Phytopathogenic fungi have evolved an amazing diversity of infection modes and nutritional
strategies, yet the signaling pathways that govern pathogenicity are remarkably conserved …

The maize pathogen Ustilago maydis has to undergo various morphological transitions for
the completion of its sexual life cycle. For example, haploid cells respond to pheromone by …

Stripe rust caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is a major constraint to
wheat production worldwide. The molecular events that underlie Pst pathogenicity are …

The plant pathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis induces disease only in its dikaryotic stage
that is generated after mating. This process involves coordinated cAMP and mitogen …

The use of fungal model systems, such as Saccharomyces cerevisisae and
Schizosaccharomyces pombe, has contributed enormously to our understanding of …

In the phytopathogenic basidiomycete Ustilago maydis, sexual and pathogenic development
are tightly connected and controlled by the heterodimeric bE/bW transcription factor complex …

Morphogenesis in fungi is often induced by extracellular factors and executed by fungal
genetic factors. Cell surface changes and alterations of the microenvironment often …

The fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans has several virulence factors, among which
the most important is a polysaccharide capsule. The size of the capsule is variable and can …

Plant invasion by pathogenic fungi involves regulated growth and highly organized fungal
morphological changes. For instance, when the smut fungus Ustilago maydis infects maize …

The corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis serves as a model species for studying fungal
dimorphism and its role in phytopathogenic development. The pathogen has two growth …