EXPRESSION AND LOCALIZATION OF 2 IN PLANTA INDUCED EXTRACELLULAR PROTEINS OF THE FUNGAL TOMATO PATHOGEN CLADOSPORIUM-FULVUM

Expression of two in planta induced genes of the biotrophic fungal tom ato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum and accumulation of their products, e xtracellular proteins (ECPs), were studied in time and space during pa thogenesis, Immunogold localization revealed that proteins ECP1 and EC P2 accumulated abundantly in extracellular material in the vicinity of fungal and host cell walls. Expression of the genes encoding ECP1 and ECP2 was studied in transformants carrying the reporter gene Gus fuse d to promoter sequences of the ecp genes. In germinated conidia on the leaf surface no expression of gene ecp1 and only low expression of ge ne ecp2 could be detected. Expression of both ecp1 and ecp2 was strong ly induced during colonization of the intercellular space between toma to mesophyll cells. The highest expression was observed in hyphae grow ing near vascular tissue. Expression levels were low in newly formed c onidia on leaves. Possible functions of ECP1 and ECP2 for C. fulvum du ring pathogenesis are discussed.