Background/context:

Using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, the work in this sub-project mainly focussed on the identification of plant genes that broadly modulate a number of plant defence responses effective against necrotrophic pathogens such as species of Alternaria, Botrytis, Sclerotinia and Fusarium. These pathogens are highly destructive to many economically important crops. Importantly, there is very little resistance against necrotrophs in the germplasm collections and such resistance often behaves as a quantitative trait, suggesting that there are multiple genes with relatively small effects on disease resistance. Therefore, genomic technologies appear to be particularly suitable to the analysis of the host responses to necrotrophic pathogens.

 Aim:

This project aimed to better understand the molecular basis of defence responses used by plants to protect themselves against pathogens. Such knowledge can be ultimately used to design and implement effective crop protection strategies

Major Outcomes:

The research conducted in this -project has pioneered the application of emerging genomic and functional genomic technologies into plant defence gene discovery. The functional roles of several novel transcription factors (e.g. AtMYC2, AtERF2 and AtERF4) in regulating jasmonate-mediated plant defence responses have been successfully demonstrated. Genetic modification of plants for altered expression of these genes increased defence gene expression and provided increased resistance to the economically important root infecting pathogenFusarium oxysporum.

For more information contact:

Dr Kemal Kazan
CSIRO - Plant Industry
Phone: +61 (0)7 3214 2678
Email: kemal.kazan@csiro.au

or

Dr Peer Schenk
The University of Queensland
Phone: +61 (0)7 3365 8817
Email: p.schenk@uq.edu.au