Selective Quantification of Chemotropic Responses of Fusarium graminearum

Abstract

Chemotropism refers to the directional growth of a living organism toward a chemical stimulus. Molecular mechanisms underlying chemotropism of fungal pathogens have recently been enabled by advancements in biological chemotropic assays, with a particular focus on the roles of G-protein-coupled receptors and their plant-derived ligands in chemotropism. Here we describe in detail an assay that enables quantification of chemotropic responses of Fusarium graminearum, with variations recently reported for Fusarium oxysporum and Trichoderma atroviride.

Keywords: Chemotropic index; Chemotropism; Directed hyphal growth; Fusarium graminearum; Hyphal length; Microscopy; Plate assay.