Defining the molecular dialogue underlying stomatal infection during fungal pathogenesis

该奖项是根据2009年《美国复苏和再投资法案》(公法111-5)资助的。农作物真菌病在经济上和环境上都是昂贵的，因为它们会降低产量，并需要大规模使用杀菌剂。许多病原真菌通过气孔进入叶片，气孔是叶表面的气孔，参与植物的气体交换和水分运动。真菌病原菌感知和穿透气孔的机制很复杂，也知之甚少。本项目的重点是确定玉米尾孢霉(Cercospora zeae-maydis)气孔感染的生化和遗传基础，玉米尾孢霉是一种广泛存在的毁灭性玉米病原菌。为了实现这一目标，将识别与感染有关的真菌基因，并确定它们的功能。此外，还将识别影响气孔感染的植物来源的信号。这些信息将使人们更清楚地了解真菌对气孔的侵染，并提供玉米纹枯病菌侵染玉米的详细模型。通过澄清植物病害中一个经常被忽视的成分，这项工作将有助于努力开发新的持久抗源，以对抗具有重要农学意义的植物病害。该项目的组成部分是对博士后、研究生和本科生的培训，特别强调扩大目前在科学界代表性不足的群体的参与。此外，调查人员正在与阿肯色州合作推广服务机构合作，通过电子和印刷媒体、区域和国家演示以及与利益攸关方直接协商来分发该项目的调查结果。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).Fungal diseases of crops are economically and environmentally costly because they reduce yields and require large-scale applications of fungicides. Many pathogenic fungi enter leaves through stomata, which are pores on leaf surfaces involved in gas exchange and water movement through the plant. The mechanisms through which fungal pathogens sense and penetrate stomata are complex and poorly understood. This project focuses on defining the biochemical and genetic basis of stomatal infection in Cercospora zeae-maydis, a widespread and devastating pathogen of corn. To accomplish this goal, fungal genes involved in infection will be identified, and their functions will be determined. Additionally, plant-derived signals that influence stomatal infection will be identified. This information will provide a clearer understanding of stomatal infection by fungi in general, and a detailed model of how C. zeae-maydis infects corn. By clarifying an often-overlooked component of plant disease, this work will assist efforts to develop new sources of durable resistance against agronomically important plant diseases. Integral to the project is the training of post-doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students, with particular emphasis placed on broadening the participation of groups currently underrepresented in science. Additionally, the investigators are partnering with the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service to distribute findings from this project through electronic and print media, regional and national presentations, and direct consultations with stakeholders.