"Mutagenomic" dissection of virulence and avirulence in the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Biosciences
Abstract
Crop diseases pose one of the most challenging problems for global food productivity and security in the immediate, mid and long term future. The fungus Zymoseptoria tritici is the causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch (STB), which is a major leaf disease of wheat. The genome of Z. tritici is fully sequenced, compact (<40Mb) and gene rich, and the fungus is highly amenable to simple laboratory mutagenesis techniques. Despite this, relatively few genes are currently known to play key roles in the virulence of Z. tritici on wheat. In addition, some wheat plants are fully resistant to certain fungal strains but it remains completely unknown what resistant plants recognise in an avirulent strain. This project will use a new "mutagenomics" approach to identify novel fungal virulence and/or avirulence genes which may represent future fungicide targets or be useful in the breeding and selection of wheat with improved disease resistance.
Organisations
| Description | The British Society of Plant Pathology Travel Grant for attendance at the International Symposium on Cereal Leaf Blights (2019) |
| Amount | € 200 (EUR) |
| Organisation | The British Society of Plant Pathology |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | Festival of Ideas (Rothamsted Research Open Weekend) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Over 8000 visitors were recorded over the weekend, including the Friday where school children were invited to attend. Overwhelmingly positive feedback for the whole event. I volunteered to help with the school day, gave a short talk and guided cars around the one-way system put in place. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2018%20Rothamsted%20Festival%20Evaluation%20Report%... |
| Description | Harpenden Cafe Scientifique |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a talk on my PhD project directions, and possible outcomes, to an audience of the general public with a keen interest in science. This group gathers every month to hear talks from scientists across a broad area of subjects, and are always interested to find out more about the work going on at Rothamsted Research. Not sure of the exact audience size, somewhere between 20-25 people ranging in ages and occupations. Sparked questions and opened the opportunity for the public to share their ideas on my work very early into my PhD. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Poster Presentation at Molecular Biology of Plant Pathogens 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presented my poster to post-graduate and post-doctoral scientists working in molecular plant pathology. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Poster Presentation at the International Symposium on Cereal Leaf Blights |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presented my work to the international cereal leaf blight research community. Met researchers working in my field and obtained useful feedback as well as suggestions for my work going forwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.isclb2019.com/portal/public/abstracts/ |