Ragiba Makandar
University of Hyderabad, India
Title: Activating defense mechanisms in plants by targeting disease signaling using biotechnological approaches
Biography
Biography: Ragiba Makandar
Abstract
Plants are constantly challenged by pathogens and the impact of pathogen invasion especially on agriculturally important plants is devastative owing to their narrow genetic base. The molecular events underlying host and pathogen interaction seem to involve elicitor-receptor recognition mechanisms which further activate defense responses of the host. Recognition of the pathogen results in the induction of host components and signaling pathways leading to the activation of downstream pathogenesis related genes, some of which possess antimicrobial activity. Genetic manipulation of components of defense signaling pathways offers an alternative strategy to combat disease in plants. Regulatory genes that control the expression of multiple defense genes are excellent targets for developing broad spectrum and durable resistance against pathogens. We have demonstrated that expression of Arabidopsis NPR1, a key regulatory gene of salicylic acid (SA) signaling in Arabidopsis and wheat confers enhanced resistance to Fusarium graminearum, a fungal pathogen causing head blight or scab disease of wheat and barley. Using Arabidopsis- Fusarium graminearum pathosystem, we have attempted to understand the molecular interactions underlying disease resistance and susceptibility mechanisms by characterizing the genetic mutations affecting SA and JA (jasmonic acid) signaling in Arabidopsis. SA and JA are two important disease signaling molecules activating host defense responses. The research findings on detection of signaling components which control resistance or susceptibility mechanisms during a host-pathogen interaction using biotechnological tools shall be presented.