**Author details**

Tulin Askun

Polyenes, which are fungicidal, are known as amphipathic drugs, such as nystatin and amphotericin-B. The complexes show efficacy via destroying the proton gradient, allowing for the leakage of ions and removal of ergosterol from phospholipids in the membrane, thus

6 Fusarium - Plant Diseases, Pathogen Diversity, Genetic Diversity, Resistance and Molecular Markers

Plants, humans and animals give instant response to the pathogen. In animals, this effect is seen as antibody production, while in plants, it is seen in the form of secretion of various proteins, such as defense-related enzymes and pathogenesis-related proteins [45]. Defense-related enzymes are of great importance in the plant disease resistance mechanism. Immunized plants

If a plant is stimulated by a pathogen, early local defense reactions (a local programmed cell death) are followed by systemic responses (signal is transmitted from infected tissue to the whole plant). At the end, overall defense gene expression gets induced. Consequently, signal

Numerous studies have been done on the transporter genes of plants for improved resistance to *Fusarium* spp. A sucrose transporter gene (IbSWEET10) of the SWEET gene family obtained from the sweet potato line ND98 was tested for this purpose. This overexpression of the gene has been shown to reduce sugar levels and has a potential use to lower carbohydrate levels

Transporters are of great importance in protecting fungi against plant defense compounds. Transporters enable efflux of the plant-originated defense compounds. Although resveratrol (from grape) and camalexin (from Arabidopsis) transport via the transporter BcatrB of *Botrytis cinerea*, pisatin (from pea) transports by the NhABC1 transporter of *F. solani* f. sp. *pisi*, and rishitin (from potato) transports via the GpABC1 transporter of *F. sambucinum* [4, 49–51]. Transporters are divided into two major classes: the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) and the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters. ABC transporters are known to be important for resistance against fungal pathogens, particularly for pleiotropic drug resistance or multidrug resistance domains [52]. Although some transporters produce specific or non-specific toxins,

some of them show very specific responses to fungicide sensitivity or resistance [53].

It is possible to identify the genus *Fusarium* by several methods. On culturing, hyaline, bananashaped and multicellular macroconidia are very common; however, to identify them at the

have rich defense-related enzymes that prevent them from suffering large losses.

perception is essential for plants to combat pathogens [46, 47].

causing fungal cell death in the process [43, 44].

**7. Plant disease resistance mechanism**

and increase the resistance of the plant [48].

**9. Identification, control and management**

**8. Fungal transporters**

Address all correspondence to: taskun@balikesir.edu.tr

Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Department of Biology, University of Balikesir, Balikesir, Turkey
