Fungal Pathogenesis in Plants and Crops: Molecular Biology and Host Defense Mechanisms PDF

Preface

Ever since the publication of the first edition of Fungal Pathogenesis in Plants and Crops: Molecular Biology and Host Defense Mechanisms in 1997, several pathbreaking studies have been carried out in the field of molecular biology of fungal pathogenesis. Several important fungal pathogens have been now reclassified as Oomycetes belonging to kingdom Chromista. The oomycetes are considered as false fungi, and this book includes both fungal and oomycete pathogenesis under the same title, ‘‘Fungal Pathogenesis.'' Molecular communications between plants and fungal pathogens are now being deciphered and several signaling systems have been identified. The major breakthrough in deciphering the signals is the cloning of numerous disease-resistance genes and identifying their role in signal transduction systems in plants. Several defense-related genes have been cloned and characterized. Signals activating these defense genes have been identified. Transgenic plants overexpressing these signals have been developed to suppress the fungal pathogenesis in plants. Pathogens are able to suppress these signaling systems and evade the induced host-defense mechanisms. The book describes the weapons used by fungal pathogens to evade or suppress the host-defense mechanisms. Several new defense genes have been identified. The number of PR protein groups identified has increased from 5 groups in the first edition to 17 in this book. Knowledge of the molecular mechanism of evasion of these defense genes by the fungal pathogens has helped to evolve novel genetically engineered disease-resistant plants. Developing plants expressing elicitor genes to elicit early induction of defense genes, plants overexpressing the signal molecules or activating signal transduction systems, plants expressing ‘‘foreign'' phytoalexins and PR proteins that cannot be degraded by the fungal pathogens, plants expressing detoxification genes to detoxify the toxins produced by pathogens, and plants expressing polygalacturonase inhibitor proteins are the classical examples demonstrating the practical use of our knowledge of molecular biology of fungal pathogenesis. This book describes each of the fungal infection processes from initial contact and penetration to subsequent invasion and symptom development. This book will be a valuable resource for researchers and students studying plant pathology, molecular plant pathology, plant molecular biology, plant biochemistry, plant biotechnology, plant physiology, applied botany, and other branches of biological sciences.