Abstract
The isoprenoid farnesol was previously shown to induce morphological features characteristic of apoptosis in the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. This study demonstrates that under similar liquid media growth conditions, farnesol also triggers apoptosis in the plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. However, unlike A. nidulans, F. graminearum spores treated with farnesol exhibited altered germination patterns and most (>60%) lysed upon prolonged exposure. Given the economic importance of F. graminearum as a pathogen of small grains, this study proposes that farnesol may have potential value as an antifungal compound.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 259-264 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | FEMS Microbiology Letters |
Volume | 279 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Antifungal
- Apoptosis
- Farnesol
- Fusarium graminearum
- Macroconidia
- Spore germination
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics