Building better Brassicas: Understanding disease resistance mechanisms across the Brassicaceae

Abstract:: Brassica species are important crops producing cooking oil, vegetables and biofuel, grown in diverse environments with high economic and export value. Blackleg disease, caused by the fungus Leptospheria maculans, is the most important disease of Brassica crops world-wide. The newly available Brassica genome sequence provides the resources to study the co-evolution of this plant and pathogen. This project will characterise the evolution and conservation of resistance genes in wild and cultivated Brassicas, using next-generation sequencing technology, to assess their potential for crop improvement. An understanding of the evolution of genes responsible for resistance will lead to improved plant protection strategies for Brassica crops.
Grant type:: ARC Future Fellowships
Funded by:: Australian Research Council

The University of Queensland