Browsing by Author "Ghosh, S."

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Burkholderia gladioli strain NGJ1 deploys a prophage tail-like protein to feed on fungi
    (American Phytopathological Society, 2019) Swain, D.M.; Yadav, S.; Tyagi, I.; Kumar, R.; Kumar, R.; Ghosh, S.; Das, J.; Jha, Gopaljee
    Fungal pathogens are responsible for approximately two third of the infectious plant diseases. Due to extensive usages, pathogens have evolved resistance against most of the commonly used fungicides. Rice sheath blight disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani remains a serious threat to global sustainable agriculture. The pathogen has a complex biology and has been reported occurring world-wide causing necrosis and dampingoff on numerous host plant species. The pathogen is polymorphic and despite extensive efforts, till today no source of complete disease resistance has been identified against this pathogen. We have recently discovered a novel bacterium Burkholderia gladioli strain NGJ1 which has broad spectrum mycophagus ability. We also demonstrated that the bacteria NGJ1 deploys a prophage tail like protein (Bg_9562) to feed over fungi in a T3SS dependant manner. Moreover we observed that Bg_9562 protein has a broad spectrum antifungal activity on Rhizoctonia solani as well as several other phytopathogenic fungi. Furthermore, being equipped to kill and feed upon fungi, the mycophagous bacteria can serve as an experimental tool box to facilitate discovery of novel anti-fungal molecules. This opens up a new biotechnological application of this prophage tail like protein in controlling fungal diseases in rice as well as in other plants.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Understanding the molecular intricacies of rice-Rhizoctonia solani interactions
    (American Phytopathological Society, 2019) Ghosh, S.; Kanwar, P.; Jha, Gopaljee
    Sheath blight disease is a devastating disease in rice that causes huge crop losses worldwide. It is caused by a necrotrophic fungus Rhizoctonia solani. In spite of global efforts till now there are no reports of complete resistance against this pathogen. We observed that R. solani has a brief biotrophic phase wherein mycelial grows parallel to rice veins without showing any morphological and anatomical changes. However, at later stage, i.e. necrotrophic phase, infection cushions along with anatomical changes are observed at the site of disease symptoms. Through transcriptome and metabolome studies we have identified several candidate host susceptibility factors and pathogenicity determinants that might play an important role during pathogenesis of R. solani in rice. Furthermore, using whole genome studies, we have identified several gene/gene families that might contribute to the aggressiveness of the R. solani strains. Although gene manipulation studies in R. solani is difficult we have devised ways wherein we can functionally characterize these pathogenicity determinants. Overall the present study will help in better understanding of the rice-R. solani pathosystem which would eventually be helpful in developing strategies for durable sheath blight disease tolerance in rice.