Insights from the genome of the biotrophic fungal plant pathogen Ustilago maydis

Ustilago maydis is an important fungal pathogen of maize, causing corn smut. It is well adapted to its host and proliferates in living plant tissue without inducing a defence response. The genome sequence of U. maydis has now been determined, the first for a biotrophic plant parasite. Several gene clusters that encode secreted proteins of unknown function were identified: genome-wide expression analysis shows that the clustered genes are upregulated during disease. Mutations in these gene clusters frequently affect virulence, ranging from complete loss of pathogenicity to hypervirulence. Ustilago maydis is a ubiquitous pathogen of maize and a well-established model organism for the study of plant–microbe…

• BF
  Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
• M
  Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
• NI
  National Institutes of Health
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada