Project Number: 1275-21220-225-17
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 09, 2007
End Date: Aug 08, 2010

Objective:
There are 2 primary objectives of this research. The first objective is to sequence the Moniliophthora roreri genome and partially sequence the Moniliophthora perniciosa genome using equipment available at Penn State University. The genomes of the two related species, both severe pathogens of Theobroma cacao, are to be compared once the sequencing is completed. The second objective is to support laboratory and field studies of Bacillus species for selective control of diseases of cacao, specifically, Moniliophthora roreri and Moniliophthora perniciosa. The identification of native bacterial endophytes of cacao with disease biocontrol activities in the field are of special interest.

Approach:
Pyrosequencing sequences small DNA fragment but is capable of sequencing very large numbers of small sequences in a very short time. Bioinformatic techniques allow for the assembling of these short sequences in to larger sequences and ultimately into linkage groups. Compared to traditional sequencing this can be done at a much lower cost. The sequence of M. roreri will be determined using this technique. At the same time, we have access to the nearly complete sequence of the related genome of M. perniciosa. Once the sequence of M. roreri has been collected, it will be overlaid onto the M. perniciosa to aid in assembling the sequence. In addition, we will carry out limited sequencing of the M. perniciosa to filling gaps in that sequence. In addition to the Trichoderma species we are considering, Bacillus species have good potential as biocontrol agents for control of cacao disease. Bacillus species have some advantages in that they are easy to produce and very stable once formulated. There use in a tropical perennial crop like Theobroma cacao has not been studied in detail. We propose to support the continued study of Bacillus species isolated from Theobroma cacao for the control of cacao disease. The isolates have been collected from Ecuador and are ultimately to be screened in the field in Ecuador. The proposed research parallels objective within the associated main project.