Sequencing pathogen genomes could help increase yields for crops such as barley

High profile research to tackle plant disease

Researchers from the University of Exeter have played a key role in research which aims to tackle plant disease and contribute to future food security.

Professor Nick Talbot and Dr David Studholme, both from the university’s Biosciences department, were involved in projects to sequence the genomes of important plant-disease causing microbes.

The findings of each of the projects are published in a series of papers in the new issue of Science magazine, issued today.

Professor Talbot said: “This work is the result of collaborative research involving Exeter and a number of other institutions. It has led to vital insights into how some plant-diseases operate, spread and evolve. Findings from the work will contribute to future food security by creating opportunities to enhance knowledge of plant disease resistance, as well as uncovering potential new targets for better control of these microbes.”

Many of the researchers taking part in the project, including Professor Talbot and Dr Studholme, are funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Professor Janet Allen, BBSRC Director of Research and chair of the Global Food Security programme development board, said: “If we are to feed a growing global population we need to increase food production by around 50% over the next 20 years or so. With plant diseases resulting in up to 30% harvest losses, finding new methods to control them will be a very important part of this effort. It is very important to have good quality fundamental bioscience research to underpin any new technologies in this area and these genome sequences have the potential to enhance the progress of the research.”

The research looked at:
- Powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis), a powdery mildew fungus that affects barley and is especially a problem in cool, wet climates such as in the UK.
- Downy mildew (Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis), a type of water mould that causes yellow patches and fuzzy white mould on the leaves of the model plant Arabidopsis. Close relatives cause disease and damage on many crops including broccoli, maize, grapes and lettuce.
- Late blight (Phytophthora infestans), a destructive plant pathogen that causes late blight in potatoes and tomatoes.

Sequencing the genomes of these pathogens will enable researchers to find new ways to tackle them. The information could also help efforts to develop disease-resistant crops, which could improve yields and reduce the need to spray pesticides.

The papers on plant-disease can be viewed online in Science:

Signatures of Adaptation to Obligate Biotrophy in the Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis Genome

Genome Evolution Following Host Jumps in the Irish Potato Famine Pathogen Lineage

Genome Expansion and Gene Loss in Powdery Mildew Fungi Reveal Tradeoffs in Extreme Parasitism

Date: 10 December 2010

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