Phytophthora parasitica: a model oomycete plant pathogen

Abstract

Oomycetes are eukaryotic microorganisms morphologically similar to but phylogenetically distant from true fungi. Most species in the genus Phytophthora of oomycetes are devastating plant pathogens, causing damages to both agricultural production and natural ecosystems. Tremendous progress has been achieved in recent years in diversity, evolution and lifestyles of oomycete plant pathogens, as well as on the understanding of genetic and molecular basis of oomycete-plant interactions. Phytophthora parasitica is a soilborne pathogen with a wide range of host plants and represents most species in the genus Phytophthora. In this review, we present some recent progress of P. parasitica research by highlighting important features that make it emerge as a model species of oomycete pathogens. The emerged model pathogen will facilitate improved understanding of oomycete biology and pathology that are crucial to the development of novel disease-control strategies and improved disease-control measures.

Keywords: Arabidopsis thaliana; Phytophthora parasitica; model pathosystem; oomycete; tobacco.

Figure 1.

Root infection of Arabidopsis thaliana by Phytophthora parasitica, (a) Heavy colonization of root tissues by P. parasitica. Scale bar = 100 µm. (b) Numerous haustoria-like structures (Ha) developed (arrow). Scale bar = 50 µm.

Figure 2.

The life cycle of Phytophthora parasitica.

Figure 3.

Cytological characterization of Phytophthora parasitica transformant and the infected leaf of Arabidopsis thaliana. (a) Hyphae of P. parasitica transformant expressing GFP. Scale bar = 50 μm. (b) Heavy colonization on leaf tissue of ecotype Col-0. Scale bar = 500 μm.