The National Science Foundation awarded a $1,720,000 project grant to the University of Maryland, College Park under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) for research titled "Collaborative Research: Research-PGR: Genome-Wide Quest for Non-Host Resistance Mechanisms in Plants." Over a three-year period ending December 2026, the university will conduct research to elucidate the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying non-host resistance in plants against fungal pathogens. The research aims to identify novel genes contributing to non-host resistance in Arabidopsis and rice using forward and CRISPR-enabled reverse genetics approaches. It will also characterize immune mechanisms controlling non-host resistance through comparative 'omics techniques. Findings may help establish frameworks for non-host resistance and inspire strategies to engineer broader crop resistance against pathogens. The award supports the NSF's mission to promote biological science progress and strengthen the national scientific enterprise.
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