Ustilago maydis is an edible parasitic basidiomycete, which specifically in
fects corn (Zea mays) and teocintle (Z, diploperennis). To characterise the
interaction between the basidiomycete and its host organism, we tested the
effect of plant lectins with well-known sugar specificity on the growth an
d germination of U. maydis spores. Lectins specific for N-acetyl-D-galactos
amine, such as those from Dolichos biflorus and Phaseolus lunatus, and the
wheatgerm agglutinin specific for N-acetyl-D-glucosamine inhibited spore ge
rmination, but were ineffective in modifying U, maydis cell growth. The gal
actose-specific lectin from the corn coleoptyle inhibited both, germination
and cell growth, while the lectin concanavalin A (mannose/glucose specific
) activated spore germination and growth. Our results suggest that specific
saccharide-containing receptors participate in regulating the growth and m
aturation of U. maydis spores.