Pathogen Genetics and Plant Resistance Team

Leader

Prof. dr hab. Małgorzata Jędryczka, corresponding member of Polish Academy of Sciences

Members

dr Joanna Kaczmarek

mgr inż. Witold Irzykowski

Magdalena Wlaszczyk

Research profile

The aim of research is to elaborate the methods of early detection and identification of plant pathogenic fungi in the air and in host-plant tissues. Research concerns classical and molecular characterisation of plant pathogens shaping current structure of pathogen populations. This knowledge is essential for developing proper strategies of resistance breeding. Another task is to search for sources of genetic resistance of plants to pathogens. Etiological and epidemiological studies are mainly focused on the kingdom of Fungi, including necrotrophs (mainly of the genera: Alternaria, Cercospora, Fusarium, Leptosphaeria, Ramularia and Sclerotinia), and biotrophs (Melampsora). At present the studies also concern Plasmodiophora brassicae - the protist-like organism of the infrakingdom Rhizaria.

Current research activities of the Team include the studies of genetic polymorphism of Ramularia collo-cygni, the cause of Ramularia leaf spot of barley. The Team identifies the genetic sources of resistance to clubroot (P. brassicae) in interspecific hybrids of the genus Brassica. The development of classical and molecular aerobiology methods concerns the monitoring of: (i) stem canker of brassicas (Leptosphaeria maculans and L. biglobosa); (ii) plant pathogens and saprotrophs of the genus Alternaria and Cladosporium; (iii) selected Fusarium species, the causal agents of Fusarium Head Blight; (iv) Cercospora beticola, the cause of sugar beet leaf spot.

Methods used by the Team include the identification of crop plant diseases on the basis of visual symptoms and microscopic analyses, isolation and cultivation of plant pathogenic fungi on microbiological media, bio-tests in controlled environment as well as field experiments with the application of several inoculation techniques. In the laboratory the Team evaluates mycelial compatibility groups, identifies avirulence genes and mating types, detects the components of aeroplankton using classical and molecular tools, isolates genomic DNA, designs primers and probes for single and multiplex PCR, performs end-point and quantitative PCR, uses and searches for new molecular markers and sequences DNA fragments.

Based on the knowledge of pathogen life cycles and epidemiology the Team develops strategies of crop protection. Our main achievement is the elaboration of scientific basis and the implementation of the Decision Support System for Forecasting Disease Epidemics SPEC (www.spec.edu.pl). It is the world's third biggest system based on aerobiological monitoring of the inoculum of pathogens damaging to agricultural crops, primarily stem canker of oilseed rape. The system has been constantly operating since 2004 and it works until now.

Key words

avirulence gene, Brassica napus, oilseed rape, phytopathogenic fungi, stem canker, pathotype

Selected recent publications (See all in SCOPUS)

Frąc M., Kaczmarek J., Jędryczka M. (2022) Metabolic Capacity Differentiates Plenodomus lingam from P. biglobosus Subclade ‘brassicae’, the Causal Agents of Phoma Leaf Spotting and Stem Canker of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus) in Agricultural Ecosystems. Pathogens. 11: 50. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010050

Zimny J., Sowa S., Otręba P., Kozdój J., Zimny A., Kaczmarek J., Oleszczuk S., Czaplicki A., Jędryczka M. (2021). Pollen flow of winter triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack) investigated with transgenic line expressing β-glucuronidase gene. Agronomy. ISSN 2073-4395. DOI: 10.3390/agronomy11030431

Brachaczek A., Kaczmarek J., Jędryczka M. (2021). Warm and Wet Autumns Favour Yield Losses of Oilseed Rape Caused by Phoma Stem Canker. Agronomy. 11: 1171. DOI: 10.3390/agronomy11061171

Szwarc J.,  Niemann J.,  Kaczmarek J.,  Bocianowski J., Weigt, D. G. (2022). Genetic relationship of brassicaceae hybrids with various resistance to blackleg Is disclosed by the use of molecular markers. Curr. Mol. Biol. 44: 4290–4302. DOI: 10.3390/cimb44090295

Piasecka A., Sawikowska A., Witaszak N., Waśkiewicz A., Kańczurzewska M., Kaczmarek J., Lalak-Kańczugowska J. (2022). Metabolomic Aspects of Conservative and Resistance-Related Elements of Response to Fusarium culmorum in the Grass Family. Cells 2022, 11, 3213. DOI: 10.3390/cells11203213

Projects (finished recently or current)