2. Antimicrobial secondary metabolites. 3. Tolerance of Botrytis to antifungal metabolites. 4. Structural barriers and cell wall modifications. 5. Pathogenesis-related proteins. 6. Concluding remarks. 7. Acknowledgements. 8. References. 10: Phytohormones In Botrytis-Plant Interactions Amir Sharon, Yigal Elad, Radwan Barakat and Paul Tudzynski.- 1. Introduction. 2. Biosynthesis of plant hormones by B. cinerea. 3. Effect of plant hormones on B. cinerea and on disease development. 4. Conclusions. 5. Acknowledgement. 6. References. 11: Detection, Quantification and Immunolocalisation of Botrytis species Frances M. Dewey (Molly) and David Yohalem.- 1. Introduction. 2. Classical plating out method. 3. Immu

Plant-Symbiotic Fungi as Chemical Engineers: Multi-Genome Analysis of the Clavicipitaceae Reveals Dynamics of Alkaloid Loci

Abstract: The fungal family Clavicipitaceae includes plant symbionts and parasites that produce several psychoactive and bioprotective alkaloids. The family includes grass symbionts in the epichloae clade (Epichloe and Neotyphodium species), which are extraordinarily diverse both in their host interactions and in their alkaloid profiles. Epichloae produce alkaloids of four distinct classes, all of which deter insects, and some—including the infamous ergot alkaloids—have potent effects on mammals. The exceptional chemotypic diversity of the epichloae may relate to their broad range of host interactions, whereby some are pathogenic and contagious, others are mutualistic and vertically transmitted (seed-borne), and still others vary in pathogenic or mutualistic behavior. We profiled the alkaloids and sequenced the genomes of 10 epichloae, three ergot fungi (Claviceps species), a morning-glory symbiont (Periglandula ipomoeae), and a bamboo pathogen (Aciculosporium take), and compared the gene clusters for four classes of alkaloids. Results indicated a strong tendency for alkaloid loci to have conserved cores that specify the skeleton structures and peripheral genes that determine chemical variations that are known to affect their pharmacological specificities. Generally, gene locations in cluster peripheries positioned them near to transposon-derived, AT-rich repeat blocks, which were probably involved in gene losses, duplications, and neofunctionalizations. The alkaloid loci in the epichloae had unusual structures riddled with large, complex, and dynamic repeat blocks. This feature was not reflective of overall differences in repeat contents in the genomes, nor was it characteristic of most other specialized metabolism loci. The organization and dynamics of alkaloid loci and abundant repeat blocks in the epichloae suggested that these fungi are under selection for alkaloid diversification. We suggest that such selection is related to the variable life histories of the epichloae, their protective roles as symbionts, and their associations with the highly speciose and ecologically diverse cool-season grasses.

The Top 10 fungal pathogens in molecular plant pathology

Abstract: The aim of this review was to survey all fungal pathologists with an association with the journal Molecular Plant Pathology and ask them to nominate which fungal pathogens they would place in a 'Top 10' based on scientific/economic importance. The survey generated 495 votes from the international community, and resulted in the generation of a Top 10 fungal plant pathogen list for Molecular Plant Pathology. The Top 10 list includes, in rank order, (1) Magnaporthe oryzae; (2) Botrytis cinerea; (3) Puccinia spp.; (4) Fusarium graminearum; (5) Fusarium oxysporum; (6) Blumeria graminis; (7) Mycosphaerella graminicola; (8) Colletotrichum spp.; (9) Ustilago maydis; (10) Melampsora lini, with honourable mentions for fungi just missing out on the Top 10, including Phakopsora pachyrhizi and Rhizoctonia solani. This article presents a short resume of each fungus in the Top 10 list and its importance, with the intent of initiating discussion and debate amongst the plant mycology community, as well as laying down a bench-mark. It will be interesting to see in future years how perceptions change and what fungi will comprise any future Top 10.

Abscisic acid biosynthesis and catabolism

Abstract: The level of abscisic acid (ABAabscisic acid) in any particular tissue in a plant is determined by the rate of biosynthesis and catabolism of the hormone. Therefore, identifying all the genes involved in the metabolism is essential for a complete understanding of how this hormone directs plant growth and development. To date, almost all the biosynthetic genes have been identified through the isolation of auxotrophic mutants. On the other hand, among several ABA catabolic pathways, current genomic approaches revealed that Arabidopsis CYP707A genes encode ABA 8′-hydroxylases, which catalyze the first committed step in the predominant ABA catabolic pathway. Identification of ABA metabolic genes has revealed that multiple metabolic steps are differentially regulated to fine-tune the ABA level at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Furthermore, recent ongoing studies have given new insights into the regulation and site of ABA metabolism in relation to its physiological roles.

Hormone Crosstalk in Plant Disease and Defense: More Than Just JASMONATE-SALICYLATE Antagonism

Abstract: Until recently, most studies on the role of hormones in plant-pathogen interactions focused on salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET). It is now clear that pathogen-induced modulation of signaling via other hormones contributes to virulence. A picture is emerging of complex crosstalk and induced hormonal changes that modulate disease and resistance, with outcomes dependent on pathogen lifestyles and the genetic constitution of the host. Recent progress has revealed intriguing similarities between hormone signaling mechanisms, with gene induction responses often achieved by derepression. Here, we report on recent advances, updating current knowledge on classical defense hormones SA, JA, and ET, and the roles of auxin, abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinins (CKs), and brassinosteroids in molding plant-pathogen interactions. We highlight an emerging theme that positive and negative regulators of these disparate hormone signaling pathways are crucial regulatory targets of hormonal crosstalk in disease and defense.