Chemotaxis and Motility of Spongospora subterranea Zoospores in Response to Potato Root Exudate Constituents and pH

Abstract

Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea is an important pathogen of potato responsible for major losses in most potato growing regions of the world. Infection is initiated by bi-flagellated motile zoospores released from long-lived resting spores. Zoospore chemotaxis to the host plant root is widely believed to be stimulated by host root exudate compounds, although direct evidence is lacking. This study refined the traditional chemotaxis capillary assay. With this we provided the first empirical evidence of S. subterranea zoospore chemotaxis. Individual potato root exudate metabolites were either taxis neutral, inhibitory, or attractant to the zoospores. L-glutamine was the strongest chemoattractant, while spermine was the most inhibitory. Zoospore motility and chemotaxis were constrained by strongly acidic or alkaline solutions of pH < 5.3 and > 8.5, respectively. Beyond pH, ionic constituents of the test solution affected zoospore motility as Sorensen’s phosphate buffer stalled zoospore motility, but HEPES buffer at the same concentration and pH had little or no negative motility effect. Zoospore motility, as characterized by several parameters, influenced chemotaxis. Among the parameters measured, total distance travelled was the best predictor of zoospore chemotaxis. The characterization of environmental and ecological effects on zoospore motility and chemotaxis highlights useful targets for S. subterranea disease control through manipulation of zoospore taxis or selection of host resistance traits.