Induced Pathogen Defense

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Head: Dierk Scheel & Sabine Rosahl

To elucidate defense mechanisms against the oomycte Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight disease of potato, we are studying the interaction of P. infestans with its host plant potato and with the nonhost plant Arabidopsis thaliana. For potato, analysis of the recognition of the pathogen, signal transduction and characterization of the pathogen defense are our major interests.

Arabidopsis thaliana plants are grown under controlled conditions in a phytochamber. They are subsequently screened for alterations in their response to infection with P. infestans, the causal agent of late blight disease of potato. Thousands of plants must be screened to obtain one mutant.