Loading...
Innovative genetic approach may give crops resistance to charcoal rot disease
Forster, Heather
Forster, Heather
Citations
Altmetric:
Files
Loading...
Abstract
Adobe PDF, 55.96 KB
Authors
Other Names
Location
Time Period
Advisors
Original Date
Digitization Date
Issue Date
2019-02-26
Type
Abstract
Genre
Keywords
Subjects (LCSH)
Citation
Abstract
Macrophomina phaseolina, causative agent of the plant disease charcoal rot, impacts over 500 plant species, causing devastating crop failures worldwide. In Kansas, it is the biggest cause of soybean crop loss, and disease epidemics are increasingly frequent. Charcoal rot attacks primarily through fungus-infested soil, leading to yellowing and death of plant leaves. Traditional pathogen control means, such as natural resistance, crop rotation, and fungicides, have been ineffective or problematic. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of host-delivered RNA interference (HD-RNAi) to manage charcoal rot. HD-RNAi exploits the natural process of RNA interference to target essential genes for M. phaseolina. In this process, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are designed and engineered into plant genomes. Upon infection, siRNAs expressed in plant cells can enter invading fungus and prevent expression of genes necessary for successful infection. HD-RNAi has been successful against some nematodes, insects, and other fungi. In this preliminary work, we have manufactured siRNAs to interfere with genes used in the production of M. phaseolina cell wall compounds. We hypothesize that without these compounds, the fungus will be unable to grow and infect plants. To test siRNA effectiveness, we incubated the fungus with siRNAs and measured its growth. To date, we've detected no difference in growth between siRNA-treated and untreated fungus. We are working on optimizing testing conditions and developing an assay to evaluate the efficiency of siRNAs. Our work gives insights into RNA interference in M. phaseolina and provides a framework for future siRNA testing.
Table of Contents
Description
Poster project completed at the Wichita State University Department of Biological Sciences. Presented at the 16th Annual Capitol Graduate Research Summit, Topeka, KS, February 26, 2019.
16th Capitol Graduate Research Summit (CGRS) - University award
16th Capitol Graduate Research Summit (CGRS) - University award
Publisher
Wichita State University