Müller T, Scheuring D. At knifepoint: Appressoria-dependent turgor pressure of filamentous plant pathogens.
CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2024;
82:102628. [PMID:
39265521 DOI:
10.1016/j.pbi.2024.102628]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2024] [Revised: 08/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
Filamentous pathogens need to overcome plant barriers for successful infection. To this end, special structures, most commonly appressoria, are used for penetration. In differentiated appressoria, the generation of high turgor pressure is mandatory to breach plant cell wall and cuticle. However, quantitative description of turgor pressure and resulting invasive forces are only described for a handful of plant pathogens. Recent advances in methodology allowed determination of surprisingly high pressures and corresponding forces in oomycetes and a necrotrophic fungus. Here, we describe turgor generation in appressoria as essential function for host penetration. We summarize the known experimentally determined turgor pressure as well as invasive forces and discuss their universal role in plant pathogen infection.
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