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Imprint
How do plants defend themselves against bacterial wilt? Understanding tomato responses to the pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum.
Project
Project code: 75241257
Contract period: 01.01.2008
- 31.12.2010
Purpose of research: Basic research
Bacterial wilt of potato and tomato is caused by diverse strains of Ralstonia solanacearum, including strains adapted to tropical or temperate conditions. Host resistance is the only practical way to control bacterial wilt, but the basis of host wilt resistance is not understood. Further, nothing is known about how natural hosts like tomato defend themselves against R. solanacearum. To address these deficiencies, I propose to determine and compare the gene expression profiles of resistant and susceptible tomato plants infected with either a Race 1 tropical strain or a Race 3 temperate strain of R. solanacearum. Preliminary results using Northern blotting and quantitative PCR analysis suggest that resistant plants launch a stronger defense in response to infection with the tropical strain, while the temperate strain appears to calm defense responses in both tomato lines, possibly facilitating latent infection. To broaden and confirm these results, I propose to use a commercially available tomato microarray to quantify global host gene expression during bacterial wilt pathogenesis. A four-way experimental design will allow identification of the signal transduction pathways and functions involved in tomato wilt resistance.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Protection
- Vegetable Gardening
Funding programme
Excutive institution
Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics (JKI-EP)
