ERC Starting Grant for Sebastian Pfeilmeier

ERC Starting Grant for Sebastian Pfeilmeier – UvA Molecular Plant Pathology:

Cell Type-Specific Disease Resistance Against Vascular Xanthomonas Plant Pathogens (XANTHORESIST)

Plants have fascinating ways to protect themselves from pathogens. They use physical barriers to keep invaders out and an immune system to fight off infections. But pathogens have their own tricks to get inside plants and cause disease. For example, specialised bacteria from the genus Xanthomonas enter the leaf through tiny water pores and infect the vascular system, leading to Black Rot disease in cabbage crops, which is devastating agricultural fields in the Netherlands and around the globe. Stopping these pathogens at the water pores could prevent a systemic infection. As we currently know very little about how plants defend this entry point, this project applies novel technologies, such as single cell RNA sequencing, to identify the defence responses in the plant cells that first perceive and fight the harmful invaders. In addition to the immune system, beneficial microbes that live inside these water pores may protect the plant. Understanding how the plant reacts to pathogens and beneficial bacteria will enable us to find new ways to protect crops from diseases. The findings can help safeguard not only cabbage, but also other crops, including wheat and rice, that suffer from similar diseases.