Bioinformatic and molecular approaches to understand resistance against extracellular pathogens by Henrik Stotz

Event Details

Date:

Tuesday, 27 September 2016

Time:

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Room:

Large Seminar Room (3.142), Level 3

UQ Location:

Queensland Bioscience Precinct (St Lucia)

URL:

Event category(s):

Full Description:: Dr Henrik Stotz will discuss, extracellular pathogens, which colonise the apoplast of host plants, cause severe global epidemics, including phoma stem cancer (Leptosphaeria maculans) of oilseed rape, barley leaf blotch (Rhynchosporium commune) and wheat septoria leaf blotch (Zymoseptoria tritici). R gene-mediated effector-triggered defence (ETD) or quantitative (likely multigenic) resistance contribute to protection against these pathogens (Stotz et al., 2014). Bioinformatic approaches are used to identify R gene candidates in the Brassica napus genome and assist in breeding for resistance. Computational models of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains are generated to better understand direct interactions between receptors encoded by R genes and their corresponding pathogen effectors. Temporal and spatial distributions of allele frequencies of L. maculans effector genes are studied in relation to R gene deployment in B. napus cultivars to better understand the emergence of stem canker epidemics in Australia. Work at these different scales will enable new approaches to combat emergence and spread of epidemics caused by extracellular pathogens.