Avirulence depletion assay: Combining R gene-mediated selection with bulk sequencing for rapid avirulence gene identification in wheat powdery mildew.

Wheat production is threatened by multiple fungal pathogens, such as the wheat powdery mildew fungus (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, Bgt).

Monitoring Fusarium toxins from barley to malt: Targeted inoculation with Fusarium culmorum.

Molds of the genus Fusarium infect nearly all types of grain, causing significant yield and quality losses. Many species of this genus produce mycotoxins, which pose significant risks to human and animal health. In beer production, the complex interaction between primary fungal metabolites and secondarily modified mycotoxins in barley, malt, and beer complicates the situation, highlighting the need for effective analytical methods to quickly and accurately monitor these toxins.

CEP signaling coordinates plant immunity with nitrogen status.

Plant endogenous signaling peptides shape growth, development and adaptations to biotic and abiotic stress. Here, we identify C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDEs (CEPs) as immune-modulatory phytocytokines in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our data reveals that CEPs induce immune outputs and are required to mount resistance against the leaf-infecting bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv.

Blumeria hordei affects volatile emission of susceptible and resistant barley plants and modifies the defense response of recipient plants.

The barley powdery mildew disease caused by the biotrophic fungus Blumeria hordei (Bh) poses enormous risks to crop production due to yield and quality losses. Plants and fungi can produce and release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that serve as signals in plant communication and defense response to protect themselves. The present study aims to identify VOCs released by barley (Hordeum vulgare) during Bh-infection and to decipher VOC-induced disease resistance in receiver plants.

Cross-family transfer of the Arabidopsis cell-surface immune receptor LORE to tomato confers sensing of 3-hydroxylated fatty acids and enhanced disease resistance.

Plant pathogens pose a high risk of yield losses and threaten food security. Technological and scientific advances have improved our understanding of the molecular processes underlying host-pathogen interactions, which paves the way for new strategies in crop disease management beyond the limits of conventional breeding. Cross-family transfer of immune receptor genes is one such strategy that takes advantage of common plant immune signalling pathways to improve disease resistance in crops.