Fungal Genetics and Host Resistance

The use of molecular probes is allowing us to gain new insights into fungal plant pathogens and to host responses to potential pathogens. We are currently developing real-time PCR primers for two downy mildews that are considered to be a threat to maize production if introduced into the US. We are also developing PCR-based tags genes for resistance to headsmut, anthracnose, downy mildew and grain mold in sorghum. These molecular tags will be useful for breeding cultivars with more durable resistance and for cloning specific resistance genes. We have also used PCR to clone segments of the cotton and sorghum equivalents of genes that function in known host defense pathways. These clones are being used to compare the rate and timing of induction of each gene in resistant and susceptible lines following inoculation with a pathogen.

Ortiz CS, Bell AA, Magill CW, Liu J (2016) Specific PCR Detection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum California Race 4 Based on a Unique Tfo1 Insertion Event in the PHO Gene. Plant Disease:PDIS-03-16-0332-RE

Prom, Louis, Radwan, Ghada, Perumal, Ramasamy, Cuevas, Hugo, Katile, Seriba, Isakeit, Thomas, Magill, Clint, 2016.  Grain biodeterioration of sorghum converted lines inoculated with a mixture of Fusarium thapsinum and Curvularia lunata Plant Pathology Journal (accepted in November)

Prom, L.K., Perumal, R., Cuevas, H.E., Radwan, G., Katile, S., Isakeit, T., Magill, C. 2016. Assessing the vulnerability of sorghum converted lines to anthracnose and downy mildew infection. Journal of Agriculture and Crops. 2(10):101-106.

Prom, L. K., Perumal,, R. Erattaimuthu,, SR Little, CR No, E-G, Erpelding, J. E.. Rooney, W. L. Odvody ,G. N, Magill, C.W.(2012) Genetic diversity and pathotype determination of Colletotrichum sublineolum isolates causing anthracnose in sorghum. Accepted, European Journal of Plant Patholgy (online preprint available)

Radwan, GL, T. Isakeit, , C. W. Magill R. Perumal, L.K. Prom and C.R. Little (2011) Screening exotic sorghum germplasm, hybrids and elite lines for resistance to a new virulent pathotype (P6) of Peronoslcerospr sorghi causing downy mildew. Plant Health Progress (online) doi:10.1094/PHP-2011-0323-01-RS.

Prom. LK, Perumal, R., Erattainmuthu, S.R., Erpelding, J.E., Montes, N., Odvody, G.N., Greenwald, C. Jin Z., Frederiksen, R., and Magill, C. W. (2011) Virulence and molecular genotyping studies of Sporisorium reilianum Isolates in sorghum. Plant Disease 95:523-529.

Prom, LK, Isakeit, T, Erpelding, JE, Rooney, W. Magill, CW 2011, Evaluation of the Ugandan sorghum accessions for grain mold and anthracnose resistance.  Crop Protection 30: 566-571.

Prom, L. K., Perumal, R., Erpelding, J. E., Isakeit, T., and Montes, N., and Magill, C. W. 2009. A pictorial technique for mass screening of sorghum germplasm for anthracnose resistance. The Open Agric. J. 3:20-25

Katilé, SO, Perumal, R, Rooney, WL Prom, LK, Magill, C 2009 Expression of pathogenesis-related protein PR-10 in sorghum floral tissues in response to inocluation with Fusarium thapsinum and Curvularia lunata   Mol. Plant Pathol. 11:93-103.

Little, C.R., and Magill, C.W. 2009. The grain mold pathogen, Fusarium thapsinum, reduces caryopsis formation in Sorghum bicolor. Journal of Phytopathology 157: 518-519.

Ramasamy, P, Menz, MA, Mehta, PJ, Katile, S, Gutierrez Rojas, LA, Klein, RR, Klein, PE, Prom, LK, Schlueter, JA, Rooney WL, & Magill, CW  2009. Molecular mapping of Cg1, a gene for resistance to anthracnose (Colletotrichum sublineolum) in sorghum. Euphytica 165:597-606.