Project leader: Monica
Most recent funding: MBIE SMART IDEAS GRANT (2023-2025)
Kauri dieback disease is caused by a eukaryotic microbe called Phytophthora agathidicida. Phytophthora species cause root rot and dieback diseases in thousands of plant species around the world. It was a Phytophthora species which caused the Irish potato famine in the 1840s. Today they continue to devastate native ecosystems and cause billions of dollars in damage annually.
In New Zealand, P. agathidicida has spread throughout kauri regions, killing kauri trees of all ages. Despite this, there are still huge gaps in our knowledge about this pathogen, and our tools to control the spread of the disease are extremely limited.
Our research in this area spans a range of projects: from the development of better diagnostic tools, to the development of genome editing methods such as CRISPR-Cas for P. agathidicida. We are also working to understand what chemical signals attract zoospores and trigger germination; why oospores are so resilient (and can we break them open?); and can we find potential treatments or cures?
We are also part of a long-term collaboration with Mātauranga Māori knowledge holders exploring the use of native plant species with bioactive, anti-pathogen characteristics. Biochemical and microbiological methods are being used to isolate anti-Phytophthora compounds from these native plants, and we are testing the ability of natural products to inhibit various stages of the Phytophthora life cycle. The most promising compounds are also be tested for their effectiveness at stopping infections in controlled glasshouse trials with seedlings.