A5080281589- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Yeasts and Rust Fungi Studies
- Plant Pathogens and Resistance
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Plant and Fungal Interactions Research
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
- Fungal Biology and Applications
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Bioinformatics and Genomic Networks
- Microbial Metabolism and Applications
- Animal health and immunology
- Gene expression and cancer classification
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
Natural Resources Canada
2015-2025
Canadian Forest Service
2014-2025
Université Laval
2001-2022
Centre Intégré de Santé et de Services Sociaux des Laurentides
2018-2019
Université du Québec à Montréal
2019
Université de Montréal
2019
Forestry Research Centre
2009
University of British Columbia
2003-2006
Rust fungi are some of the most devastating pathogens crop plants. They obligate biotrophs, which extract nutrients only from living plant tissues and cannot grow apart their hosts. Their lifestyle has slowed dissection molecular mechanisms underlying host invasion avoidance or suppression innate immunity. We sequenced 101-Mb genome Melampsora larici - populina , causal agent poplar leaf rust, 89-Mb Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici wheat barley stem rust. then compared 16,399 predicted...
In western North America, the current outbreak of mountain pine beetle (MPB) and its microbial associates has destroyed wide areas lodgepole forest, including more than 16 million hectares in British Columbia. Grosmannia clavigera (Gc), a critical component outbreak, is symbiont MPB pathogen trees. To better understand interactions between Gc, MPB, hosts, we sequenced ∼30-Mb Gc genome assembled it into 18 supercontigs. We predict 8,314 protein-coding genes, support gene models with proteome,...
The obligate biotrophic rust fungus Melampsora larici-populina is the most devastating and widespread pathogen of poplars. Studies over recent years have identified various small secreted proteins (SSP) from plant filamentous pathogens highlighted their role as effectors in host-pathogen interactions. analysis M. genome sequence has revealed presence 1,184 SSP-encoding genes this fungus. In present study, expression evolutionary dynamics these SSP were investigated to pinpoint arsenal...
Significance Some of the most damaging tree diseases are caused by pathogens that induce cankers, a stem deformation often lethal. To investigate cause this adaptation, we sequenced genomes poplar do and not cankers. We found unique cluster genes produce secondary metabolites co-activated when canker pathogen is grown on wood leaves. The gene genealogy discordant with species phylogeny, showing signature horizontal transfer from fungi associated decay. Furthermore, encoding...
Invasive alien tree pathogens can cause significant economic losses as well large-scale damage to natural ecosystems. Early detection prevent their establishment and spread is an important approach used by several national plant protection organizations (NPPOs). Molecular tools targeting 10 of the most unwanted forest in Canada were developed part TAIGA project (http://taigaforesthealth.com/). Forest selected following independent prioritization. Specific TaqMan real-time PCR assays designed...
Summary Accurate wood identification is crucial for combatting the illegal logging and trade of forest products worldwide. However, certain challenges such as small specimen size, high density, level degradation can complicate process. There therefore a need to develop methods use complementary techniques in forensic identification, particularly difficult samples. This study utilized confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) detect locate autofluorescence axial parenchyma cells (APCs)...
Plants interact with microorganisms that can cause diseases and reduce crop productivity. The fungal pathogen Melampsora larici-populina (Mlp) causes the leaf rust disease of poplar trees by secreting proteins, termed effectors, into host tissues to promote pathogenesis. In this study, we functionally characterized two homologous Mlp candidate secreted effector proteins (CSEPs), Mlp72983 Mlp52166. Confocal microscopy experiments revealed has cell type-specific differential localization. It...
Abstract Background Obligate biotrophs such as rust fungi are believed to establish long-term relationships by modulating plant defenses through a plethora of effector proteins, whose most recognizable feature is the presence signal peptide for secretion. Since phenotypes these effectors extend host cells, their genes expected be under accelerated evolution stimulated host-pathogen coevolutionary arms races. Recently, whole genome sequence data has allowed prediction secretomes, facilitating...
Diseases of poplar caused by the native fungal pathogen Sphaerulina musiva and related species are growing concern, particularly with increasing interest in intensive plantations to meet energy demands. is able cause infection on leaves, resulting defoliation canker formation stems. To gain a greater understanding different responses naturally co-evolved species, RNA-seq was conducted leaves Populus deltoides, P. balsamifera tremuloides infected S. musiva, populicola new undescribed Ston1,...
ABSTRACT American elm ( Ulmus americana ), highly prized for its ornamental value, has suffered two successive outbreaks of Dutch disease (DED) caused by ascomycete fungi belonging to the genus Ophiostoma . To identify genes linked pathogenicity different species and lineages , we inoculated 2-year-old U. saplings with six strains representing three DED fungi, one strain saprotroph quercus Differential expression analyses were performed following RNA sequencing fungal transcripts recovered...
Plant diseases caused by fungi and Oomycetes represent worldwide threats to crops forest ecosystems. Effective prevention appropriate management of emerging rely on rapid detection identification the causal pathogens. The increase in genomic resources makes it possible generate novel genome-enhanced DNA assays that can exploit whole genomes discover candidate genes for pathogen detection. A pipeline was developed identify genome regions discriminate taxa or groups be converted into PCR...
Hybridization and introgression are pervasive evolutionary phenomena that provide insight into the selective forces maintain species boundaries, permit gene flow, control direction of change. Poplar trees (Populus L.) well known for their ability to form viable hybrids distinct boundaries despite this interspecific flow. We sought quantify hybridization dynamics postzygotic fitness within a hybrid stand balsam poplar balsamifera L.), eastern cottonwood (P. deltoides Marsh.), natural gain...
Global trade and climate change are responsible for a surge in foreign invasive species emerging pests pathogens across the world. Early detection surveillance activities essential to monitor environment prevent or mitigate future ecosystem impacts. Molecular diagnostics by DNA testing has become an integral part of this process. However, environmental applications, there is need cost-effective efficient point-of-use obtain accurate results from remote sites real-time. This requires...
Abstract Forests are threatened by many natural stressors intensified climate change and anthropogenic activities, which tend to increase their susceptibility pests pathogens. Consequently, oomycete‐related forest decline or dieback cases increasing in natural, urban, agricultural landscapes. It is this context that Christmas tree growers from Southern Québec, Canada, experiencing root rot problems, with reported incidences up 25%. In a previous study, seven Phytophthora spp. were associated...
Biosurveillance is a proactive approach that may help to limit the spread of invasive fungal pathogens trees, such as rust fungi which have caused some world's most damaging diseases pines and poplars. Most these complex life cycle, with up five spore stages, completed on two different hosts. They biotrophic lifestyle be propagated by asymptomatic plant material, complicating their detection identification. A bioinformatics approach, based whole genome comparison, was used identify regions...
ABSTRACT The impact of transgenic white spruce [ Picea glauca (Moench) Voss] containing the endochitinase gene ( ech 42) on soil fungal biomass and ectendomycorrhizal fungi Wilcoxina spp. was tested using a greenhouse trial. measured level in roots up to 10 times higher than that nontransformed spruce. root exudates three four 42-transformed lines significantly greater controls. Analysis ergosterol showed amount samples from control slightly larger Nevertheless, difference not statistically...
Early detection provides the best way to prevent introduction and establishment of alien plant pathogens. Amplification DNA by PCR has revolutionized monitoring Most those assays rely on amplification a fraction genome targeted species. With availability whole genomes for growing number fungi oomycetes it is becoming possible compare discover regions that are unique target organism. This study applied this pipeline develop set hierarchical TaqMan real‐time targeting all four Phytophthora...
Trees bearing novel or exotic gene components are poised to contribute the bioeconomy for a variety of purposes such as bioenergy production, phytoremediation, and carbon sequestration within forestry sector, but sustainable release trees with traits in large-scale plantations requires quantification risks posed native tree populations. Over last century, hybrid poplars produced through artificial crosses were planted throughout eastern Canada ornamentals windbreaks these exotics provide...
Summary A set of quantitative hierarchical real‐time PCR assays was developed for the detection Heterobasidion irregulare , H. occidentale, annosum sensu stricto and entire complex. These enable specific accurate quantification target species from DNA extracted on airborne collected spores. ‐specific TaqMan™ were designed to function under homogeneous conditions so that they may be used in 96‐ or 384‐well plate format arrays high‐throughput testing large numbers samples against multiple...
Oak wilt is a vascular disease of oak trees caused by the fungus Bretziella fagacearum . Once infected, may die in few weeks. Although currently only found United States, it has been reported within just hundred meters Canada–USA border. To limit establishment and spread Canada, development an on-site, quick reliable method to detect B. critical. In this study, we developed validated new qPCR TaqMan ® assay that can laboratory setting with great specificity sensitivity. Using test as...