Grants and Contracts Details
Description
The plant cuticle is a hydrophobic layer that covers the aerial surface of plants and forms the first line of contact
with the environment. Plant cuticle, which is composed of cutin and cuticular wax, was primarily thought to serve
as a physical barrier to pathogen ingress. However, recent studies have demonstrated that cuticle may also
playa signaling role and participate in innate immune response. For example, exogenous application of cutin
monomers confers enhanced resistance to several fungal pathogens. Furthermore, plants containing defective
cuticles show enhanced resistance to fungal pathogens and appear to produce a fungitoxic diffusate, which
possibly provides a first powerful line of defense against invasion by fungal pathogens. This proposal aims to
analyze biochemical changes in cutin and cuticular wax composition of tobacco during compatible and
incompatible interactions with Peronospora, Thanatephorus, and Colletotrichum. Long-term aim of this proposal
will be to isolate cuticle-derived compounds that confer broad-spectrum resistance in crop plants. We anticipate
that our research findings will help us to develop alternative disease controls that are less costly and less
harmful to the environment and human health than the chemical fungicides that are currently used.
Status | Finished |
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Effective start/end date | 7/1/10 → 6/30/11 |
Funding
- KY Science and Technology Co Inc: $39,936.00
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