Location: Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit
Project Number: 2072-22000-045-006-G
Project Type: Grant
Start Date: Aug 1, 2019
End Date: Oct 31, 2022
Objective:
1: Identify double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) sequences capable of silencing gene expression to reduce grape powdery mildew development.
2: Evaluate the uptake and the processing of dsRNA by plant to determine its systemic effects on the growth of Erysiphe necator.
3: Evaluate clay nanoparticles to deliver dsRNA efficiently.
Approach:
We will identify the coding regions that induce the most significant reduction in the expression of target genes in both grapevine and E. necator. We will determine whether the silencing mechanism operates independently from the plant immune system, and will also assess the contribution of the fungal RNAi machinery to the virulence. We will evaluate the dsRNA uptake and its systemic impact on fungal growth. We will measure the efficacy of clay nanoparticles for prolonged protection of dsRNAs on the leaf surface.
