Location: Wheat Health, Genetics, and Quality Research
Project Number: 2090-22000-019-033-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2026
End Date: Jul 31, 2030
Objective:
The objectives of this cooperative research are to: 1) Identify and characterize genotypically and phenotypically soilborne
plant pathogens and weeds of crops grown in cereal-based cropping systems of the Pacific Northwest; 2) Identify and genotypically and
phenotypically characterize beneficial microorganisms that suppress plant pathogens and weeds; 3) Characterize the microbiomes of
plants grown in cereal-based cropping systems, including both bacteria and fungi; 4) Characterize the microbiome of weed seeds in soil seed banks; and 5) Characterize the molecular genetic and biochemical basis of plant microbe interactions and plant defense, including metabolites.
Approach:
Plant pathogens and their biocontrol agents will be characterized through a combination of sequence analysis of 16S rDNA, ITS,
and other key genes, multi-locus sequence analysis, and genome sequencing and classical methods of plant pathology, mycology, and
microbiology. Soil and rhizosphere microbiomes and weed seed microbiomes will be analyzed using Next-Generation sequencing. Results of genotypic and phenotypic analyses will be compared. Plant-microbe interactions and herbicide-resistant weeds will be characterized using a combination of laboratory, greenhouse and field studies, and molecular genetic and bioanalytical tools. Biologically active metabolites, volatiles and antibiotics produced by pathogens and antagonists will be characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry. Dr. U'ren will provide expertise in fungal microbiomes, fungal genomes, phylogenies, endophytes, and metabolomic characteristics of volatles from Streptomyces and other Actinobacteria as potential biocontrol agents.