FIG. 5.
The K53R and AEF mutations abolished the function of PMK1 in appressorium formation and infectious growth. (A) Conidia of transformants expressing GFP-PMK1AEF (AEF-4) and GFP-PMK1K53R (K53R-110) were incubated on glass coverslips for 24 h and examined under DIC (left panels) or epifluorescence microscopy (right panels). GFP-Pmk1 expression was detectable in conidia and germ tubes of AEF-4 and K53R-110, but no appressorium formation was observed. (B) Leaves of rice cultivar CO-39 injected with conidia from the pmk1 mutant (nn78) or transformants of nn78 expressing the GFP-PMK1 (Xh14), GFP-PMK1AEF (AEF-4), or GFP-PMK1K53R (K53R-110) constructs. Spreading lesions were observed only in leaves injected with Xh14 but not AEF-4 or K53R-110. Photos were taken at 7 days after inoculation. DIC, differential interference contrast.