Effector gene persistence in bacterial plant pathogens

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The long term aim of our research is to understand the interaction between plant pathogens and plants with the goal of being able to use this information to develop control strategies in the field or glasshouse. This project specifically aims to understand how plant pathogenic bacteria maintain reservoir of effector genes in their population that may have an advantage to the bacteria when conditions change. We will investigate in more detail the avrPphB-bean model system but we will also widen this to include other effectors. This proposal fits within the BBSRC strategic priority of Sustainably Enhancing Agricultural Production as it focuses on a serious problem for crop performance i.e. loss of crop yield or quality though plant disease, and therefore has relevance to Global Food Security. A number of groups aside from academics will also benefit from this work, although it should be stressed that further research may be required to realise the benefits to some of these users.
1. Agriculture and the private sector will benefit because this work will lead to a better understanding of the persistence of potential pathogenicity determinants in plant pathogenic populations. This is of relevance for plant breeders who are targeting effector genes to breed against, as in some cases these genes may be effectively 'hiding' in the bacteria and not actually being eliminated from the bacterial population. In the long term results from this study could enhance the ability of plant breeders to predict whether specific combinations of resistance genes are likely to confer durable resistance based on knowledge of the potential evolution of the effectors recognised by these resistance genes. This phenomenon may also be of importance for seed certification, as it could underpin the spread of pathogen genotypes that are present in seed, but not detected by infestation assays.
2. Government organisations and policy makers will benefit by having more detailed information on the drivers of pathogen evolution and greater understanding of how pathogens evolve to overcome host plant resistance. A key point will be communicating the observation that effectors can persist, therefore highlighting that pathogens are not necessarily eliminated from the host through the use of resistant cultivars. This will not only benefit the global agenda for food security, but can be disseminated through a variety of agencies to the international agriculture arena.
3. The public will ultimately benefit through improved disease management practices that reduce yield losses and therefore increase food supply, and the stability of agricultural economies resulting from it. The public will also benefit from our public engagement and outreach activities, which will present the data we generate and highlight the impact of plant disease on food security and the research that is on-going to protect our crops.
4. Undergraduate and postgraduate students will benefit from progressive developments in teaching curricula that will be underpinned by the research outputs from the investigators: three of the five investigators associated with the project teach aspects of bacterial pathogen evolution and regularly give seminars on this topic. Students will also be able to participate directly in this research area by undertaking undergraduate summer projects and final year projects as well as graduate research projects or internships linked to this area of research.
5. The staff who are involved in the project, both investigators and research associates, will benefit from the research through learning new research skills and techniques. The RAs will also benefit from the research in terms of developing generic career skills, for example through attendance of the BBSRC media training workshop; presentations to both the scientific community and the public; preparation of manuscripts and grant applications; student supervision; and participation in public engagement events.