The National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrative Activities program awarded a $836,100 project grant to Tennessee State University to support research on the mechanisms of plant-bacterial interactions in the bacterial wilt pathosystem. The project aims to identify and characterize natural resistance traits in cucumbers, a crop highly vulnerable to bacterial wilt disease caused by the pathogen Erwinia tracheiphila. Key activities include sequencing and analyzing the E. tracheiphila genome, constructing a mutant library to functionally validate virulence and host interaction genes, and developing sustainable management strategies to mitigate crop losses. In addition to the research focus, the project encompasses educational and outreach initiatives to mentor minority students and engage middle schoolers in biotechnology-themed summer camps. This interdisciplinary effort seeks to advance our understanding of host-pathogen dynamics while also cultivating a diverse community of future scientists.
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