Host Range Expansion of the Fungus Atkinsonella hypoxylon Infecting Danthonia Grasses

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The goal of the proposed research is to determine the causes and consequences of the shift by a plant parasitic fungus to new plant species that it could not infect previously. The investigator will conduct several experiments designed to determine whether the shift to new host species resulted from genetic changes in the fungi or the plants, or whether the shift occurred independently of genetic changes. Preliminary results suggests that genetic changes in the fungi allow them to infect additional host species. In addition, he will investigate how the new fungal/plant combinations are adapting to each other compared with the old combinations, particularly whether the fungus differs in its pathogenicity on the new host species. This research has important basic and applied significance. Most previous research on host/parasite interactions has considered association that are historically ancient. Little research has considered biological interactions between host and parasite in the early establishment of the relationship when important evolutionary changes are likely to occur. This research will provide significant information about this early stage. The research will also have important applied significance in understanding how disease organisms gain the ability to infect new host species that previously were resistant to infection. The movement of the AIDS virus from primates to humans is an example of how significant this process can be. Because the host plants in this study are grasses, our most important group of agricultural plants, this research will aid in understanding and perhaps preventing disease epidemics in crop grasses like corn, rice, and wheat.