Group of phytoimmunity

The head, professor Anatoliy Reunov

For successful elaboration of measures of fight with pathogenic diseases of plants, in paricular with phytoviroses, it is necessary to study of mechanisms of pathogenesis and resistance of plants. At last years, the attention of researches attracts the possibility of plant protection with aid of ecologically safe biologically active substances (BAS), able to induce a plant resistance to pathogens.

We are developing a concept that antiviral protection of plant cells is conditioned by a lytic compartment whose hydrolases (proteases, RNases) cause destruction of virus particles.

The main goals:
Study of antiviral protective mechanisms of plants developing in reply to virus infection and action of BAS.

Highlights and perspectives:
It is shown that development of virus infections in both sensitive and resistant plants at early infection stages induces different protective cellular reactions; among of them, the stimulation of protein-synthesing apparatus and lytic compartment are most expressed. Lytic processes developing in virus-infected cells of host plants cause destruction of virus particles (protective reaction) and cellular structures (pathogenesis).

Antiviral activities of some polysaccharides from marine organisms ((1,3;1,6-β-glucan, fucoidan, carrageenes, chitosan) and synthetic Na-salts cyclopentene β,β-triketones (not causing a toxic effect in plants by optimal concentrations) are established.

Reactive oxygen species and the development of virus pathogenesis in plants. Elaboration of biochemical and cytological tests of both plant resistance to viruses and antiviral activity of BAS.


Group staff:

Larisa Lapshina (senior researcher, Ph.D), Vera Nagorskaya (researcher, Ph.D).




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