University of Minnesota

Genomics and Bioinformatics in Plant Pathology

Date: October 18, 2000
Time: 8 am - 5 pm
University of Minnesota: St. Paul Student Center (Minnesota Commons Room)
Admission is FREE to Everyone

Overview

Advances in both plant and microbe genomics have greatly enhanced research in molecular plant pathology. These techniques compliment conventional methods used to study plant - microbe interactions. As graduate students in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota, we would like to provide a timely symposium topic that will generate interest from a large and diverse group of people. An update of genomics and bioinformatics of microorganisms in different plant-microbe systems would be of great interest to those involved in research in plant pathology as well as many other fields of study.

Objectives
1)Provide an overview of current research in plant genomics and bioinformatics
2)Present a variety of topics related to an array of microbes
3)Gain useful insight into molecular techniques for studying genomes
4)Illustrate the role of bioinformatics and genomics as applied to research in plant pathology

The goal of this year's symposium committee is to incorporate current research in these topics into a symposium, bringing to listeners (graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, other researchers etc.) an update of the cutting edge research taking place in genomics and bioinformatics as applied to the field of plant pathology. In so doing, it is anticipated that participants in this symposium will take away a better understanding of methods of studying genomes and the application of bioinformatic technology to many areas of interest with a specific application to the field of plant pathology.

Schedule

Genomics

How Plant Pathologists Can Use Genomic Sequence Data
Dr. Nevin Young, Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota

Understanding Fungal Pathogenicity Using Genomics Technologies
Dr. Olen Yoder, Novartis Ag Discovery Inst. San Diego, CA

Using Genomics to Understand the Biology of Gibberella zeae, the Head Blight Pathogen
Dr. Frances Trail, East Lansing, Michigan State University

Coffee Break

Corn and corn smut, a coevolutionary standstill?
Dr. Georgiana May, University of Minnesota

Genetics, Genomics, and Pathogenicity of the Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe grisea
Dr. Barbara Valent, E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Co.Wilmington, Delaware

Lunch Break

Constructing a physical and transcriptional map of Phytophthora Genome
Dr. Brett Tyler, University of California, Davis

The Bradyrhizobium japonicum Sequencing Project: Lessons to be learned from an agriculturally important symbiont
Dr. Michael Sadowsky, University of Minnesota

Coffee Break

Bioinformatics

The University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegratation Database: Microorganisms, enzymes and prediction
Dr. Lynda Ellis, University of Minnesota

High-throughput discrimination of the origin of a sequence
Dr. Jennifer Weller, Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Blacksburg, VA

General Discussion and Close of Symposium

Committee members:
Claudia Castell (chairperson), Shawn Bernick, Karen Hilburn, and Jason Smith

View the abstracts

Sponsors by

University of Minnesota Department of Plant Pathology
Cargill Biotechnology Group
The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
3M Biomaterials Technology Center
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc
Coca-Cola Foundation
St. Paul Board of Colleges
The Graduate And Profesional Student Assembly At The University of Minnesota