Proteomic Approaches to Analyze Wheat-Fusarium graminearum Interaction

Abstract

Fusarium graminearum, the causal agent of Head Blight of wheat, was the third filamentous fungus to have a complete genome sequenced, becoming a model for studies of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics of the plant-pathogen interaction associated with this devastating disease. In modern fungal biology, the major challenge is be able to understand the expression, function and regulation of the entire set of proteins encoded by fungal genomes. Proteomics, in combination with other omics techniques, constitutes a powerful tool for providing important information to understand plant-fungal interactions, pathogenesis and fungal colonization, allowing more solid interpretations on the complex mechanisms involved in the process of infection by Fusarium species, as well as mechanisms of host resistance intended to avoid infection. The present chapter summarizes the current worldwide status of proteomics focusing on F. graminearum-wheat interaction, provided that, at present, there are no revisions regarding this issue available. Besides, this chapter intends to provide initial research on proteomics of F. graminearum pathogenesis in wheat in Latin America, since this area of research is scarcely developed in this region.