Enhanced germination and electrotactic behaviour of Phytophthora palmivora zoospores in weak electric fields
File(s)Moratto_2023_Phys._Biol._20_056005.pdf (1.43 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Moratto, Eleonora
Rothery, Stephen
Bozkurt, Tolga O
Sena, Giovanni
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Soil-dwelling microorganisms use a variety of chemical and physical signals to navigate their environment. Plant roots produce endogenous electric fields which result in characteristic current profiles. Such electrical signatures are hypothesised to be used by pathogens and symbionts to track and colonise plant roots.
The oomycete pathogen Phytophthora palmivora generates motile zoospores which swim towards the positive pole when exposed to an external electric field in vitro.
Here, we provide a quantitative characterization of their electrotactic behaviour in 3D. We found that a weak electric field (0.7 - 1.0 V/cm) is sufficient to induce an accumulation of zoospore at the positive pole, without affecting their encystment rate. We also show that the same external electric field increases the zoospore germination rate and orients the germ tube's growth. We conclude that several early stages of the P. palmivora infection cycle are affected by external electric fields.
Taken together, our results are compatible with the hypothesis that pathogens use plant endogenous electric fields for host targeting.
Date Issued
2023-09
Date Acceptance
2023-07-01
Citation
Physical Biology, 2023, 20 (5), pp.1-10
ISSN
1478-3967
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Start Page
1
End Page
10
Journal / Book Title
Physical Biology
Volume
20
Issue
5
Copyright Statement
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd. Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
License URL
Identifier
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1478-3975/ace751
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
056005
Date Publish Online
2023-07-13