Suppression of wheat defences by Fusarium graminearum

Two experiments will be done to introduce the student to the tobacco and wheat pathosystems, the two F. graminearum strains, the BSMV-VOX vector as well as virus detection by Western blotting and fungus detection using a fluorescent quantitative MUG assay, tissue plating and/or light microscopy.
Experiment 1. Analysis of Fg effector function in tobacco leaves. Using a fully randomised and replicated experimental design two already available BSMV:Fg effector constructs will be inoculated onto tobacco plants along with two control constructs (BSMV:MCS and BSMV:iLov) to explore how the over-expression of Fg effectors affects Fusarium infection of this non-host species.
Experiment 2. Analysis of wheat spike infection by the Fg GUS and Fg tri5 mutant. Using a replicated pair wise experimental design, the wheat cv. Bobwhite will either be inoculated with the control BSMV:iLov construct or mock inoculated and then 7 days later the entire wheat spike will be inoculated with either the Fg GUS strain or the Fg tri5 mutant. Fg symptom development will be visually assessed on a daily basis and the at day 7 the wheat spikelets will be dissected to explore and inter-compare the extent of colonisation of each Fg strain with and without the virus.