Role of auxin in Phytophthora root rot disease development in soft fruit

Phytophthora root rot (PRR), caused by the pathogen Phytophthora rubi, is a devastating soil-borne disease that causes significant loss to the raspberry industry. Results from previous studies (CP 173) have shown that the root rot infestation was negatively correlated with root vigour. This project follows on from these studies and aims to understand the different factors that influence diseases development. The focus is to investigate the role of the phytohormone auxin which is the dominant regulator of cell elongation and lateral root development in plants. In this novel approach to mitigating the impact of PRR, the PhD student will examine the effect of auxin, activators, and inhibitors on Phytophthora pathogens and their plant hosts. The aim is to functionally characterise the auxin responsive and root development genes (ABP19 and CTR1) by overexpression and silencing assays and explore how this can be applied to combat raspberry root rot disease.

The research question is “What role might auxin play in plants challenged with Phytophthora species and how can this knowledge be applied to combat Raspberry root rot (PRR) disease and develop novel strategies for disease control”.

The overall aims of the project are:

• Investigate the effect of auxin, activators and inhibitors on Phytophthora rubi isolates on Phytophthora pathogens and their plant hosts in vitro
• Investigate the role of auxin on raspberry root rot disease development
• Functional analysis of ABP19a on auxin signalling and disease resistance

In this novel approach to mitigating the impact of PRR, the PhD student will functionally characterise the genes ABP19 and CTR1 by overexpression and silencing assays and explore how this can be applied to combat Raspberry root rot disease.