Characterization of natural and modified plant nucleotide-based immunity signals as potential agents for crop protection

Disease in crop plants is the major cause of lost productivity and economic hardship globally.

New environmentally sustainable approaches for enhancing plant resistance to newly emerging pathogen strains are much needed. Recent studies by the groups of Jijie Chai (at Uni.

Köln/Tsinghua University) with Jane Parker (MPIPZ) led to the discovery of four chemically related nucleotide-based compounds that are produced naturally by plants upon pathogen attack to promote immune responses against a broad range of diseases.

The biochemical modes-of-action of these small molecules was determined and the chemical synthesis of several pure analogs successfully achieved.

These advances provide a basis to (i) explore further the immune-potentiating activities and dynamics of nucleotide-based signals in plant cells and tissues, and (ii) develop and test modified forms of the signaling molecules for increased uptake, bioactivity and stability in plants.

The aim of this proposal is to combine knowledge of nucleotide chemistry and modifications (Kath-Schorr) with in vitro and in vivo functional assays (Parker) with a view to designing a disease resistance-potentiating agent with broad efficacy on crops.