CRH/MF Molecular Phytopathology

Lecturer: Pavel Křenek
Lecture: 2 hours/week + seminar 1 hour/week
Credits: 4
Winter semester
Form of course completion: exam

• History of plant protection and the importance of molecular plant pathology. Basic glossary of plant pathology.
• The genetic basis of plant-pathogen interaction. Virulence and avirulence , "gene-for-gene" theory, oligogenic resistance and polygenic resistance.
• R genes, methods used for the identification and isolation of R genes, molecular structure and function of R genes, "slow rusting" R genes, R gene Mlo.
• Molecular bases for virulence and avirulence of plant pathogens. Effectors: definition, function and delivery into host tissues. Examples.
• Molecular co-evolution of R genes and effector genes, diversifying and stabilizing selection.
• Classification and characterization of molecular interactions between effectors and R proteins. Prediction of R gene stability. Examples.
• Functional genomics of plant pathogen effectors (effectoromics) as a tool for co-identification of R and Avr genes.  In planta identification of R-AVR interactions.
• Current status of effectoromics in most important pathogens. Utilization of effectoromics for plant pathogen resistance breeding.
• Plant resistance to pathogens controlled by QTL. Model pathosystem Puccinia hordei-Hordeum vulgare. Methods used for the identification and evaluation of QTLs for partial resistance.
• Molecular basis underlying QTLs for plant partial resistance to pathogens. "Microbe Associated Molecular Patterns" (MAMP).
• The role of mitogen-activated protein kinases in plant host responses to pathogen attack.
• Summary, current models of molecular interactions between host plant and invading pathogen.

The practical seminar is focused on in planta identification of R-AVR interactions following transient co-transformation of Nicotina benthamiana by candidate R and Avr genes. Seminar is taught in two individual time blocks.