Fig. 1: Erc1 is a virulence factor that is involved in cell-to-cell extension in maize.
From: A conserved enzyme of smut fungi facilitates cell-to-cell extension in the plant bundle sheath
a Disease symptoms caused by Ustilago maydis SG200, SG200Δerc1 mutant, SG200Δerc1/C strain, and SG200Δerc1/Erc1M2x on Early Golden Bantam (EGB) maize leaves at 12 days post inoculation (dpi). Disease rates are given as a percentage of the total number of infected plants. n: indicates total number of infected maize seedlings in three independent biological experiments and letters above bars indicate significant differences (One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey multiple comparison test was performed, p < 0.05). b Quantification of cell-to-cell penetration efficiency of SG200, SG200Δerc1 and SG200Δerc1/C complementation strains. The graph depicts the percentage of trapped U. maydis hyphae in maize bundle sheath cells at 4 dpi. n: indicates total number of counted infected maize cells in three independent biological experiments. Asterisks above bars indicate significant differences (p < 0.05, Chi-square test). Data are presented as mean value ± SD. c Microscopic observation of trapped U. maydis SG200 and SG200Δerc1 hyphae in maize bundle sheath cells at 4 dpi via WGA-AF488/Propidium iodide staining. WGA-AF488 (green color -fungal cell wall): excitation at 488 nm and detection at 500–540 nm. PI (red color - plant cell wall): excitation at 561 nm and detection at 580–630 nm. Similar results were observed at least in three independent biological experiments. Calculated p values are shown in the Source Data.
