Research Projects

Plant pathogens pose a significant threat to global food security, with climate changes and emerging new strains exacerbating the issue. To cause disease, fungal pathogens use effectors, which suppress host defense responses and manipulate host cell physiology, resulting in successful colonization and infection. small RNAs, which can function as effectors through RNAi-based regulatory mechanisms, can also play a crucial role in establishing a compatible interaction with the host plant. The role of small RNAs in pathogenesis is largely unknown, but they contribute to pathogenesis by regulating the expression of virulence genes during infection and silencing host immunity genes, resulting in successful colonization. Fusarium oxysporum, a ubiquitous pathogen, causes devastating yield losses on multiple crops worldwide. However, pathogenic strains can also colonize roots of alternative host plants without causing wilt and remain as endophytes. There is a significant gap in understanding the role of small RNAs in early establishment of compatibility during both pathogenic and non-pathogenic interactions. The proposed project aims to investigate the role of small RNAs in establishing compatibility with the host by suppressing plant immunity. The outcome will shed light on the conserved mechanism of host tissue colonization by fungi with contrasting lifestyles and the role of small RNAs as "RNA effectors." A deeper understanding of the mechanistic basis during the early biotrophic phase of Fusarium oxysporum will help formulate and design novel strategies to control diseases.