A groundbreaking $10.1 million study aims to help the potato industry understand and combat crop diseases caused by pathogens.
Approximately 25 per cent of global food production is affected annually by pests and diseases, according to a press release. Among these threats is Phytophthora infestans, the pathogen responsible for potato blight, which played a significant role in the Irish Potato Famine in the 1800s.
Phytophthora is a group of fungus-like microbes that significantly impact key crops like potatoes and tomatoes. The emergence of new strains has challenged existing resistant varieties, necessitating new strategies for control.
A central focus of this study is the haustorium, an infection structure formed within plant cells where pathogens and host plants exchange molecules. Understanding these interactions will be crucial for developing effective disease management strategies.
Professor Paul Birch, who leads the study, says, “This project offers a chance to advance our understanding of crucial infection structures. The findings will help create new methods to prevent diseases affecting food security.”
The team will use advanced molecular and cell biology techniques to investigate how Phytophthora manipulates host plants. Dr. Tolga Bozkurt from Imperial College London notes that understanding this pathogen behaviour is vital for protecting crops.
“By clarifying how pathogens interact with plant defenses, we can improve our approaches to combating potential threats,” he says.
The five-year project, led by the James Hutton Institute and in collaboration with the University of Dundee,Sainsbury Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London, will begin early next year.
