Understanding the Brassica napus - Sclerotinia sclerotiorum pathosystem

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Plants like Brassica napus (canola) are under constant threat from pests and pathogens. One of the most devastating fungal pathogens affecting this important crop for Canada is Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (white mold) the causal agent of stem rot. I am investigating how canola responds to fungal pathogens because a) canola is a major source of food and fuel; b) canola does not have true genetic immunity to S. sclerotiorum and; c) new canola genome resources can be used to gain insights into the regulatory processes required for plant defense and more specifically improved crop health for primary and applied research. The long-term objective of my research program is to 1) understand the genetic and molecular systems underpinning plant microbe interactions in the canola - Sclerotinia pathosystem 2) identify the genes responsible to host plant immunity and 3) implement and integrate this fundamental knowledge in the development of new plant protection methods. We can begin to address these challanges through these specific short-term objectives: i) to understand how the host plant perceives S. sclerotiorum at the cell interface and how these interactions result in plant protection or susceptibility; ii) to functionally characterize immunity genes to improve crop protection and iii) determine whether cellular features of the plant stem are responsible for slowing the infection process. This combined approach will allow for a comprehensive understanding of how the plant detects and stimulates cellular immunity networks responsible for protection and the limiting of disease progression. The molecular data will be complemented with in depth histological analysis of susceptible and tolerant varieties that show differences in disease severity. This hypothesis driven research will identify genes and global phosphorylation targets responsible for this host-pathogen interaction. Collectively, this NSERC Discovery Grant will promote the training of one Postdoctoral Fellow, two PhD students, one MSc student and undergraduate researchers in the lab. Together, we will examine the functional role of immunity networks responsible for crop protection in the economically and agriculturally important oilseed, canola. The results of this seminal research will contribute to the understanding of host pathogen interactions for those interested in crop improvement and facilitate technology transfer.