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Application of antimicrobial peptides to increase cereal crops resistance to fungal pathogens

Crop Types
  • Barley
  • Wheat
Collaborating Locations

Background

This study tests known and new identified anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) as a foliage spray for their ability to increase expression of defense genes in bread wheat and barley for elevated resistance of the crop to fungal pathogens. This project focused on screening of AMPS that have dual activity, i.e. direct inhibition of fungal growth and activation of plant immune system for faster and stronger response to the broad range of pathogens. This information is useful due to the broad mode of action that peptides have, which can reduce the possibility of emergence of resistant pathogen races.

Objectives

  1. Generate wheat transgenics that will be used as the model plants to test anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) application.
  2. Screen twenty of the most promising AMPs from PhytAMP database for their ability to activate expression
  3. Treat wheat and barley plants with salicylic acid and examine leaf proteome for the presence of novel stress-induced peptides using mass-spectrometry analysis.
  4. Test pathogen response of wheat and barley plants pre-treated with peptides to FHB or leaf rust infection.

Key Findings

Overall, project results successfully demonstrated the potential for using small peptides as biopesticides against leaf rust in wheat in greenhouse conditions and found 1 novel and 3 published wheat-coded peptides that could also be used as foliar spray or engineered in wheat plants for increased resistance to the pathogen.

Key Takeaways

Successful demonstration of the potential for using small peptides as biopeptides against leaf rust in wheat in greenhouse conditions. Found one novel and three published wheat-coded peptides that could be used as foliar spray or engineered in wheat plants for increased resistance to the pathogen.

Project Details

Principal Investigator
Dr. Andriy Bilichak
Project Status
Completed
Start Date
2021
Completion Date
2022
Funding Partners
Ag Action Manitoba, WGRF
Total Project Cost
168000
MCA Funding
42000

Field Issues

  • Disease

Keywords

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