MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF POTATO VIRUS Y PATHOSYSTEMS UNDER NATURAL AND ENGINEERED RESISTANCE

The goals of this project are to uncover the molecular basis of PVY strain pathosystems in natural resistance conferred by R and N genes, respectively, as well as through trans-acting siRNA (tasiRNA)-engineered resistance. This will be achieved through tthree objectives, which are to:Determine key factors regulating plant-virus interactions in the establishment of PVY strain-specific pathosystems in potato using deep sequencing and data analysis capabilities;Characterize the nature of tasiRNA-mediated resistance by identifying and molecularly characterizing regulators of this resistance in N. tobacum and in potato. We will also compare efficiencies of TAS1 and TAS3 pathways in generating tasiRNA-mediated resistance.Identify and determine the role of key regulators found to be involved in PVY infectivity and resistance using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), short tandem target mimic (STTM) and/or molecular sponges (SPs).We will also train undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral scientists.