Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt)

Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici is an obligate biotrophic ascomycete fungus and the primary causal agent of wheat powdery mildew, a disease that significantly impacts wheat yield and quality worldwide [1][2]. As an obligate biotroph, the fungus depends entirely on living host tissues, utilizing specialized structures called haustoria to extract nutrients while keeping the host cells alive [3]. The pathogen propagates rapidly via wind-dispersed asexual conidia, but it can also undergo sexual reproduction through chasmothecia, which facilitates genetic recombination and overwintering [2][4]. While the organism itself is often the focus of agricultural control measures, it is a complex pathogen rather than a single molecular target like an enzyme or receptor [1]. Most commercial fungicides control the fungus by targeting specific molecular sites within its proteome, such as sterol 14α-demethylase in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway or cytochrome b in the mitochondrial electron transport chain [5]. Due to its high evolutionary potential, this pathogen frequently develops resistance to fungicides, necessitating integrated pest management and the breeding of resistant wheat cultivars [2][5]. Sources: [1] Wicker et al. (2013). "Genome sequence of the wheat powdery mildew fungus..." [2] Dean et al. (2012). "The Top 10 fungal pathogens in molecular plant pathology." [3] Spanu et al. (2010). "Genome Expansion and Gene Loss in Powdery Mildew Fungi." [4] Troch et al. (2014). "The evolutionary genetics of the wheat powdery mildew fungus." [5] FRAC (Fungicide Resistance Action Committee) target site descriptions.

Other names

Wheat powdery mildew fungusErysiphe graminis f. sp. triticiBgt

Various mechanisms targeting fungal metabolism, including inhibition of sterol 14α-demethylase (DMIs), inhibition of mitochondrial respiration (QoIs and SDHIs), and disruption of signal transduction or cell wall synthesis.