Plant Microbe Interaction Team Report November 2005
Team Name: Plant Microbe Interactions (Formerly- Host Pathogen Interactions) Team Administration: Jonathan Edelson (Department Head of Entomology and Plant Pathology. Team Coordinator: Michael Anderson (Associate Professor, Plant and Soil Sciences) Team Members: Michael Anderson (PSS), Carol Bender (EPP), Ken Conway (EPP), Jackque Fletcher (EPP), Steve Marek (EPP), Ulrich Melcher (BMB), Marlee Pierce (BMB), Jeanmarie Verchot (EPP), Nathan Walker (EPP) and Astri Wayadande (EPP)
The Eight Priority Areas:
Distribution of microorganisms interacting with plants over time and space. The numbers and diversity of microorganisms change over time and space based on access to nutrients and environmental conditions. A better understanding of the distribution of these microbes is important to disease development. Team Investigators: Michael Anderson, Jackque Fletcher, Steve Marek, Ulrich Melcher, Marlee Pierce, Nathan Walker and Astri Wayadande.
Population variation in pathogens and vectors: Microorganisms due to there high intrinsic numbers and short life cycle are capable of generating an enormous amount of genetic diversity. Variation in the level of virulence is often found within a population of pathogenic microbial species. Studies aimed at looking at genetic variation of virulence within a population will provide crucial information to help forecast and understand the emergence of agriculturally important diseases. Oklahoma. Team Investigators: Ken Conway, Jackque Fletcher, Steve Marek, Ulrich Melcher, Jeanmarie Verchot and Astri Wayadande
Molecular, cellular, anatomic pathways of transmission of microbes from plant to plant: Transmission of pathogens from plant to plant is necessary for disease spread. The rate of this transmission is often crucial to the seriousness of the disease in agricultural terms. This priority area seeks to better understand the factors that affect transmission of disease causing organisms whither they be environmental or biotic in nature. Team Investigators: Jackque Fletcher, Steve Marek, and Ulrich Melcher, Jeanmarie Verchot and Astri Wayadande.
Molecular causes of disease symptoms. Disease symptoms are often associated with mechanism by which pathogens infect and disrupt plant metabolic functions, resulting in a characteristic symptomology. A better understanding of the mode of action of a particular pathogen may be critical for developing counter measures for increasing biotic control. Team Investigators: Carol Bender, Jackque Fletcher, Jeanmarie Verchot and Steve Marek.
Interactions of pathogens with other organisms and viruses: Often pathogens interact with other organisms to promote their dissemination and/or reproduction. Examples include the transmission of viral diseases by insects feeding on plant tissues. On the other hand, interactions between pathogens and biocontrol organisms can be beneficial in agricultural terms when used against the pathogen. Team Investigators: Michael Anderson, Carol Bender, Jackque Fletcher, and Ulrich Melcher.
Host defense pathways. Plants have evolved effective defense systems against pathogens. These may be constitutively expressed physical barriers that prevent infections from occurring, or induced molecular mechanisms that kill the pathogen before the disease can develop. In many cases resistance to disease is often the most important tool for biological control in the agricultural settings. Team Investigators: Michael Anderson, Carol Bender, Steve Marek, Marlee Pierce, Jeanmarie Verchot Nathan Walker, and Astri Wayadande,.
Microbial movement pathways within the plant. Many disease causing organisms infect their host and then spread to other parts of the plant through defined anatomical pathways. The spreading of pathogen is often associated with disease progress. Understanding the mechanisms behind the movement of pathogens is important for a complete understanding of disease development, and may be informative concerning options for more effective control. Team Investigators: Michael Anderson, Jackque Fletcher, Steve Marek, Ulrich Melcher, Jeanmarie Verchot and Nathan Walker.
Membrane or cell surface phenomena in interorganismal interactions: Plant Cells communicate with each other through cell surface signaling pathways under normal conditions. Cell surface sensors are known to respond to the presence of elicitor molecules from invading pathogens triggering a cascade of signals to activate pathogen defense genes. Often pathogens have evolved countermeasures to evade the plant detection system bypassing the host defense system by fooling the sensors. The study of the interplay between pathogen sensing and defense response is often initiated by a cell surface interactions or by cytoplasmic sensors. Team Investigators: Jackque Fletcher, Steve Marek, Ulrich Melcher, Marlee Pierce, Jeanmarie Verchot and Astri Wayadande.
Proposal Submitted
Title: Multi-user Fluorescence Microscopy with Digital Imaging – Visualizing Microbes and Molecules in Biological Systems. Team: Astri Wayadande (lead author)(EPP), Carol Bender (EPP), Jackque Fletcher (EPP), Steve Marek (EPP), Marlee Pierce (BMB), Jeanmarie Verchot (EPP), and Nathan Walker (EPP) Program: RIP Duration: 2 years Budget: $55,000 ($41,000 from RIP + $14,000 match)
Team Coordinator
Michael Anderson
329N NRC
405-744-6939
Team Administrator
Phil Mulder
127 NRC
405-744-9413