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The Significance of Nitrogen Regulation, Source and Availability on the Interaction Between Rice and Rice Blast

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Advances in Genetics, Genomics and Control of Rice Blast Disease

Abstract

Nitrogen regulation in fungi is a tightly controlled process, equipping them with the ability to colonize various ecological niches when preferred nitrogen sources are not available. Genes and pathways controlling this process have been well-defined in model, non-pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus nidulans and Neurospora crassa. Research is now beginning to elucidate the importance of nitrogen regulation in pathogenicity. In this review, we will explore the regulatory mechanism called nitrogen catabolite repression in fungi and links between this and pathogenicity. We will examine what is currently known regarding nitrogen regulation and plant pathogenic fungi, with a focus on Magnaporthe oryzae, the devastating rice blast pathogen. Transcriptional activators involved in nitrogen catabolite repression are examined and compared among pathogens. We will also outline our own recent results describing a subtilisin serine protease that not only strengthens evidence for a link between nitrogen starved conditions and pathogenicity, but also appears to control expression of an important pathogenicity-related gene, MPG1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant and Soil Science,Department, University of Delaware, 152 Townsend Hall, Newark DE, 19716, USA

    Nicole M. Donofrio

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  1. Nicole M. Donofrio
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  2. Thomas K. Mitchell
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  3. Ralph A. Dean
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Road, Ohio, OH 43210-1087, U.S.A

    Guo-Liang Wang (Dr) (Dr)

  2. Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, 4108 Throckmorton, Manhattan, KS 66506-5502, U.S.A

    Barbara Valent (Prof) (Prof)

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Donofrio, N.M., Mitchell, T.K., Dean, R.A. (2009). The Significance of Nitrogen Regulation, Source and Availability on the Interaction Between Rice and Rice Blast. In: Wang, GL., Valent, B. (eds) Advances in Genetics, Genomics and Control of Rice Blast Disease. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9500-9_7

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