Expression of green fluorescent protein in Curvularia lunata causing maize leaf spot

Curvularia lunata is a widespread fungal pathogen infecting maize leaves. In this study, we developed a genetic transformation system for C. lunata by using the plasmid (pCPXHY1Egfp) with both enhanced green fluorescent protein gene egfp and hygromycin resistance gene hph. GFP rendered hyphae of the transformants fluorescent in culture. Most transformants that showed constitutively expressing EGFP were comparable to the wild-type strain in morphological features. PCR and Southern blot analyses of the hph gene further confirmed that the plasmid was integrated into the genome of C. lunata. This is the first report that a ‘reporter’ gene, egfp, could be stably expressed in C. lunata. Using the transformants with EGFP marker will assist us to visualize the features of infection at different stages.