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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower Improvement Research » Research » Research Project #442134

Research Project: NSI: Manipulating Endogenous Host Pathways to Enhance White Mold resistance in Brassicaceae

Location: Sunflower Improvement Research

Project Number: 3060-21220-034-021-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 1, 2022
End Date: Dec 31, 2025

Objective:
1. Use gene editing tools to enhance the endogenous oxalic acid catabolism pathway in Brassica napus to more efficiently metabolize oxalic acid and enhance resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum; and 2. Develop Brassica napus germplasm that has decreased sensitivity to oxalic acid and enhanced resistance to S. sclerotiorum.

Approach:
Utilizing molecular genetic tools including gene cloning, heterologous and endogenous expression of plant genes, CRISPR-based technology for non-transgenic mutagenesis, transcriptomic analysis of gene expression dynamics and host infection studies, we will identify genes and pathways required for host metabolism and response to pathogen-produced oxalic acid. These genes will be manipulated first transgenically in Arabidopsis thaliana and then cis-genically, through CRISPR technology, in Brassica napus to enhance tolerance to oxalic acid and provide resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.