Cytological, molecular and agronomical aspects of root endophytes 
in crop plants 
(Interaktionen zwischen Wurzelendophyten und Pflanzenkrankheiten)

Gruppenleiter: PD Dr. Helmut Baltruschat
Mitarbeiter: Christina Neumann, M. sc. Sachin Deshmukh

Root endophytes: arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, Piriformospora indica, Idriella bolleyi

1. Analysis of the role of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs) in interactions of root endophytes and plant roots
2. Impact of root endophytes on defence responses in barley to the root pathogens Bipolaris sorokiniana, Fusarium graminearum, Rhizoctonia solani (cytological and biochemical studies)
3. Impact of root endophytes on the infestation of barley leaves with Blumeria graminearum f. sp. hordei or Bipolaris sorokiniana. Cytological; biochemical and molecular studies with respect to plant defence responses (B. Achatz; collaboration with P. Franken, Großbeeren)
4. Macroarray studies to determine the impact of Piriformospora indica on gene regulation in barley leaves after inoculation with Blumeria graminearum f. sp. hordei (B. Achatz)
5. Differential gene expression in barley roots by Piriformospora indica and the impact of P. indica on gene expression after root inoculation with either Fusarium graminearum (S. Deshmukh)
6. Differential gene expression in barley roots by the mycorrhizal fungus G. mosseae and the impact of G. mosseae on gene expression after root inoculation with either Fusarium graminearum or Rhizoctonia solani
7. Impact of Piriformospora indica on the infestation of tomato roots with Fusarium parasitica and Thielaviopsis basicola
8. Salt stress tolerance induced by root endophytes (AM fungi, P. indica) in barley and the role of the root antioxidative system and abscisic acid (ABA) to salt-dependent oxidative stress
9. Impact of Piriformospora indica on the activation of the sucrose synthase gene MtSucS1 in Medicago trucatula
10. Morphological studies on the interaction of Piriformospora indica with roots of poplar seedlings