Symptoms,hostrange,taxonomyand
life cycles of pyricularia(Magnoporthe)
Athira rajan [email protected]
Pyricularia
•Pyriculariais a genus offungi which was named by Saccardo in 1880
•Thepolyphyletic nature
ofPyriculariahas been resolved and
species ofPyricularia ,were shown to
belong to amonophyleticclade
(includingPyriculariagriseaisolates),
defining the familyPyriculariaceae
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
kingdom Fungi
division Ascomycota
subdivision Pezizomycotina
class Sordariomycetes
subclass Sordariomycetidae
Order Magnoporthales
Family Magnoporthaceae
genus Pyricularia
Sacc.1880
ETYMOLOGY
•The genusPyriculariais named after
the pyriform (pear-shaped)shape of
itsconidia
•Conidiaare solitary, pyriform to
obclavate, narrowed toward tip, rounded
at the base, 2-septate, hyaline to pale
brown, with a distinct basal hilum,
sometimes with marginal frill
Pyriculariaoryzae
•M. oryzaeis distinct fromM.
grisea, a species that is
morphologically indistinguishable
fromM. oryzae, a species that
affects crabgrass (Digitaria)
SEXUAL MORPHS
•Sexual morphs were reported
forP. griseaandP. oryzae. The
genusPyriculariacomprises
several other species for which
the sexual morph has not yet been
discovered
Magnaporthe grisea
PATHOGENECITY AND HOST RANGE
•The genusPyriculariaincludes species that are pathogenic on
a wide range of monocot plants,major diseases on grasses
•Pyriculariaoryzae(sexual morphMagnaportheoryzae), the
causal agent of the rice blast disease, is one of the most
widely distributed diseases of rice, and is highly destructive
leading to up to 30% yield loss worldwide
PATHOGEN:Magnaportheoryzae
Previously, Magnaporthe grisea
Pyricularia oryzae is the asexual name
HOSTS:Rice (Oryza sativa)
RICE BLAST DISEASE
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
•However, the most common and diagnostic symptom, diamond
shaped lesions, of rice blast occur on the leaves, whereas lesions
on the sheaths are relatively rare
•The symptoms of rice blast include lesions that can be found on
all parts of the plant, including leaves, leaf collars, necks,
panicles, pedicels, and seeds
Diamond-shaped spots on the leaves
of rice leaves caused by
blastMagnaporthe oryzae.
Infections at the nodes of stems
below the neck, caused by blast,
Magnaporthe oryzae.The
infections occur beneath the flower
head and can lead to death of the
stem
oRICE LEAVES
The symptoms on leaves may vary according to
the environmental conditions, the age of the plant,
and the levels of resistance of the host cultivars
On susceptible cultivars, lesions may initially
appear gray-green and water-soaked with a darker
green border and they expand rapidly to several
centimeters in length
oRICE COLLARS
Collarinfections can kill the entire leaf and
may extend a few millimeters into and around
the sheath. The fungus may produce spores on
these lesions
oRICE SEEDS
Symptoms of rice blast on seeds themselves
consist of brown spots, blotches and
occasionally the classic diamond-shaped
lesion often seen on leaves
oRICE NECKS AND PANICLES
•Necks are often infected at the node by the rice blast
fungus and infection leads to a condition called rotten neck
or neck blast
•Infection of the necks can be very destructive, causing
failure of the seeds to fill (a condition called blanking) or
causing the entire panicle to fall over as if rotted
•Lesions can be found on the panicle branches, spikes, and
spikelets. The lesions are often gray brown discolorations
of the branches of the panicle, and, over time, the
branches may break at the lesion.
LIFE CYCLE
•The rice blast fungus starts its infection cycle when a three-celled
conidium lands on the rice leaf surface
•The spore attaches to the hydrophobic cuticleand germinates,
producing a narrow germ tube
•Thesesubsequently flattens and hooks at its tipbefore
differentiating into an appressorium
•The single-celled appressorium matures and the three-celled
conidium collapses and dies in a programmed process that requires
autophagy
•The appressorium becomes melanized and develops
substantial turgor
•This translates into physical force and a narrow penetrationat
the base
•puncturing the cuticleand allowing entry into the rice epidermis.