ENGINEERING MICROBIAL EFFECTOR SYSTEMS IN PLANTS

Developing tools for engineering plant pathways to improve plant species relevant to food security.

WISB researchers are developing new types of synthetic control system in which synthetic effectors (synEffectors), derived from natural effectors of plant pathogens and mutualists, which can be targeted to bespoke pathways.  In this way, pathways are re-engineered to deliver temporal and spatial control of bespoke plant responses in an orthogonal fashion, i.e. without causing trade-offs in other natural responses.  This work will lead to enhanced properties that improve, for example, plant resistance to stress.