Through a deeper understanding of pathogen-host interactions, this project will generate new tools, technologies and approaches for protecting whole ecosystems from disease. The project builds, in part, on the National Science Project (Ngā Rakau Taketake), which generated a new high quality genome sequence and chromosome level assembly for the kauri dieback pathogen Phytophthora agathidicida.

We will create gene models from this new genome sequence that will be evaluated to determine their potential roles in kauri dieback. The discovery that P. agathidicida can complete its life cycle in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana provides an excellent model pathosystem in which to do this evaluation. We are planning a proteomics experiment to determine what proteins are secreted into the apoplast by the pathogen and the host.

This project also focuses on Phytophthora cinnamomi, a broad-ranging pathogen that is often found in kauri forests. The first stage of this work is to assess genetic diversity in isolates obtained from different hosts.

To achieve this, we have obtained a set of isolates from the Scion collection, checked the identity of the isolates, and are now preparing DNA for genome sequencing. Proteomics analysis of this species in N. benthamiana will follow in 2022, enabling comparative studies with P. agathidicida.

Project Team

Prof Rosie Bradshaw

Prof Rosie Bradshaw

Roles

Researcher

Institution

Massey University

Projects
Project 2.4
[email protected]
Assoc Prof Matt Templeton

Assoc Prof Matt Templeton

Roles

Researcher

Institution

Plant & Food Research

Projects
Project 2.4
[email protected]
Dr Carl Mesarich

Dr Carl Mesarich

Roles

Researcher

Institution

Massey University

[email protected]
Dr Claudia Meisrimler

Dr Claudia Meisrimler

Roles

Researcher

Institution

University of Canterbury

[email protected]
Rebecca McDougal

Rebecca McDougal

Roles

Researcher

Institution

Scion

Projects
Project 2.4
[email protected]
Dr Monica Gerth

Dr Monica Gerth

Roles

Researcher

Institution

Victoria University of Wellington

[email protected]
Taylah Dagg

Taylah Dagg

Roles

Masters Student

Institution

Massey University

Projects
Project 2.4
[email protected]
Alexandra Cox

Alexandra Cox

Roles

Masters Student

Institution

University of Canterbury

Projects
Project 2.4
[email protected]