Plant-Microbe Interactions

This course provides up-to-date theoretical and practical training in physiological, biochemical and molecular aspects of interactions between plants and pathogenic fungi with different lifestyles. In addition, information is provided on the interaction between plants and beneficial microbes (the microbiome) and antagonism between rhizosphere-colonizing bacteria and plant-infecting soil borne fungi (antibiosis). Attention will also be paid to bioinformatics. The course prepares for possible MSc Thesis and Internship studies in Plant Pathology, at the Laboratory of Phytopathology. This course also provides a basis for a possible PhD in (Molecular) Phytopathology and/or for a position as a Research Scientist in a Plant Breeding company. Experiments in the practical (such as plant inoculations, symptom assessment, in vitro growth tests, protein extractions, agro-infiltration) illustrate the various aspects of the theory. There will also be a computer assignment illustrating the use of bioinformatics in plant-microbe interactions.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• Acquire insight in the molecular basis of interactions between plants and microbes (fungi Fusarium, Botrytis, Cladosporium fulvum and Pseudocercospora fijiensis)
• Demonstrate detailed understanding of how resistance proteins (immune receptors) function in defending plants against microbial pathogens
• Demonstrate detailed understanding of how effectors (proteins, metabolites, RNAs) of microbial pathogens can promote disease
• Obtain insight in the protective (bacterial) microbiome that is present in the soil, in the role of the microbiome in plant growth stimulation and in the antagonism between root-colonizing microbes and pathogenic soil-borne fungi
• Understand and summarize scientific publications in the field of (molecular) plant pathology
• Perform basic experiments that are aimed at studying plant-microbe interactions
• Write a report about the aims, setup and outcome of phytopathological experiments

Mandatory Knowledge:
ZSS06100 Laboratory Safety
Assumed Knowledge:
Useful earlier courses are:
PHP30806 Molecular Aspects of Bio-Interactions;
ENT30306 Ecological Aspects of Bio-Interactions;
GEN20306 Molecular and Evolutionary Ecology;
GEN20806 Plant Biotechnology and PBR30306 Breeding for Quality and Resistance.