NSF-NIFA Plant Biotic Interactions funded research project (Award number: 2022-67013-37717) focused on understanding genetic interactions between loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and the fungal pathogen Cronartium quercuum f. sp. fusiforme (Cqf), the causal agent of fusiform rust. This is the most important disease affecting lumber production in the Southeastern US, causing significant yearly loss. Previously, the NCSU Tree Improvement Program identified and mapped the first evidence for broad spectrum resistance in a single pine parent. In this research, the goals are to study virulence variation in single-spore isolates of the pathogen and understand how they interact with two known quantitative trait loci (QTL) in the host. Read More