Reprodução Sexuada em Pyricularia oryzae

Abstract

Blast is caused by the Ascomycete Pyricularia oryzae and is the most important disease affecting rice in the world. Besides rice, wheat is affected by blast caused by P. oryzae in Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. The high genetic-pathotypic variability observed in local populations of P. oryzae is probably responsible for the low resistance durability of rice and wheat cultivarsto this disease and may also be determinant in eventsof ‘host shift’ by the pathogen. This review aims to present important aspects of the sexual reproduction of P. oryzae, as well as information about the regulatory mechanisms of the pathogen sexual cycle by the genes mating type and pheromones in a specific recognition system. Understanding the reproductive biology and the importance of P. oryzae sexual cycle is essential for blast disease management based on durable resistance.