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Comparative analysis of genes induced by Polymyxa in incompatible and non-host interactions

Reference	BBS/E/C/00004184
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Michael Asher
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Dr Euphemia Mutasa-Gottgens
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	289,090
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1999
End date	31/03/2005
Duration	72 months

Abstract

Polymyxa spp. are obligate zoosporic parasites growing only in fibrous roots and are important natural vectors of viruses which cause serious economic losses in crops world-wide. The genus has two recognised species, P. betae and P. graminis which, until we developed molecular markers specific to P. betae (Mutasa et al 1993; 1996), were separated only by host range specificity; there are no consistent morphological differences. P. betae is restricted to the Chenopodiaceae (e.g. sugar beet), and P. graminis to Gramineae (e.g. barley). In a wild Beta species (Beta patellaris) known to be resistant to P. betae, there is clear evidence to show that zoospores penetrate the root hairs before being overcome by the host¿s defence mechanism and this is sufficient to prevent the establishment of virus infection. Currently, control of the diseases transmitted by Polymyxa species is targeted at resistance to the virus which in cereals has proved not to be durable and, in the case of sugar beet rhizomania, is only partially effective. This project will identify and clone genes that are expressed in compatible and incompatible (non-host) interactions between Polymyxa spp. and sugar-beet. Representational difference analysis (RDA) of cDNA from seedling roots challenged with Polymyxa will be used to clone differentially expressed transcripts. Detailed molecular analysis will then be used to deduce function and determine the mechanisms underlying these interactions. The project aims to determine whether the genes controlling the durable resistance expressed by plants at this taxonomic level are the same as those involved in the more widely studied, specific gene-for-gene interactions. Transgenic fungal resistance offers the prospect of durable control of the whole range of economically important soil-borne virus diseases transmitted by Polymyxa spp. in these crops.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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