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Dissecting phytoplasma effector adaptation to plant targets (Bilateral BBSRC-FAPESP application)

Reference	BBS/E/J/000CA503
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Saskia Hogenhout
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	254,215
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	04/02/2013
End date	18/03/2016
Duration	37 months

Abstract

Phytoplasmas are intracellular bacterial pathogens of plants that are transmitted by insect vectors, such as leafhoppers. They induce a variety of symptoms in plants and crops, such as witches' brooms (increased lateral branching) and phyllody (flowers reverting into leaves that remain sterile). The Hogenhout group at The John Innes Centre has identified the virulence protein (effector) SAP11 from Aster Yellows Witches' Broom phytoplasma (AY-WB) that destabilize class II CIN members of the TCP transcription factor family, which are conserved among plants. SAP11-mediated CIN-TCP destabilization induces crinkled leaves and reduces synthesis of the defense plant hormone jasmonic acid in Arabidopsis. This leads to an increase in the number of aster leafhoppers that transmit AY-WB to other plants. We have evidence that SAP11 interacts with other TCPs, possibly resulting in increased branching (witches' brooms) symptoms of AY-WB-infected plants. The SH group has identified a homolog of the SAP11 protein (SMP11) in the genome of Maize bushy stunt phytoplasma (MBSP). In this project we will collaborate with the Spotti-Lopes group at The University of Sao Paulo University in Brazil who are experienced with the ecology and epidemiology of MBSP, an important phytoplasma disease agent of maize in Brazil. We will (1) investigate if SMP11 and SAP11 interact with various classes of Arabidopsis and maize TCPs, (2) study genomic variations of Brazilian MBSP isolates, and (3) Investigate the contributions of SMP11 and SAP11 to phytoplasma symptom development and leafhopper-plant interactions. Overall, this work increases our understanding of pathogen-host adaptation processes.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Crop Science, Microbiology, Plant Science
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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