New study will peel away the secrets of potato blight

Before and after shot of a field affected by potato blight.

A new study will aim to reveal the secrets of potato blight, a disease that threatens food production worldwide.

Researchers will work with partners from across the country to determine how pathogens cause crop diseases. The £5.9m study will be led by the University of Dundee, in collaboration with the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London, the James Hutton Institute, the Sainsbury Laboratory and the University of Cambridge (SLCU).

SLoLA funding

The project has been facilitated by a SLoLA (Strategic Longer and Larger) award from UKRI, with the five-year study starting early next year. SLoLA funding allows scientists to undertake large team-based fundamental bioscience research projects over the longer term, pushing the frontiers of human knowledge.

Threats to crops

Approximately 25% of food is threatened annually by pests and diseases. Chief amongst these threats are fungal and oomycete pathogens, such as Phytophthora infestans, which cause the devastating disease potato blight and was responsible for the Irish Potato Famine in the 1800’s.

"These diseases can have devastating consequences not just for the farmer but for the wider communities and economies that depend on these crops as part of the global food chain." Dr Tolga Bozkurt

Dr Tolga Bozkurt, from Imperial’s Department of Life Sciences, said: "Once a crop disease, like potato blight, takes hold there is very little a farmer or producer can do to stop it spreading. These diseases can easily and swiftly destroy an entire harvest. This can have devastating consequences not just for the farmer but for the wider communities and economies that depend on these crops as part of the global food chain.

Understanding how pathogens interact with the plant defence systems at the plant-pathogen interface is vital first step to strengthening our defence against these diseases.”

Professor Paul Birch, plant sciences expert at the University of Dundee, said: "These infection structures present a real and present danger to crops that are staples of our diet. This is a truly exciting opportunity to make major advances in our understanding of how these key infection structures are formed and function. The funding will consolidate the UK’s leading position in this research area. The understanding that is likely to emerge from our studies will provide new ways to prevent diseases that threaten global food security."

Phytophthora produces an infection structure - the haustorium - which is formed intimately within living plant cells. This structure is a battleground where exchanges of virulence proteins from the pathogen, and defence molecules produced by the host take place.

The successful delivery of these molecules by each protagonist determines the outcome of their interaction – successful infection by Phytophthora or effective defence by the plant.

We bring new tools and techniques in molecular imaging to visualise this battle at the haustoria in unprecedented detail. Together, our research could help overcome one of humankind's most pressing global challenges." Professor Doryen Bubeck

The multi-disciplinary team of experts will determine how the haustorium is formed and how pathogens transform it to their advantage. New molecular, biochemical and cell biological techniques will be used to address how molecules are exchanged between pathogen and the host. Improving our understanding of haustoria could eventually lead to the development of measures that protect potatoes and other crops from disease.

Professor Doryen Bubeck, also from the Department of Life Sciences, said: "Our team of Imperial researchers are delighted to be part of this unique world-leading collaboration. We bring new tools and techniques in molecular imaging to visualise this battle at the haustoria in unprecedented detail. Together, our research could help overcome one of humankind's most pressing global challenges."