Effect of the Penicillium chrysogenum antifungal protein (PAF) on barley powdery mildew and wheat leaf rust pathogens

The small molecular mass antifungal protein of Penicillium chrysogenum (PAF) inhibited the growths of two obligate biotrophic fungal pathogens, Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei and Puccinia recondita f.sp. tritici and, hence, mitigated the symptoms of barley powdery mildew and wheat leaf rust infections, respectively. PAF also affected adversely the germination of B. graminis conidia and P. recondita uredospores causing degenerative branching of germ tubes. Since powdery mildews and rusts cause serious economic losses the potential applicability of PAF to control these plant diseases is promising.