The Secondary Metabolite Toxin, Sirodesmin PL, and Its Role in Virulence of the Blackleg Fungus

Abstract

Sirodesmin PL is a secondary metabolite toxin produced by Leptosphaeria maculans, a fungus that causes blackleg disease of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Biosynthesis of this epipolythiodioxopiperazine (ETP) toxin involves a cluster of 18 co-regulated genes. Putative ETP gene clusters have been found in 14 taxa discontinuously distributed amongst ascomycetes. Movement of entire clusters by horizontal gene transfer is the most parsimonious hypothesis to explain this discontinuous distribution. A mutant of L. maculans that does not produce sirodesmin PL forms similar sized lesions on cotyledons of B. napus to those formed by the wild type. However, it is half as effective in colonising stems, ..