Evaluation of enhanced disease resistance (EDR) genes for stripe rust resistance in wheat
Ksenia Krasileva, Professor
Plant and Microbial Biology
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2023 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2024.
Stripe rust along with stem and leaf rust are the major threat to wheat production worldwide. It is estimated that wheat rust pathogens cause a global annual loss of approximately 15 million tons, with a value of US$ 2.9 billion. Plant breeders are constantly putting in the effort to develop wheat varieties that have more robust rust resistance. However, rust pathogens are also evolving under climate change pressure. It means today’s resistant variety will no longer be resistant in the upcoming years. So, we have to put more effort into understanding the plant-pathogen interactions under different climate conditions. EDR genes are either NLR or non-NLR genes that are crucial in regulating immunity and cellular death through transcriptional processes. Most of the EDRs are identified in Arabidopsis and recessive in nature. Therefore, we have identified 19 candidate mutations in 14 wheat homologs EDRs. Validating these mutations through genome editing will offer additional insight into the functional mechanisms of these genes.
Role: The student will help the mentor with designing the candidate EDR genes’ binary vectors and transforming them into Agrobacterium, then performing transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. The basic techniques and assays will involve some basic bioinformatics tools, primer designing, PCR, gene cloning, Agrobacterium-mediated transient gene expression, and wheat stable transformation including some fundamental molecular biology techniques like DNA, RNA, protein isolation, gel electrophoresis, etc. After learning the techniques, the student will perform these experiments independently. In this project, students will gain knowledge on tissue culture, plant transformation, genome editing, advanced gene cloning techniques, and handling of microbes.
Qualifications: We are seeking students who possess a good understanding of genetics and molecular biology. Having previous experience in molecular biology lab research or lab courses is preferred for students, but it is not mandatory. The student should be highly motivated, patient with troubleshooting, and willing to work independently but not afraid to ask many questions. The student is expected to dedicate about 12 hours a week to the project, including meetings with the mentor. An undergraduate student is also expected to attend lab meetings weekly and make a 15 min research progress presentation at the lab meeting at the end of the semester. The student should schedule 1:1 meetings with Prof. Krasileva at least monthly and are encouraged to have additional ad hoc meetings in person or by Zoom to discuss career development and research project.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Rakesh Kumar, Post-Doc
Hours: 12 or more hours
Related website: https://krasilevalab.org/
Biological & Health Sciences