Role of fungal secreted proteins as plant disease effectors

许多作物病害在经济上对澳大利亚的农业生产力构成重大威胁，特别是锈菌是谷物生产的一个主要问题。目前控制锈病的方法是建立在抗性育种的基础上的，但锈病真菌不断适应以克服植物防御意味着迫切需要新的作物保护方法。该项目将研究植物真菌感染的分子过程，重点研究真菌接管受感染细胞代谢的机制。该研究将为开发新的和持久的抗病策略提供基础知识。

Many crop diseases are economically significant threats to agricultural productivity in Australia, with rust fungi in particular being a major problem for cereal grain production. Current methods of rust disease control are based on breeding for resistance but continued adaption by rust fungi to overcome plant defences means there is an urgent need for new methods of crop protection. This project will investigate molecular processes underlying fungal infection of plants, focusing on mechanisms that enable fungi to take over the metabolism of infected cells. The research will provide basic knowledge for development of novel and durable disease resistance strategies.