The role of fungal appressoria in plant infection

Plant pathogenic fungi differentiate a highly specialized infection cell called an appressorium to infect their hosts. Appressorium formation is induced by specific physical or chemical cues provided by the host plant. Several components of signal transduction pathways have been identified that are involved in infection-related morphogenesis and virulence or pathogenicity. In this review we summarize current knowledge on appressorium differentiation and function, and discuss aspects of initial stages of fungal development in the plant. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.