Award details

Population biology and molecular ecology of plant pathogenic fungi

Reference	BBS/E/C/00004207
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Penny Hirsch
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	1,101,484
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1999
End date	31/03/2008
Duration	108 months

Abstract

Effective control of plant diseases depends on understanding the biology of the causal pathogens and how they interact with their hosts, other organisms and a variety of abiotic factors. Approaches to the management of diseases are also influenced, and often complicated , by variability in the pathogens. The problems are particlarly acute with diseases that are caused by complexes of species or types and where these exist in a microbiologically complex environment, as in the case of soil-borne diseases. It is, therefore, essential to improve understanding of the identity and behaviour of pathogenic fungi, their variants and associated microorganisms within natural communities, to improve management of the diseases they cause and to exploit the potential for natural biological control. Current effort focuses on fungal communities in the rhizosphere of cereals and other crops, in particular on their composition and diversity and on their temporal and spatial distribution. Identification of species and variants is based on genetic as well as morphological and physiological (e.g. fungicide resistance) markers which are used in studies on population dynamics and successions. In some circumstances the genetic markers (differences in DNA composition identified by RFLPs, PCR or other molecular biological methods) are used in taxonomic studies and to determine phylogenetic relationships. Such studies will help in understanding epidemic development, including causes of changes in disease intensity during the course of an epidemic (e.g. in wheat take-all) and will contribute to disease risk assessment.

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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