Resistance Biology

The objective of the Resistance Biology Unit is to meet the need for reduced use of chemical fungicides and the effects of climate change on crop production by combining basic and applied research. 

The aim is to increase the plant health. This will be achieved by creating foundations for reduction of plant diseases and for increase of abiotic stress resilience, mainly in potato and cereals. Hypotheses are tested in model plants like Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana by for example changing candidate genes by genome editing or transformation as well as by classical biochemistry and cell- and molecular biology. Field trials, often with crops engineered by genome editing or cisgenesis, are used to validate gene functions and agricultural potential. We strive to integrate data from controlled and field conditions.

Our competencies can be divided into the following sub-categories:

Resistance and susceptibility mechanisms - To be able to improve crop plant resistance there is a great need for increased understanding of novel mechanisms behind plant susceptibility and resistance (immunity). The resistance and susceptibility mechanisms are investigated by identifying and characterising new proteins that are part of the interaction between the pathogen and the host and non-host plants. In addition, we study the balance between the defence and growth. A focus area is potato blights caused by Phytophthora infestans and Alternaria solani, but we are also working on other pathogens. 

Abiotic stress - We work on different abiotic stress factors, for example, drought, heat, and flooding, in individual and combined stress conditions (abiotic – abiotic or abiotic – biotic) to identify traits and to improve crops for better survival and productivity in future climates. We focus on pre-breeding as well as understanding the mechanisms of tolerance/resistance through various -omics approaches to identify the candidate genes and pathways that can be used for targeted crop improvement through gene editing. We also study the environmental effects on seed germination and vigour.

Plant resistance inducers and biologicals - To achieve effective crop production strategies, different methods most often need to be integrated. For example, we conduct applied experiments with induced resistance and biologicals in the greenhouse and field. We are also interested in combining host plant resistance with minimal use of fungicides and novel plant protection products with low toxicity and biologicals.

Infrastructure - We have long experience in generating and processing omics data, for example we host the SLU infrastructure Proteomics Facility in Alnarp. We also have strong competence in different microscopy methods, and we coordinate the Alnarp confocal microscopy and Horticum Alliance light microscopes.

Education - The Resistance Biology Unit has course responsibility for three plant protection courses and two chemistry courses. We also teach in several other courses and regularly coordinate, supervise and examine bachelor’s and master’s degree projects. We also have long experience in coordination of education programmes. We promote PhD education by supervision and successful PhD courses on plant protection and microscopy methods, as well as by coordination of SLU Grogrund research school. We have had a number of undergraduate and graduate students doing individual projects in our laboratory and field experiments.

Networking and Collaboration - Some networks we are active in are PlantLink, SLU Plant Protection Network, Plant Biological Network (PBN), GroGrund, The Swedish Potato Foundation. We have continuous cooperation with the plant protection consultancy at the Swedish Board of Agriculture, the Rural Economy and Agricultural Society and other organizations. We are also collaborate with IITA on Cassava.