The hydrophobin HCf-1 of Cladosporium fulvum is required for efficient water-mediated dispersal of conidia

Whiteford, J. R., and Spanu, P. D. 2001. The hydrophobin HCf-1 of Cladospdr ium fulvum is required for efficient water-mediated dispersal of conidia. F ungal Genetics and Biology 32, 159-168. Six hydrophobin genes (HCf-1 to -6) have thus far been identified in the tomato pathogen Cladosporium fulvum. HCf-1 to -4 are Class I hydrophobins and HCf-5 and -6 are Class II hydropho bins. In this paper we describe the isolation of deletion mutants that lack HCf-1, HCf-2, or both these genes. Global down-regulation of the expressio n of Class I hydrophobins is achieved by homology-dependent gene silencing. Analysis of the mutant strains shows that HCf-1 confers hydrophilic charac ter to the conidia and this facilitates the dissemination of conidia on the surface of water droplets. Other Class I hydrophobins, such as HCf-3 or HC f-4, may be involved in the development and germination of conidia. (C) 200 1 Academic Press.