The Role of Rice Leaf Surface Properties in the Appressorium Formation of Magnaporthe oryzae

Authors

Nicholas A. Bohlim, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Sangjin Ryu, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Donghee Lee, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

4-2016

Document Type

Article

Citation

N. Bohlim, D. Lee, S. Ryu (2016) University of Nebraska-Lincoln, UCARE, Spring 2016 Research Fair Poster.

Comments

Copyright (c) 2016 Nicholas A. Bohlim , Sangjin Ryu , Donghee Lee

Abstract

The organism Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the leading causes of rice blast fungus, a disease that greatly affects rice crop yields. Given that rice supplies around twenty percent of the world’s total calories consumed, it is important to investigate factors that affect its harmful progression.

The goal of this study is to determine the effects of surface properties in the attachment of M. oryzae to the rice leaf, and how these properties affect appressorium formation. Properties investigated include stiffness, thickness, surface roughness, and wettability.