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Entomology and the Nematology and Chemistry units
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| Disrupting insect pest reproductive systems |
Based on the understanding of operating selection forces, the ecology and physiology of the pest, we aim at hampering the insect pest reproductive success. The precipice methods will be tailored to suit the insect species and its immediate environment and is mode of sexual communication.
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| Studying the molecular mechanism underlying the anhydrobiotic stage of Pratylenchus capsicum |
Pratylenchus capsici is a relatively newly identified species belong to the migratory nematodes. This nematode cause a significant yield reduction in pepper crops. Recently experiments conducted in our laboratory indicate this nematode able to survive through dehydration period through specific coiled morphological phenotype which is called anhydrobiotic stage. This stage might support nematode survival through seasons and attenuate soil treatment efficacy. Thus we are interested in studying the key signaling pathways regulate anhydrobiotic stage of this devastating nematode.
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| Function analyzing the mechanism underlying anhdrobiosis of the migratory nematode Pratylenchus capsici |
The migratory nematode Pratylenchus capsici also called the lesion nematode is considered as a newly identified species which cause a significant yield reduction of pepper crops. Recently research conducted under our facilities indicate this nematode has the ability to survive dehydration periods through an anhydrobiotic stage which is observed as a coiled phenotype enable nematode survival through the seasons under dry and hot seasons and might attenuate the efficacy of soil treatments. In this study we are interested in uderstanding the molecular mechanisms as well as molecular factors regulating anhydrobiosis.
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| Interfering with the mating system of insects to reduce pest populations |
We study various ways to disrupt possible encounters of males and females, to avoid offspring production. We based our study on an evolutionary approach, behavioral assays, chemical ecology and genetic manipulations
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Plant Pathology and Weed Research
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| Protecting pepper crops against viruses using induced resistance |
Induced resistance is an environmentally friendly approach for reducing pathogen damage in crop plants. It is based on the induction of natural plant defense systems using chemical, biological or physical agents. The vast majority of resistance inducers are non-toxic and easily applicable in the field or greenhouse. In the proposed study, we will test the effect of various resistance inducers on pepper plant infected with Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV). We will explore how the induction of specific resistance pathways can increase plant tolerance to the virus and strengthen its protection against the insect vector – the thrips. Research will combine methods in plant physiology, cell biology and molecular biology as well as basic techniques in entomology. Ultimately, this study will lead to the development of new protocols for coping with resistance-breaking TSWV.
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| Studying the crosstalk between auxin and viral pathways in tomato |
Plant viruses are obligatory parasites, which exploit the plant cellular machinery to facilitate their infection. To achieve successful infection, viruses deactivate the plant defense mechanisms, including the gene silencing pathways. Interestingly, the same pathways also regulate crucial developmental programs, such as auxin response. Together, we will examine the effects of viral infection on the auxin pathway in tomato using various genetic tools. This research will allow us to understand the role auxin plays during the viral disease and pave a way to develop new ways to cope with viruses by manipulating hormonal response. Research will involve methods in plant genetics, molecular biology, and protein-protein interactions.
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| The genomic aspects of the combined infection with soil borne pathogen and viruses in cucumbers |
Co infection with soil borne pathogens and viruses may result in different disease symptoms than the ones caused by each of the pathogens alone. In this research we study the gene expression of the fungi--plants during the co infection and their implication on the disease symptoms.
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| Seed transmission of tobamoviruses and disease severity in co-infection with fungal pathogens |
Tobamovirus seed transmission is an important route of disease spread. Several questions are triggered by our research regarding the specific tissue parts that limit the virus spread in the seed PE envelope; the specific molecular targets that allow the binding of the tobamoviruses to the PE envelope. Tobamovirus infected plants are susceptible infection by fungal pathogens leading to plant collapse. To roll of coinfection (virus and fungi) will be addressed in this research.
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| Postdoctoral opportunity on movement and disease/pest dynamics |
This project aim at modeling pathogen and pest spatial spread in various spatial scales, from the plot level to the landscape scale. Some background on the lab and related projects can be found in our group website http://SpatialEpidemiologyLab.weebly.com
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| MAYA BAR |
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Team:Dr. Meirav Leibman-Markus; Dr. Rupali Gupta |
| Exploring constitutive induced systemic resistance in agriculture. Please see https://mayapiff.wixsite.com/barlab |
The Bar lab is a dynamic young group conducting basic and applied research of the plant immune system: immunity priming, biocontrol, and biosensing of plant disease. In this project, the prospective postdoc will investigate different methods to generate plants with constitutively activated immunity without harming agricultural productivity. We have already obtained promising results and are looking to add an excellent researcher to our group. Required skills: molecular biology techniques, plant tissue culture, fungal biology/microbiology.
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| MAYA BAR |
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Team:Dr. Meirav Leibman-Markus; Dr. Rupali Gupta |
| Improving the efficacy of biocontrol agents by plant priming Please see https://mayapiff.wixsite.com/barlab |
Biocontrol is a highly sought after alternative to traditional pesticides. In this project, the prospective postdoc will manipulate the plant genome using CAS9 editing to improve the plants' response to biocontrol, examining outcomes of different immunity priming techniques.
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| MAYA BAR |
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Team:Dr. Meirav Leibman-Markus; Dr. Lorena Pizarro |
| Manipulating cellular trafficking to improve plant immunity Please see https://mayapiff.wixsite.com/barlab |
Trafficking is fundamental to the regulation of plant immunity, being involved in many different steps of plant immune mechanisms, such as regulation of PRR activity through recycling and endosomal movement of defense proteins. In this project, the prospective postdoc will use CAS9 genome editing to manipulate trafficking in tomato, to obtain increased defense signaling resulting in pathogen resistance.
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| Development of new viral resistance strategies by targeting the viral movement protein |
Successful viral infection depends on a viral movement protein, which forms a complex with multiple host factors to enable the virus to move from cell to cell. In several cases, viral movement proteins are identified by plant defense mechanisms to trigger resistance against the virus. This research will explore different aspects of movement protein interactions with plant endogenous factors to develop new strategies for viral resistance. Research will involve methods in molecular biology, PCR-based mutagenesis and protein-protein interactions.
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| Updated on: 08/08/19 10:52 |
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