NSF Org:	DEB Division Of Environmental Biology
Recipient:
Initial Amendment Date:	July 21, 1988
Latest Amendment Date:	July 21, 1988
Award Number:	8805616
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Joann P. Roskoski DEB  Division Of Environmental Biology BIO  Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date:	January 1, 1989
End Date:	June 30, 1992 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$168,942.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$168,942.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 1988 = $168,942.00
History of Investigator:	Helen Alexander (Principal Investigator) halexander@ku.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of Kansas Main Campus 2385 Irving Hill Road Lawrence KS  US  66045-7563 (785)864-3441
Sponsor Congressional District:	01
Primary Place of Performance:	DATA NOT AVAILABLE
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	Evolutionary Processes
Primary Program Source:
Program Reference Code(s):	1123
Program Element Code(s):	112700
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.074

ABSTRACT

Genetic interactions between plants and their fungal pathogens have been studied for many of the major disease problems in agriculture, but little is known about host resistance and pathogen virulence in natural systems. Since it is widely thought that natural systems have fewer disease epidemics than crop systems, information on the distribution of genetic variation and the genetic basis for traits that control disease reactions in nature may prove useful in crop disease control. Past work on the anther-smut fungal disease of the white campion revealed that the likelihood of infection for a plant depended on the genetic identity of both the plant and the fungus. In the current study, the mode of inheritance of plant resistance and fungal virulence will be examined; methods will include testing progeny of genetic crosses in both field studies that mimic natural disease spread and in controlled greenhouse experiments. This research will begin to determine if the relatively simple single gene control of disease expression found with several crop plants also is prevalent outside of agriculture.

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