Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Virus-induced diseases and hypovirulence in plant pathogenic fungi provide excellent
opportunities for fundamental studies aimed at developing novel biological control measures. In
this regard, the dsRNA totivirus (Helminthosporium victoriae 1905virus; HvI90SY) and
associated chrysovirus-like Hv145SY infecting the Victoria blight fungus Helminthosporium I
victoriae are of special interest because they are associated with a dIsease of their fungal host.
The overall goal of the project is to elucidate the molecular basis of disease in H. victoriae with
emphasis on a recently discovered novel cellular oxidase (Hv-p68) with RNA-binding and
phosphorylating activities that is overexpressed in diseased fungal isolates, and on a broadspectrum
antifungal polypeptide "victoriocin" secreted by virus-infected isolates. The specific
aims are: to elucidate the genome organization and expression of Hv 145SY, to transform virusfree
H. victoriae with full length cDNA clones of Hv190SY and Hvl45SY dsRNAs, to disrupt
the Hv-p68 gene in virus-infected isolates, and to isolate the gene encoding victoriocin.
At the present time, control of plant pathogenic fungi is a formidable task due to the lack of
appropriate disease control strategies. In addition to the health hazards and the risks to the
environment, the use of fungicides is often cost-prohibitive. The need for novel biological
control measures to combat fungal diseases cannot be overstated. The proposed research seeks to
pursue two novel approaches: activation of a cellular protein leading to a diseased phenotype, and
transgenic resistance to fungal pathogens through plant transformation with a gene encoding a
"rI-sDectrum antifumml DolvDeDtide.
Status | Finished |
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Effective start/end date | 11/15/00 → 6/30/04 |
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