| In this research we focus on the processes that occur during disease development of wheat after infection by Mycosphaerella graminicola. This fungus causes septoria leaf spot disease, the most important wheat disease in Europe.
The microscopic biological processes that are causing this foliar disease are unravelled in this research by crossing the fungus and by ‘harvesting’ ascospores for mapping the genetic properties. In this way we determine which areas on the DNA of the fungus are relevant for plant infection. It also showed that this fungus is very plastic because whole chromosomes can disappear in descendants without having an effect on viability. We also harvest fluids from infected plants to determine which proteins are secreted by pathogen and plant during disease development.
|
 |