The Plant Cytoskeletons in Interactions between Plants and Obligate Biotrophs

Abstract

Obligate biotrophic microorganisms, both symbiotic and pathogenic, colonize only living host plants to complete their life cycles. Colonization of obligate biotrophs induces significant reorganization of plant cell architecture, including cytoskeletons. The reorganization of cytoskeletons, which includes microtubules (MTs) and actin microfilaments (AFs), has been extensively documented for interactions with host plants and symbiotic biotrophs, nodule-forming rhizobia, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Recent studies have identified host factors that are involved in the reorganization of AFs and that function in support of colonization of nodule-forming rhizobia. For the cytoskeletal reorganization induced by pathogenic biotrophs, we recently reported the dynamic changes of host AFs during colonization of fungus causing powdery mildew disease. This review summarizes recent advances in studies of plant cytoskeletons and their role in interactions between plants and obligate biotrophs.