Effects of Ca2+/Calmodulin Mediated Signaling on Spore Germination and Appressorium Development in Colletotrichum falcatum Went

Abstract

Colletotrichum falcatum Went, the causal agent of red rot of sugarcane produces a specialized infection structure called appressorium, for penetrating the host. Environmental cues like surface hydrophobicity and hardness tend to break the dormancy of the conidia and initiate conidial germination. Conidial attachment is generally stronger on hydrophobic surfaces, while hydrophilic surfaces do not permit conidial attachment of C. falcatum. In vitro studies on conidial germination and appressorium development were made to examine whether the Ca2+/calmodulin dependent pathways are involved in appressorium formation in C. falcatum. Effects of calcium chelator (EGTA), calcium channel blocker (methoxy verampamil), calmodulin antagonists (chloropromazine, phenoxy benzamine and W-7) and phospholipase C inhibitor (neomycin) were also examined to see whether they can impair conidial germination and appressorium development. All these chemicals were found to inhibit conidial germination and or appressorium formation ...