Ultrastructural study of adhesion and initial stages of infection of nematodes by conidia of Drechmeria coniospora

J. Dijksterhuis, Wim Harder, Marten Veenhuis

    Research output: Contribution to journal/periodicalArticleScientificpeer-review

    42 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    An ultrastructural study of the subcellular events during the initial stages of infection of nematodes by conidia of the endonematophagous fungus Drechmeria coniospora showed that adhesion to the nematode cuticle occurred by means of an adhesive knob at the distal end of the spore. An appressorium, also covered by an adhesive layer, was formed from the adhesive knob before penetration. The penetration tube arose from the appressorium where it contacted the cuticle. Acid phosphatase activity was detected at the site of penetration prior to penetration. It is suggested that penetration of the nematode was due to the combined action of enzymic softening of the cuticle and mechanical force.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1-8
    Number of pages8
    JournalMycological Research
    Volume94
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 01 Jan 1990

    Keywords

    • Appressorium
    • Drechmeria coniospora
    • Endoparasitic nematophagous fungus
    • Penetration
    • Ulstrastructure

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