The role of phytotoxins in ray blight disease of pyrethrum and significance of toxin tolerance to disease resistance

由Phoma ligulicola引起的射线枯萎病是澳大利亚除虫菊产业的最大威胁，每年造成200万美元的损失。我们的目的是阐明除虫菊中的叶舌拟单胞菌的病理学，重点是真菌毒素在感染过程中的作用。 毒素在疾病中的重要性将通过组织学和毒素-病原体突变体的诱导来确定。毒素将被表征并用于组织培养以选择获得毒素耐受性除虫菊克隆，其将被评价农艺性能和抗病性。抗性克隆的成功开发将降低生产成本，最大限度地减少杀菌剂抗性发展的风险，并减少环境污染。

Ray blight disease, caused by Phoma ligulicola, is the greatest threat to the Australian pyrethrum industry causing $2.0M in annual losses. We aim to clarify the pathology of P.ligulicola in pyrethrum, focussing on the role of fungal toxins during infection. Toxin importance in disease will be determined through histology and induction of toxin- pathogen mutants. Toxins will be characterised and used in tissue culture to select obtain toxin tolerant pyrethrum clones that will be evaluated for agronomic performance and disease resistance. Successful development of resistant clones will decrease production costs, minimise risk of fungicide resistance development and reduce environmental pollution.