Welcome to the Fry lab!
Our goals are to further the understanding of the biology of oomycetous plant pathogens. We emphasize those aspects of biology that might be useful in plant disease management. The organism on which we have worked most is Phytophthora infestans, the cause of the late blight disease of potato and tomato. Our current and future efforts include basic epidemiology/ecology, genetics (classical, molecular, population), developmental biology (including host-pathogen interactions), and disease management.
Recent accomplishments include:
Role of host resistance:
- mapped resistances to late blight in tomatoes and potatoes (R-gene and QTLs)
- revealed differential gene expression in tomatoes due to a specific QTL for resistance
- distinguished gene expression in a compatible interaction from that in a resistant interaction
- documented the "durability" of diverse host resistances
Genetics and population genetics:
- discovered and documented worldwide migrations of P. infestans
- developed a modern understanding of the population genetics of P. infestans in central Mexico
- predicted the epidemiological impact of exotic strains of P. infestans in the USA
Ecology and epidemiology:
- demonstrated the potential role of petunias in the epidemiology of late blight
- characterized the role of biopesticides and "green" fungicides in the management of late blight
- quantified the role of specific levels of host resistance in the management of late blight
- improved and expanded the utility of a simulator of potato late blight
- quantified the effect of solar radiation on the survival of sporangia during aerial dispersal
Basic biology of P. infestans:
- discovered and characterized viruses in P. infestans
- improved the protocol for PEG/CaCl2 transformation for P. infestans
- discovered novel features of the core promoter region of oomycetes
- clarified the role of environmental factors on production of gametangia
