Chemistry of Plant-Pathogen Interactions

在众多的植物微生物病害中，真菌病害是世界上造成农作物损失最大的疾病。尽管抗病植物品种的使用减少了产量损失，但杀菌剂的应用往往被用来最大限度地提高作物产量。对农业生产的污染和可持续性的持续关注继续激励着这项研究计划。我们的总体目标是使用环境和生态可持续的方法来了解和控制植物真菌疾病。我们研究的重点是油菜籽，加拿大最重要的油料作物之一，以及花椰菜、花椰菜、甘蓝等蔬菜，以及它们最具破坏性的真菌病原体。预计到2015年，加拿大的油菜籽产量将增加65%，达到1500万吨！这一增长将对真菌疾病和其他害虫产生什么影响？现在，了解和培育抗病作物的研究比以往任何时候都更加重要。 这项研究计划是基于这样一个原则，即从分子上了解植物与微生物病原体的复杂相互作用可以指导制定综合策略来预防和控制植物病害。由于这种相互作用是由植物和病原体产生的天然产物介导的，因此了解它们的化学反应并确定它们的生态作用是至关重要的。我们正在分析受到各种真菌病原体胁迫的植物，并比较产生的生物产品的概况。我们已经发现了油菜籽病原体，这种病原体可以产生强大的化学武器来摧毁植物细胞，并允许病原体获得营养。我们还发现，许多油菜籽的病原体可以通过分解植物的化学防御来克服它们。重要的是，我们发现一些植物生物制品可以阻止这一过程，因此我们可以通过模仿这些生物制品来阻止病原体。农业和社区将从我们保护农作物和支持可持续农业做法的工作中受益。在开展这项研究的过程中，我们正在培训高素质的人才，这些人才在许多加拿大机构中都是必不可少的，包括农业、制药和食品行业，这对我们的社区来说是额外的好处。

Among numerous plant microbial diseases, fungal diseases cause the largest crop losses worldwide. Although yield losses are attenuated by the use of disease-tolerant plant varieties, application of fungicides is often used to maximize crop yields. Ongoing concerns about pollution and sustainability of agriculture production continue to inspire this research program. Our overall objective is to understand and control plant fungal diseases using environmentally and ecologically sustainable methods. Of particular emphasis in our studies is canola, one of the most important Canadian oilseed crops, as well as vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, rutabaga, and their most damaging fungal pathogens. Canada is expected to boost canola production by 65% to 15 million tonnes by 2015! What will be the impact of this increase on fungal diseases and other pests? Now, more than ever, studies to understand and produce disease resistant crops are essential. This research program is based on the principle that a molecular understanding of the complex interactions of plants with microbial pathogens can guide the development of integrated strategies to prevent and control plant diseases. Since such interactions are mediated by natural products produced by both plants and pathogens, it is essential to understand their chemical reactions and determine their ecological roles. We are analyzing plants stressed by various types of fungal pathogens and comparing the profiles of bioproducts produced. We have uncovered canola pathogens that produce potent chemical weapons to destroy plant cells and allow pathogens to obtain nutrients. We discovered also that many pathogens of canola can overcome the plants' chemical defenses by breaking them down. Importantly, we found that a few plant bioproducts can stop this process, thus we can stop the pathogen by mimicking these bioproducts. The farming industry and the community will benefit from our work to protect agricultural crops and enable sustainable agriculture practices. In carrying out this research, we are training highly qualified people, essential in many Canadian institutions, including the agricultural, pharmaceutical, and food industries, an additional benefit to our community.