The molecular basis of pre- and post-invasion defense mechanisms in plants

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Plant diseases are constantly posing threats to our environment and sustainable world food supply. However, most plants exploit their innate immunity to successfully withstand infection by the vast majority of pathogens that attack them. Plants have evolved an enormous array of mechanical and chemical defenses that are deployed at the penetration- and post-invasion stages of pathogen ingress and growth. Nevertheless, over the past decades, extensive research has been conducted to decipher mechanisms utilized by hosts to ward off would-be pathogens, but much more work is still needed to incorporate the information gained into a successful resistance breeding program. Towards the understanding of molecular determinants of disease resistance, we previously constructed a cDNA library from wheat epidermis challenge-inoculated with powdery mildew. In-depth analysis of expressed sequence tags generated from this library and subsequent expression profiling of identified genes divulged the identification of novel components of the plant immune system. To determine their functional roles and implication in defense-associated pathways, we aim to conduct mutational, genetic and biochemical analyses of well established Arabidopsis-fungal pathosystems. This study will also unveil potential metabolic pathways and signalling mediators of Arabidopsis immunity. Therefore, the objective of the research proposed here is to catalogue these indispensable components and to assemble them in an integrated network. The output of this project will bring about a blueprint to engineer durable, broad-spectrum disease resistance in economically important crops, such as canola and other brassicas.