Cell wall-associated defense responses in sugarcane cells infected by Sporisorium scitamineum

• Grant number: 16/00118-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: April 27, 2016
• End date: October 23, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Principal Investigator: Maria Lúcia Carneiro Vieira
• Grantee: João Paulo Rodrigues Marques
• Supervisor: Niranjan Baisakh
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Louisiana State University (LSU), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/25315-1 - Histopathology of Sporisorium scitamineum and sugarcane interaction, BP.PD

Abstract

Sugarcane smut is a disease caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum that limits the productivity of sugarcane in Brazil and other sugarcane growing belts worldwide. The disease causes a reduction in the diameter and development of the stalks, decreases the number of commercial tillers and sucrose levels, and lowers sugarcane extraction due to increased fiber content. The fungus results in the development of a whip-shaped sorus responsible for producing, sheltering and spreading S. scitamineum teliospores. Due to its economic importance, resistance to sugarcane smut is a desirable agronomic trait commonly evaluated in breeding programs. Plant cell wall is the first barrier against the pathogens and deposition of the polymer callose seems to be an important strategy related to plant defense response. Recently, we demonstrated that sugarcane cells could deposit callose around the intracellular hyphae or inside papillae. Next we intend to investigate the role of callose in two resistant sugarcane varieties and also verify the other commonly cell wall-associated compounds inside the papillae that strengthen it's structure to prevent fungal penetration. To achieve the goal, we propose to establish collaboration with the Louisiana State University and use different microscopes and techniques in order to characterize and observe the formation of sugarcane cell wall defense responses against S. scitamineum. These results will be essential to understanding the cell wall-associated defense response in S. scitamineum-sugarcane interaction and ultimately help devise strategy to screen resistant clones by the use of biochemical markers.