What is the Difference Between Appressorium and Haustorium?

Appressorium and haustorium are specialized structures formed by plant pathogenic fungi and oomycetes to infect and nutrient acquisition from host plants. The main differences between them are:

1. Function:

• Appressorium: A specialized cell used by fungi to attach to the surface of a plant and penetrate the plant's cells, causing infection.
• Haustorium: A structure that penetrates the host plant's cells and absorbs nutrients and water from the host.

1. Structure:

• Appressorium: A flattened, hyphal "pressing" organ that produces an infection peg to enter the host cell.
• Haustorium: A root-like or tubular structure that is embedded into the host plant cell.

1. Biochemical Composition and Gene Involvement:

• Appressorium: Composed of specialized cell walls, with genes required for its formation being distinct from those involved in haustorium formation.
• Haustorium: An intracellular structure with a different biochemical composition than the appressorium.

In summary, the main difference between appressorium and haustorium lies in their formation and function. Appressorium is used by fungi to attach to and infect the host plant, while haustorium is involved in the absorption of nutrients and water from the host plant.

Comparative Table: Appressorium vs Haustorium

Here is a table comparing the differences between appressorium and haustorium:

Appressorium and haustorium are both structures present in most parasitic fungi, but they serve different purposes. The key difference between appressorium and haustorium is the shapes of the structures they form upon infection. Appressorium forms bulbous structures, while haustorium forms root-like structures.