The Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology's weekly Plant Pathology 250 seminar series is presented this week by Cynthia Gleason from Washington State University.

Seminar Title: "Enhancing potato resistance against root-knot nematodes" 

Biography: Cynthia Gleason an assistant professor at Washington State University in the Department of Plant Pathology working in nematology.  She obtained her PhD from UC Davis and then worked at both the John Innes and CSIRO before moving to Georg August University (Germany) as a Jr. Professor in 2011. She moved to Pullman in 2016 to continue her research on effectors in root-knot nematodes, particularly focusing on the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne chitwoodi, which is a significant threat to potato farmers in the region. 

Abstract: Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are small roundworms that infect plant roots and contribute to billions of dollars in agricultural losses each year. The Gleason lab is particularly interested in M. chitwoodi, the Columbia root-knot nematode (CRKN), which is present in the Pacific Northwest and infects potatoes. Our research focuses on developing new methods to easily identify CRKNs and new tools for potato resistance against these nematodes. We have studied the potato defense elicitor StPep1, and we have found that exogenous treatment of potato roots with synthetic StPep1 reduces root-knot nematode galling. We have transformed Bacillus subtilis to produce and secrete StPep1 to stimulate plant resistance against nematodes. In addition to immunostimulants, we are also studying nematode effectors and searching for potato susceptibility genes that can be modified to block successful nematode infections.

Seminar Host: Dr. Isgouhi Kaloshian; isgouhi.kaloshian@ucr.edu

For Zoom link to this seminar please contact: Margarita Flores at margarita.flores@ucr.edu