Technology Platform Patho

Micro- and Macrophenomics facilities for plant-pathogen interactions

Accurate description of the initial stages on infection by microbial pathogens inevitably requires microscopic techniques. Too meet the challenge of merging these techniques with the high-throughput requirements of a phenomics screen we have developed the Microphenomics platform. It combines high-throughput DNA cloning, single cell transformation protocols, and automated microscopy and image analysis. It was used successfully to address the function of genes in nonhost- and race-nonspecific host resistance of barley interacting with the powdery mildew fungus Blumeria graminis. Additional phenomics tools aiming to cover the complete asexual interaction cycle of powdery mildew fungi with barley, and to allow quantitative assessment of disease symptoms and host responses are also in progress.
The barley/barley powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei) and wheat/wheat powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f-sp. tritici) are currently the most well established of our patho-systems. Barley/spot blotch (Bipolaris sorokiniana) and Arabidopsis thaliana/Arabidopsis powdery mildew (Golovinomyces orontii) are available as well.

Figure 1. Overview of the Micro- and Macrophenomics platform. The interaction of pathogenic fungi with plants is monitored in three different stages: early (establishment of haustorium), intermediate (secondary hyphae formation and growth) and late (disease symptoms rating).