from Takumi Nishiuchi writing in Fusarium: Genomics, Molecular and Cellular Biology:
Plant pathogenic species of Fusarium produce numerous secondary metabolites during infection of host plants. These metabolites often perturb host defense responses and suppress plant growth. Plant responses to Fusarium metabolites can be classified as follows: (1) inhibition of root or shoot growth; (2) inhibition of seed germination; (3) changes in leaf color such as chlorosis; (4) cell death; and (5) suppression or activation of defense responses. These phytotoxic effects of Fusarium metabolites have been reported in various plant species. Two major Fusarium metabolites, fumonisins and trichothecenes, induce apoptosis-like programmed cell death and can contribute to virulence of fusaria on some plants. Recently, signaling events have been implicated in plant responses to Fusarium metabolites. In contrast, production of the growth-promoting metabolites gibberellins by the rice pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi results in the seedling elongation symptom characteristic of bakanae disease of rice. Thus, Fusarium secondary metabolites have various effects in host plants. This chapter reviews Fusarium secondary metabolites and how plant respond to them.
Further reading: Fusarium: Genomics, Molecular and Cellular Biology