A5010229075- Plant and fungal interactions
- Botanical Research and Chemistry
- Plant Toxicity and Pharmacological Properties
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- Plant Pathogens and Resistance
- Turfgrass Adaptation and Management
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Fungal Plant Pathogen Control
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Plant Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
- Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
- Chemical synthesis and alkaloids
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food
- Plant and Fungal Interactions Research
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Fungal Biology and Applications
- Plant nutrient uptake and metabolism
- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Fungal and yeast genetics research
- Plant Disease Management Techniques
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Art History and Market Analysis
Noble Research Institute
2015-2025
North Carolina State University
2022-2025
Oklahoma State University
2014-2022
Noble
2018-2022
Agricultural Research Service
2017-2018
University of Georgia
2017-2018
United States Department of Agriculture
2017-2018
Southeastern Fruit and Tree Nut Research Laboratory
2017-2018
University of Auckland
2018
Plant & Food Research
2018
The genome of Phytophthora infestans, the pathogen that triggered Irish potato famine in nineteenth century, has been sequenced. It remains a devastating pathogen, with late blight destroying crops worth billions dollars each year. Blight is difficult to control, part because it adapts so quickly genetically resistant strains. Comparison two other genomes shows rapid turnover and extensive expansion specific families secreted disease effector proteins, including many genes induced during...
Potato is the world's fourth largest food crop yet it continues to endure late blight, a devastating disease caused by Irish famine pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Breeding broad-spectrum resistance (R) genes into potato (Solanum tuberosum) best strategy for genetically managing blight but current approaches are slow and inefficient. We used repertoire of effector predicted computationally from P. infestans genome accelerate identification, functional characterization, cloning potentially R...
The RXLR cytoplasmic effector AVR3a of Phytophthora infestans confers avirulence on potato plants carrying the R3a gene. Two alleles Avr3a encode secreted proteins that differ in only three amino acid residues, two which are mature protein. Avirulent isolates carry allele, encodes AVR3aKI (containing acids C19, K80 and I103), whereas virulent express virulence allele avr3a, encoding AVR3aEM (S19, E80 M103). Only protein is recognized inside plant cytoplasm where it triggers R3a-mediated...
The fungal family Clavicipitaceae includes plant symbionts and parasites that produce several psychoactive bioprotective alkaloids. grass in the epichloae clade (Epichloë Neotyphodium species), which are extraordinarily diverse both their host interactions alkaloid profiles. Epichloae alkaloids of four distinct classes, all deter insects, some—including infamous ergot alkaloids—have potent effects on mammals. exceptional chemotypic diversity may relate to broad range interactions, whereby...
Abstract The Irish potato famine pathogen Phytophthora infestans is predicted to secrete hundreds of effector proteins. To address the challenge assigning biological functions computationally genes, we combined allele mining with high-throughput in planta expression. We developed a library 62 infection-ready P. RXLR clones, obtained using primer pairs corresponding 32 genes and assigned activities several these genes. This approach revealed that 16 examined effectors cause phenotypes when...
Animal and plant eukaryotic pathogens, such as the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum potato late blight agent Phytophthora infestans, are widely divergent microbes. Yet they both produce secretory virulence pathogenic proteins that alter host cell functions. In P. falciparum, export of to erythrocyte is mediated by leader sequences shown contain a host-targeting (HT) motif centered on an RxLx (E, D, or Q) core: this appears signify major pathway with hundreds putative effectors....
The epichloae (Epichloë and Neotyphodium species), a monophyletic group of fungi in the family Clavicipitaceae, are systemic symbionts cool-season grasses (Poaceae subfamily Poöideae). Most vertically transmitted seeds (endophytes), most produce alkaloids that attack nervous systems potential herbivores. These protective metabolites include ergot indole-diterpenes (tremorgens), which active vertebrate systems, lolines peramine, more specific against invertebrates. Several Epichloë species...
Structural features of genomes, including the three-dimensional arrangement DNA in nucleus, are increasingly seen as key contributors to regulation gene expression. However, studies on how genome structure and nuclear organisation influence transcription have so far been limited a handful model species. This narrow focus limits our ability draw general conclusions about ways which structures encoded, integrate information from data address broader gamut biological questions. Here, we...
The fungal endophytes Neotyphodium lolii and sp. Lp1 from perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne ), related in other grasses, produce the ergopeptine toxin ergovaline, among alkaloids, while also increasing plant fitness resistance to biotic abiotic stress. In fungus, Claviceps purpurea , biosynthesis of ergopeptines requires activities two peptide synthetases, LPS1 LPS2. A synthetase gene hypothesized be important for was identified C. by its clustering with another ergot alkaloid biosynthetic...
The indole‐diterpene paxilline is a potent tremorgenic mammalian mycotoxin and known inhibitor of maxi‐K ion channels. gene cluster responsible for biosynthesis in Penicillium paxilli was identified by mapping four large plasmid‐induced chromosome deletions. predicted to lie within 50 kb region Va contain 17 genes, including geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthase ( paxG ), two FAD‐dependent monooxygenases paxM N cytochrome P450 paxP Q dimethylallyltryptophan (DMAT) paxD ) possible...
Bioprotective alkaloids produced by Epichloë and closely related asexual Neotyphodium fungal endophytes protect their grass hosts from insect mammalian herbivory. One class of these compounds, known for antimammalian toxicity, is the indole-diterpenes. The LTM locus lolii (Lp19) festuce (Fl1), required biosynthesis indole-diterpene lolitrem, consists 10 ltm genes. We have used PCR Southern analysis to screen a broad taxonomic range 44 endophyte isolates determine why indole-diterpenes are...
Achnatherum inebrians, colloquially known as drunken horse grass, is associated with livestock toxicity in northern China. Epichloë gansuensis (Eg) was described from endophyte isolates A. inebrians Sunan County, Gansu Province, whereas a morphologically distinct variety, E. var. (Ei), based on two seeds collected Urumqi Xinjiang Province. Genome sequencing and alkaloid analyses also distinguish these taxa; the Ei produce neurotropic lysergic acid amides (ergot alkaloids), an Eg isolate...
Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is a valuable and broadly adapted forage grass that occupies approximately 14 million hectares across the United States. A native to Europe, tall was likely introduced into US around late 1800's. Much of success can be attributed Epichloë coenophiala (formerly Neotyphodium coenophialum) seed borne symbiont aids in host persistence. species are capable producing range alkaloids (ergot alkaloids, indole-diterpenes, lolines, peramine) provide protection plant...
Epichloid endophytes provide protection from a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses for cool-season grasses, including tall fescue. A collection 85 fescue lines 15 locations in Greece, both Continental Mediterranean germplasm, was screened the presence native endophytes. total 37 endophyte-infected 10 were identified, classified into five distinct groups (G1 to G5) based on physical characteristics such as colony morphology, growth rate, conidial morphology. These classifications supported...
Studying geographic variation of microbial mutualists, especially in traits related to benefits they provide their host, is critical for understanding how these associations impact key ecological processes. In this study, we investigate the phylogenetic population structure Epichloë species within Bromus laevipes, a native cool-season bunchgrass found predominantly California. Phylogenetic classification supported inference three distinct taxa, which one was nonhybrid and two were...
ABSTRACT Tall fescue { Festuca arundinacea Schreb. [syn Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.]}, a common forage grass used in temperate regions, forms mutually beneficial symbioses with hybrid epichloid endophytes, including the well‐described species Neotyphodium coenophialum . These endophytes confer many benefits to their plant hosts, production of bioactive alkaloids that deter insect and/or mammalian herbivory. Individual seeds from 176 tall accessions were collected worldwide,...