Research OverviewFungi as Agents for Biological Control Fungi represent one of the major kingdoms of living things. Fungi tend to form complex relationships with other organisms in their immediate environment. In many cases, these interactions are of mutual benefit to both the fungus and the organism with which it interacts. In other cases, certain fungi have a harmful effect that is specific to one or more particular organisms. In agriculture, harmful fungi of this kind can often be put to good use as biological control agents, avoiding the use of pesticides or other potentially toxic compounds. Innovative pest control strategies that use an array of complementary methods, such as fungi, are referred to as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Complex interactions between plants and fungi are an active area of research. These interactions often involve complex cell signaling pathways that ultimately alter the patterns of gene expression of the interacting species. | Research DescriptionResearch Area: Pathobiology Research Specialties: Fungal molecular biology; plant-pathogen interactions; biocontrol of plant disease Fungi have a major impact on agriculture, some as disease-causing agents and others as disease-suppressing (biocontrol) agents. My laboratory uses the tools of molecular biology to study the molecular determinants in these fungi that allow pathogenic or disease-suppressing ability. In studying plant pathogens, we are interested in the ability of a fungus to specifically recognize and react to compounds uniquely produced by its host plant. The plant-pathogen interaction on which we focus is that between garden pea (Pisum sativum) and the fungus, Nectria haematococca MPVI (anamorph: Fusarium solani), the causal agent of pea stem and root rot. We are studying two fungal responses to flavonoid compounds produced by pea. The first is the production of an enzyme (pisatin demethylase), which detoxifies pisatin, a fungitoxic isoflavonoid produced by pea in response to infection. We are studying a transcriptional regulator that induces expression of the gene encoding pisatin demethylase in response to pisatin. A second response is one of germination in response to pisatin and certain nontoxic flavonoids exuded by pea roots. This response is likely to be an early event in host recognition. We are studying the intracellular mechanisms by which these flavonoids are recognized and germination is induced. Pharmacological evidence demonstrates that cAMP-dependent protein kinase may be involved in the signal pathway... Complete Information... |
Additional Info*Primary Appointment: Associate Professor, Department of Plant Biology and the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Maryland, College Park |
Representative PublicationsRuan, Y., and Straney, D. C. 1996. Identification of elements in the PDA1 promoter of Nectria haematococca necessary for a high level of transcription in vitro. Molecular and General Genetics. 250:29-38. He, J., Ruan, Y., and Straney, D. C. 1996. Analysis of determinants of binding and transcriptional activation of the pisatin-responsive DNA-binding factor of Nectria haematococca. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. 9:171-179. Ruan, Y., Kotraiah, V., Straney, D. C. 1995. Flavonoids stimulate spore germination in Fusarium solani pathogenic on legumes in a manner sensitive to inhibitors of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions. 8:929-938. Complete Listing... |
