Mechanism of powdery mildew infection in grapevines

This study has provided new insights into the molecular and biochemical processes associated with the powdery mildew:grapevine interaction. Our results indicate that powdery mildew infection of grapevine epidermal cells leads to the modification of specific host genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and transport which results in increased supply of hexoses to the pathogen to support growth and development. It is not known if these changes in host gene expression are manipulated directly by the invading pathogen or are a consequence of fungal colonisation. However, there is good evidence to indicate that the plant hormone ABA has an important role in regulating these changes in host gene expression. Potentially, modification of the expression of host genes associated with carbohydrate metabolism could provide an alternative way to engineer resistance to this pathogen in grapevine.