PHP-30306 Plant-Microbe Interactions

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

PHP-30806 Molecular Aspects of Bio-Interactions; ENT-30306 Ecological Aspects of Bio-Interactions.

Contents:

The course focuses on the physiological, biochemical, molecular-genetic, genomic and ecological aspects of interactions between plants and pathogenic microbes (fungi and oomycetes).
The following topics are discussed:
- the role of microbial (in particular Verticillium, Botrytis, Cladosporium fulvum and Phytophthora) gene products (effectors) and metabolites in pathogenesis;
- monogenic and polygenic resistance of plants to pathogenic microbes;
- perception of microbial effector (elicitor) molecules by cell surface and cytoplasmic immune receptors of plants;
- signal transduction in the plant leading to local and systemic defence responses of plants;
Experiments in the practical (such as plant inoculations, microscopy, symptom assessment, in vitro growth tests, protein extractions, agro-infiltration), also including a computer practical on (fungal) genomics, illustrate the various aspects of the theory.

Learning outcomes:

After the course the students:
- will have acquired insight into the molecular basis of interactions between plants and microbes (fungi and oomycetes);
- will be able to demonstrate detailed understanding of how immune receptors function in the defence of plants against invading microbes;
- will be able to perform basic experiments that are aimed at studying plant-microbe interactions;
- will be acquainted with computational methods to analyze genomic sequencing data (genome assembly; identification of protein-coding genes and their functional analysis);
- will be able to write a report about the aims, setup and outcome of an experiment.

Activities:

The course consists of different theoretical and practical elements:
- lectures dealing with defined pathosystems (infection of plants by fungi and oomycetes);
- tutorials pre-selected recent publications illustrating important break-troughs in molecular phytopathology;
- (computer) practical.

Examination:

- written exam with four open questions (each consisting of four to ten sub-questions) (75%) - report on practical (25%); To pass for the course, the result of the written exam should be at least 55 points out of a maximum of 100 points.

Literature:

The required course documents will be placed on the Blackboard site connected to the course and/or will be provided in printed form.