Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Effector proteins play an important role in the interactions between fungal pathogens and their host plant. Recognition of effectors can lead to localised cell death in plants. The necrotrophic fungus Parastagonospora nodorum utilises this mechanism to induce cell death in wheat and cause Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB). The best described protein in this interaction is ToxA, but seven other proteinaceous toxins have been described as well. The gene in wheat that is necessary for the recognition of ToxA is Tsn1 and is a dominant gene. In this study we tested the susceptibility for SNB in parental lines and commercial wheat varieties. One of the cultivars used in breeding programs was found to be susceptible for disease, but with very weak symptoms. Another part of this study focused on the proteins of the E024 family that are highly expressed by the wheat pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici in field conditions. To study the function of these effectors we used the yeast Pichia pastoris and Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated gene transfer for heterologous protein production. The production of these proteins was challenging and therefore their functions could not be tested.