Publications by authors named "S E Whitham"

Increasing atmospheric CO levels have a variety of effects that can influence plant responses to microbial pathogens. However, these responses are varied, and it is challenging to predict how elevated CO (eCO) will affect a particular plant-pathogen interaction. We investigated how eCO may influence disease development and responses to diverse pathogens in the major oilseed crop, soybean.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Heat shock protein 40s (HSP40s) are a group of J domain proteins (JDPs), which serve as co-chaperones for heat shock protein 70s. We previously reported that over-expression of a soybean class C JDP, GmHSP40.1, in Arabidopsis activated defense responses.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The common rust disease of maize is caused by the obligate biotrophic fungus Puccinia sorghi. The maize Rp1-D allele imparts resistance against the P. sorghi IN2 isolate by initiating a defense response that includes a rapid localized programmed cell death process, the hypersensitive response (HR).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Scientists found that two proteins in plants, CLC2 and CLC3, work similarly to certain proteins in animals that help with a process called autophagy, which helps cells recycle and remove things they don't need.
  • When they studied plants with both CLC2 and CLC3 missing, these plants behaved like those that can't do autophagy properly, showing issues with immunity and nutrient use.
  • The researchers noticed that CLC2 directly works with other proteins involved in autophagy, and together, they help the plant fight off certain diseases better.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Soybean rust is an economically significant disease caused by the fungus that negatively impacts soybean ( [L.] Merr.) production throughout the world.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF