CAREER:Dissecting the role of a putative blue-light photoreceptor in stomatal sensing and infection during fungal pathogenesis

玉米灰斑病是由玉米灰霉病(Cercospora zeae-maydis)引起的一种重要病害，在美国和世界各地均有发生。这种真菌通过叶片的自然气孔(气孔)感染玉米，尽管感染过程尚不清楚。最近的发现表明，这种真菌的感染受每天的光和暗周期控制，这为遗传分析提供了重要线索。在本项目中，将研究灰斑病的遗传和分子基础，重点了解该真菌如何利用环境线索(包括每日的光/暗周期)来协调其对玉米的攻击。将使用遗传、分子、生化和计算技术的混合来确定这种真菌是如何导致疾病的。最终，这些信息将被用来模拟遗传相互作用，将真菌的分子时钟和其他环境线索与玉米叶片的感染和定植联系起来。通过提供解释玉米赤霉病如何引起灰斑病的遗传蓝图，该项目将为致力于了解和控制玉米和其他作物的真菌病害的广泛研究人员提供重要的新信息。此外，该项目将为美国和非洲的学生提供培训机会，这些学生属于在科学研究中代表性不足的群体。最后，该项目的参与者将在教育工作中与种植者和生产者密切合作，解释基础研究在美国农业中发挥的关键作用。

Gray leaf spot of corn, caused by the fungus Cercospora zeae-maydis, is one of the most important diseases of corn in the U.S. and other regions of the world. The fungus infects corn through natural pores (stomata) of leaves, although the infection process is poorly understood. Recent discoveries indicate that infection by the fungus is governed by daily cycles of light and darkness, which provide an important clue for genetic analyses. In this project, the genetic and molecular basis of gray leaf spot will be investigated, with emphasis on understanding how the fungus utilizes environmental cues (including daily light/dark cycles) to coordinate its attack on corn. A blend of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and computational techniques will be used to determine how the fungus causes disease. Ultimately, this information will be used to model genetic interactions linking the molecular clock of the fungus and other environmental cues with infection and colonization of corn leaves. By providing a genetic blueprint explaining how C. zeae-maydis causes gray leaf spot, this project will provide important new information to a broad community of researchers working to understand and control fungal diseases of corn and other crops. Additionally, this project will provide training opportunities for students in the U.S. and Africa who belong to groups underrepresented in science research. Finally, participants in this project will work closely with growers and producers in educational efforts to explain the crucial roles basic research plays in U.S. agriculture.