| Abstract Detail
MSA Presidential Address - Marc Cubeta Cubeta, Marc A. [1]. Rhizoctonia fungi: subterranean and airborne pandemics of imperfect nuclear splendor. Fungi classified as Rhizoctonia exhibit dynamic and interconnected relationships with microorganisms and plants typically in a soil environment, which has contributed to their ecological and evolutionary success in space and time. Since the original description of the genus Rhizoctonia by DeCandolle in 1815, this group of fungi has been the subject of comprehensive scientific investigation largely due to interest in their disease causing actiity on a diverse array of cultivated and native plant species. However, many species of Rhizoctonia fungi function as beneficial symbionts of orchids and saprobes that promote decomposition and recycling of organic matter. Research in my laboratory has focused primarily on understanding the ecology, genome organization, population biology, and systematics of fungi in the Rhizoctonia species complex. This research has provided a conceptual framework for examining the genetic diversity and structure of field populations, determining the occurrence and transmission of double stranded RNA elements, and delineating previously undescribed beneficial and plant pathogenic species of Rhizoctonia fungi. More recent research in my laboratory has provided bioinformatic and omics-based resources for understanding the relative contribution of nuclear genome heterogeneity on the disease causing activity and survival structure formation (sclerotia) of Rhizoctonia fungi. For this presentation, a reflective synthesis of our research knowledge generated over the past 25 years and current knowledge gaps will be presented. The practical translation of this accumulated fundamental knowledge to mitigate and promote the pathogenic and beneficial activities of Rhizoctonia fungi, respectively, will be discussed.
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1 - North Carolina State University, Entomology and Plant Pathology, Center for Integrated Fungal Research, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
Keywords:
none specified
Presentation Type: Special Presentations
Session: S03, MSA Presidential Address - Marc Cubeta
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Monday, July 19th, 2021
Time: 1:30 PM(EDT)
Number: S03001
Abstract ID:1152
Candidate for Awards:None |
